, 1874-01-18
~ SMALLPOX HOSPITAL.

the Way In Which II Was Con.
ducted.
Attention has been repeatedly called to the
fact that 8 larger percentage Of small-poz
patients die within tho hospital than OF those
who are treated outside, and who receive private
medical advice. 1t is difficult to understand why
this should be 80, since in other large cities.
especially in Europe, the reverse is the case.
There, under the supervision of the best med
ical talent, and surrounded by modern hygienic
improvements, tho smallpox patient fares much
better than If left to private treatment.
To ascertain some Of the causes which have
placed our smallpox hospital into such an un-
favorable light, reporter wss directed to inves-
tigate the matter. In his search he came across
woman who had been employed IN the hoBpi-
tai, and the following conversation took place:
Reportar-When we're you employed in the
emal1-pox hospital
Mrs. An 1873. -...-
Reporter-How long were you there?
Mrs. A.-After had been there as patient
about two weeks. Was engaged to act first Us a
wasberwoman afterwards ns cook at SIG per
month, in which capacity served four months.
neporter-Were you discharged2
Mrs. A.-No, sir, left Of my own accord, be-
cause could not stand it to look at the way
patients we're treated.
Mrs. Avery badly. When first entered
startled me. After got to be cook they all
complained to me OF not having enough to
satisfy their hunger.
Reporter-What kind and what quality OF food
d1d the patients receive?
Airs. A~-The food, as general thing. WAS
very bad. The soup WIS like watec. aud the
meat, when given, was in most cases tainted.
Roporter-What kind Of bread did the patients
get, and did they receive enough of it
Mrs. A~-The bread was good, and after got
to be cook, gare them all they wanted, for
had the distribution Of it.
Reporter-How we're the patients treated by
their nurses?
. Mrs. Al can speak only Of the wards where
the female patients were. These were treated
very harshly. Tho Steward, especially, was very
cross with them.
Reporter-Did physician visit daily the
apartments you had access to?
Mrs A--No, sir. Sometimes one would come
every other day, and sometimes not as often.
Roporter-Hhat did he do when you saw him
in the wards?
Mrs. Ale would hurry through tho wards at
quick pace, and not remain within the room at
any one time over ten minutes.
Reporter-WAen you were there "a n patient
did he examine you carefully?
lIrs A-No, sir. He did not even examine
my pulse.
Reporter-Do you know of any case where q
patient died from lack Of medical treatment ?
Mrs. Al cannot say from my own know1-
edge, but have heard of cases.
Reporter-Tas the hospital kept clean?
Mrs. A-Not at all, sir: Il was very dirt VI
mean the women's ward. After o patient TRs
put into bed the sheets we're neves changed
until abe was either put into a coffin or dis,
charged as cured. There we're no baths, and all
the patients were wallowing in dirt
Keporter--Do you know OF any cases where
patients had money taken from them While IN
the hospital, OF when disnaissed2
Mrs. A.-Yes sir, / know Of sereral.
R.-Ten me Of one.
J.. Mrs. Al know of Swedish woman who. on
leaving the hospital had s9-nH the money she
poaaessertaken from her by an officer under
the plea that it for the support OF ths hospi-
R.-Did You hare anything taken from you
Mrs. A.-No, sir. In the first place. when
left was not q patient. In tho next place,
had no money to be taken from me.
The reporter next called upon 3 well-known
physician, With the intention Of ehc1ting some
more information in regard to this case, and to
ask his opinion about the truth ;, OF
the above statements; ne ~ aom1sea n5 a. tha1 taI
from personal knowledge: He only knew one
fact from personal knowledge, and that was that
& great many more patients uled within the
gnall- -pox hospital than there should II proper
IL treated. He had heard that the visiting
physicians had the delirious patients locked up
in i 3 room by themseiyes, where they we're lett
to rave. tear, and scratch themselves to death,
though that was the most critical time, when
patient should be well taken care Of; it Was
the time when the scabs 1otmea, sna .,1at tne
# only half OF what had been told Of the snall-
nor hoBpital we're true. barbarism itself would
Blush to contemplate it. An instance was relat-
ed to him where q man WAS rolled up IN n1s
ahroud while in q half dying condition.
Thege statements, however true they may be,
apply only to the old manageme Of the hosp1-
tai. and not to the way in which it has been con-
Quoted during the last three months.