The New York herald., 1875-12-13
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL.
A Source Of Epidemic Disease in
Past Years.
ITS BAD SANITARY CONDITION.
The Improvements Necessary to Rem
edy the Evil

For the past few years frequent complaints have been
made in relation the sanitary condition OF Bellevue
Hospital many going far say that this charity
greater OF evil TO the suffering poor than
Of relief and that patients entering within Its
walls suffering from but slight disorders and Injuries
fell victims to the poisonous influences that created
pyama, erysipelas, &c, within the hospital, and
which il has been charged the entire building was In
fected with The mortality few years ago from
gical operations much greater than in the majority
Of hospitals throughout the country although among
the attending surgeons at this charity may be num-
bered Of the most prominent skful operators
in the United States, and the management OF the hos
pital under the Of excellent and competent
men who made every effort to improve its sanitary
dition.
If examine the history of this building
since it's construction and occupation an aims
house, about 1871, find that this unhealthy cond-
tion has been a source OF disease and death In
1925 epidemic OF typhoid fever broke out swept
away large number OF the inmates. In ls32-a
memorable year for the people of New York, as the
city visited by disastrous epidemic OF cholera
this fatal disease swept of large number OF the in
mates OF the Amshousc and the unhealthy condition
of the building became great and apparent that all
the prisoners and paupers removed In 1649 the
regular hospital established and placed under the
control OF resident physician who continued to
age the affairs Of the establishment and supervise the
medical attendance until 1851, when the present
system of governing the hospital by a medical
board, composed OF the visiting physicians and
surgeons was inaugurated. Since that time and
under the direction OF this Board great many i'm
provemcnts have been made in the building. Windows
constructed wherever necessary provide for in
creased light and ventilation, and the wards
opened into the other by constructing arched
attn Hla Nnfrit theta dtnn
all these improvements the sanitary condition of the
hospital remained very bad, and TO the words OF
one of the resident surgeons af the charity in 1871
Bellevue Hospital has reached period in its existence
when, in the words OF Bilroth the buildings
A MERE SLAUGHTER PEN
OF the wounded. Spite OF the most careful sanitary
arrangements recovery from an amputation OF the
thigh for injury is without the recollection OF the Oldest
inhabitant and when the surgeon finds py@mia follow
exsection of the elbow, and fact tine most trihing
operation whereby the medullary canal Of bone s in
any invaded he is sorey tempted to refrain from
interfering in such cases. willing subject him
self TO the imputation OF Fastening termination which
ha knows must be death, whatsoever course may be
Owing the excessive mortality at this time in the
hospital 100 deaths from erysipeas and thirty nine
from pyemia having occurred within the of the
year, the Supervising Surgeon General of the Marine
Hospital Service issued order in which he stated
that he "deemed IT wise to discontinue sending sea-
men there !" and in considering this subject in his
nual report of 1873 says:-'The phases of hospital
disease produced by hospital masm vary under differ
ent conditions OF the victims exposed to IT, Thus
is attacked with erysipelas another with pyGmia or
with Rangrene or with puerperal fever, &c, while
wounded or suppuratng surfaces appear to furnish the
conditions most favorable the reception and activity
Of the poison 1t cannot be doubted that diseases
are aggravated by its influence although the patients
may not show the characteristic evidences OF it. The
record OF pyamia and erysipelas Bellevue Hospital
of New York strongly exempli6es the influence Of an
old building on hospital patients" !"
About two years ago disastrous epidemic OF puer-
pera lever developed tselfn the 'yng inn wards this
and the disease proved 80 fatal to the un-
fortunate inmates that was found absolutely necessary
entirely this service and transfer all labor
TO the Charity Hospital on Blackwes Island causing
large amount OF suffering and trouble to the unior-
tunate women who were obliged to seek relief and as
sistance from this charity. And in not few cases
death has the result OF the present pan owing
the neglect Of the officials charged with the transfer
ring OF these unfortunate women from their homes TO
the island hospital One of the strongest arguments to
be used against the further OF The old building
known Bellevue Hospital is that, owing TO some in
fictitious poison within the building IL is deemed un-
safe to establish yingn service IN connection with
the charity.
The experiments made by DR.. R. 0. Doremus to test
the value OF disinIection and the possibility of
ing the poisonous emanatons that inject the surgical
and former lying wards OF the hospital have been
to some extent successful The system adopted was
70 generate large amount of chlorine gas In the in
fected ward having previously fastened closely all the
windows and doors This powerful gas penetrated the
porous walls and il is believed would destroy all the
Infectious material and disease germs that proved such
very great source OF mortality.
This plan OF fumgaton and the new system OF venti
ation and heating has improved the san tary condition
OF the hospital considerably. But there still remains
within the building most fruitful source OF epidemic
uSeaSe, uameiy,
THE WATER CLOSET SYSTEM
AT present about $25 900 is being spent TO complete
the system for heating and venating the hospital and
necessary repairs to the hospital water closets; and
although all admit that the changes made may improve
the present condition of the hospital still no one will
deny the fact that until the water closets are re-
moved from their present position in relation to
the wards, and placed outside the building,
and separated from the wards by properly constructed
and well ventilated passages the hospital cannot bo
placed in thorough sanitary condition, and conse-
quenty will not be sale abode for the sick The pres
~ fnA nnOa alrn nnCf
directly into the wards permits the escape 10 very
great extent Of poisonous gases and emanations from
decomposing human execreta into the wards, and,
although ar shafts have been constructed running
to the roof to carry off these gases and traps placed
the pans to prevent any emanatons from this source,
tho practical working OF the plan is explained by the
Of one OF the ward orderes to inquiries the
subject He said 81 find no difference in the smell;
IL is Just bad ever and the writer has been in
formed by OF the visiting surgeons gentleman
well qualified to Judge and form opinion on the sub
ject, that the smol from tho water closets in bis
division was abominable and could not but be very
great source OF disease. To prove that
THIS SYSTEM WAS LOOKED UPON DEFECTIVE
and dangerous to good sanitary condition by the Off
Gals ol the hospital the Warden in his report for the
year 1868, stated 1.-THE Medical Committee Of Inspec
on feel necessary to report to your honorable Board
that the style OF water closets used in the hospital
imperfect and in iact detrimental to the health Of the
patients, in consequence OF the disagreeabe odor
ing from them" Placing aside all othe7 Of
sickness and infection within the hospital and about
which there to be such very great difference of
opinion, still IL Will strike any one familiar with the
that the plan OF having water closets opening into
wards and in close proximity to large numbers of weak
and deblitated patients and the Nacng OF inval;ds
within the influence OF poisonous gases from this
source Is and cannot be but and ever present
source Of unhealthfuness.
Probably there Is question in hospital construc-
tion important than this and none that has re-
ccyed careful consideration, and It is the opinion
OF all sanitarians we'll as the experience OF every
hospital physician and surgeon, that 1t is impossible
establish good sanitary condition in any hospital
where water closets are In close con necton with or
opening into the wards.
One Of the principal reasons urged for continuing the
present system is that the expense OF placing all the
water closets outside the building and providing prop
ery ventilated passages to connect them with the
wards would bo very expensive, and the building
very old II would be hardly worth the expense. From
this argument II would seem that the lives Of the
fortunate poor who forced to seek shelter in this
establishment not to be considered when II in
wolves
THE EXPENDITURE OF A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS,
and the overturning of some distinguished gentlemans
theory as TO proper hospital construction. IL is also
claimed that we but following the most approved
tod in ha nj build