New-York tribune., 1873-05-17
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL 4 PRISON
TIE PROPOSED CHANGE DENOUNCED BY THE SUR


TIE PROPOSED CHANGE DENOUNCED BY THE sCK-
GEoNs
The many complaints lately made against
the heathfuness OF the Tombs Prison have resulted In
scheme 10 Bellevue Hospital into the City Prison
and numerous small hospitals various parts
OF the city in place Of the large Such great inter-
ests affected by the proposed removal Of the hospi
ta-two Of the largest medical colleges In the United
States being connected with IT, and system OF caring
for the sick poor having been perfected by the labor OF
many years-that the arguments for and against
the measure should be well considered.
The cornerstone OF the hospital was laid
on Aug l. 1871 and it was completed and opened in 1876
Prisoners confined in the building for several
years. but upon the completion Of the TOmbs prison It's
for that purpose discontinued. From an aims
house It gradually converted into hospital year
the ladies' Aid Society represented to the Commis-
sioners Of Charities and Correction that the building
was unfit for occupancy, owing the presence In the
surgical wards OF pyemia and erysipels. The Commls-
sioners appointed the following Committee TO examine
into the subject: Drs. H. b. Sands, John j. Crane, E. G
Janeway, and J. W. s. Gouey The Committee reported
that the diseases indeed existed in the hospital but
claimed that the hospital would compare favoraby with
other hospitals at home and abroad In regard TO fire.
quency OF occurrence OF the diseases specified They
advised more attention to cleanliness fewer patients
and On this advice the number or beds IN
the hospital was reduced from 1900 TO 600; ventilation
was secured, and more nurses we're provided.
TRIBUNE reporter visited Bellevue Hospital Yester-
day afternoon obtain the views Of physicians there
Dr. Louis sayre said most positively in reference TO
the proposition TO remove Bellevue Hospital from its
present Site that not only it unnecessary but 1t
would be Injurious 20 every interest concerned. He
wondered II the people OF this city had not taken 10
heart the lesson taught by the removal or the
Hospital the site OF which had been sold ana the money
never accounted for. II Bellevue Hospital were re-
moved in beginning there would be job, ana IN the
end the best institution OF s kind IN the world WOuu oe
ruined In regard the building, he tnOught Jhat IL
az Wholesome and as free fr0m pyemla az any
other hospital No carpets were allowed on the hoOrs
curtains tne windows, and disease couu noI Oo
secreted OF spread by those means. =,
The doctor here referred TO Sister Ellen BOWden, IN
charge OF she Training School for Nurses wlo mad had
professional experience in the London ana European
hospitals. she declared emphatcay tlat Bellevue "ds
the best-managpd aud ceanest hospital she mad ever
hut thought that extra force or nurses was
needed. Revertng again TO the proposed remOVal 20
OF the Islands. Dr. Sayre SAID t was essential hat
the hospital should bo In the city, as patients shOud De
put under treatment with the least possible delay Take
IL away and IL would be inaccessible TO wounded per
sons, TO Students and TO the foremost physlciahs
who now generously give time Whlch 4s spared
from their private practice at great loss.
not be disturbed The proposed small hospitals would
be nusances in their neighbOrhOod and could not Ot
supplied with the space necessary around thein
II they existed auXarles 10 grand central nospta
they would not be Objectionable but II an attemp'
were made to supersede such institution a. Bellevue
they would fail. Again, Bellevue was great eduea
tOual establishment sending thoroughly sAllleu sur
geOns throughout the land. Reading or an operation
would give young doctor an idea, but the great OeLen
was watching 10 performed, observing every tNlst
the patient and every little detail. Students became
with the best Thought OF the age anu 'H
methods VI the most successful surgeons.