The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-21
TIE SMALLPOX HOSPITALS.
Report Of the Medical Officers of the Commits
sioners OF Charities and Correction-The
Death Rats Twenty-ons Per Cent is
Less than in English Hospitals
Admissions, 2,521-Deaths, $50.

DR.. Macdonald, Chief OF the Medical STAFF OF the
Smallpox Hospitals, under the jurisdiction Of the
Commissioners OF Charities and Correction, has just
made extracts from MS annual report which VIII
show the ravages OF this hldeeus scourge. The o-
lowing extracts especially interesting to all who
desire to know the treatment practced In the
hOspltals:-
who have died In the hospital during The year. Is of
especial interest," and upon careful examination
credit upon the gentlemen to whom the
medical N. treatment Of the patients has
occurring in the hospital during the year
VIII be seen 10 have reached total OF
ment during the year, according to table a." is
2.526 therefore the proportion OF deaths to cases
mortality In English hospitals for the treatment OF
smallpox patients Is shown Dy recent reports to be
ditiona circumstance mat sanitary precautions
and compulsory vaccination are much more rgdly
enforced In England than IN our own country, tle
very satisfactory. But perhaps fairer comparison
and certainly no less 1atlerng one, Is between
the rates oil mortality among those patients permit
ted by the Board OF Health OF TINS city to be treated
at their own homes aud those removed to this nos.
pital The regulations OF the Board OF Health as 10
Isolation and sanitary precautions In the former
cases leave 1T in the power OF those only VINO
good circumstances TO avail themselves OF the
privilege. 1t is therefore ar to presume that such
patents nave mad the benefit OF the best meui:
cal treatment available, the best nOurshment and
attendance, and the most thorough hyglenic advan.
iases Ana And yet according to the report Of Dr.
| among such patients reaches thirty.1ve and QUE
third per cent or over fourteen per cent more than
those treated in this hospital. Certainly pauperism
is not without Its blessings.
Before closing tnisreport may perhaps be per.
mittcd to make alluslon TO subject which has
given pain and annoyance to all those who have the
best interests oil TINS hospital at heart. refer u
the incorporate and harsh criticism OF its manage.
ment and condition by certain journals of this city,
An established rule OF your department f0rbIds the
direct and pubic reiuiatlOn OF anonymous attacks
l.lII
make upon the matter TO avoid any uansgression Of
this rule.
There are many things In the nature of this nos
pital winch render the labor OF those who endeavor
to faithfully administer its affairs particularly
arduOus, and which are likely In corresponding
degree to be productive OF complaint. In tho first
place, the large majority OF the inmates have be.
stiles OF pubnc safety TO leave their homes aud 10
break OIL Tor time all Intercourse with family and
OF them should look upon their SURROUNDINGS and
their treatment with no favorable eye. Another
ground for dissatisfaction with them IL the ength
of time for which during their convalescence tney
are compelled to remain IN hospital Looking at the
Selves perecv we'll a M ia oosso leeig e, To-
satisfy them that their detention Is due nothing
they are SO Gesroas to return So much for the
patients themselves. For the public there is the In
pital naturally presents. Concealment or anything
approaching II win inevitably heget suspicion,
Public esmyr against ana aay other
tuition under your charge coulc be promptly
| met Dy throwing open us uOOrS TO Inc pubic
vestlgaton. With the Smallpox Hospital this Is, or
pr M ea en a aGne e aG ew
favorable as It Is, Is not widely known. That com.
made not therefore singular, nor is 1t likely That
they Will cease so long as there shall be q Smallpox
Hospital to complain about Let mo therefore
briefly state the present condition OF the institution,
not for the Information OF your Board, for day to
day examination has made you thoroughly familiar
with II, but for those who nave not the opportunity
OF personally examining into II.
Upon the 23d OF November last your Board so ex-
tended the powers and duties Of the Chlcr OF stan
OF Charity Hospital to bring the Smallpox and
Fever Hospitals within his jurisdiction In the res
Olullons prescribing the change you distinctly
dercd that no expense should be spared whereby
the comfort OF the patients might DC enhanced or
their recovery expedited. Could feel that recent
attacks nave any poss BILE foundation, should ac-
knowledge my sole responsibility, for from the
| promise OF these resolutions you have never re-
coded, and my every requlsitlOn mas been July anu
| promptly hOnOred
me ordinary diet supplied to non-payng patients
Is considerably better than that furnished TO tie
class In any other OF the institutions under your
control 1t Is in the main prepared according TO the
dietary table adopted for Bellevue and Charity Hos
ptas but the quantities OF different articles and the
frequency with which they are given are Increased
In addition to this general diet extras, such eggs,
beer tea corn starch, &C, are supplied in liberal
clans.
Such patients as can and are willing TO pay for
their board are charged at the rate OF five or ten
dollars week. From this sum your department
derives no advantage. Any surplus remaining after
the Doarders are provided for Is devoed TO the sun
further improvement OF the diet OF pauper patents
TO those who paw ten dollars week meals are iur.
nished by the nnalron OF the hospital Identical With
those placed upon my own table and that OF the
resident medical stan, while TO those VINO pay
i've dollars good, substantial Diet Is given
All bOarocrs 1--we IN the stone building and
those who pay the higher rate have each private
room, neatly furnished. or the nonpaying patients
the females are placed IN the stone building also,
while the males occupy two pavilions, constructed
with a SPECIAL view TO the treatment OF contagious
diseases ana Offering all the advantages winch
the pavilion system Is generally acknowledged TO
afford.
The nurses and orderlies carefully selected,
receive good wages, and are required TO spare no
effort to promote the comfort OF the patients.
These are in brief. the facts with regard to the
condition Of the Smallpox Hospital anu tile advan.
tages which 1t offers TO the inmates. TO this those
WHO nave had opportunity as patients OF testing
comforts will, dOuot not, cheerfuly testify.