, 1876-11-26
Hen with Infectious Diseases Put in the
Public Wards---Dangers Of
Contagion.
The Warden and the Housekeeper
.-.NurseS and Their Peculiar
ities---Conyalesc
General Suggestions for the Benefit Of the
Sick and the County Board.

| COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL, WARD ''A, - r.
| V1LloN No. g, BED 81, Nov. 22.-Nunlerou
complaints have been made from time to tim
| BY patients discharged from the County Hos
pital in regard to their treatment there and th'
management of that institution. These allega
tions have been all OK parte, and, for tie mos
part, have failed to elicit the response which
they called for from the county authorities
Knowing THE TRIBUNE has long desired to pre-
sent to its readers the truth in regard to the
various reports which have been promulgated
By the city press, I obtained admission into the
ncw County Hospital. was very sick at the
time, and some influential Episcopalian friends o1
mine desired me to accept the ho5pitalities oi
st. Luke's. Bat, ,ebeing impressed with the
knowledge that a reliable statement Of the
manner in which patients are treated at the
Cook County Hospital would be of great in
tcrest to your large constituency, / determined
to make d business Of necessity, aud
institute personal investigation into the truth
or 1alsity Of the alleged ll-treatment. am
consequently enabled to submit, tor the benefit
Of those desirous of knowing how the INDECENT
sick Of the county fare at the county institu-
tion,
AN IMPARTIAL STATEMENT OF THE FACTS As
THEY EXIST.
tits universally acknowledged that the only
means Of obtaining reliable information in re-
gard to the treatment OF persons dependent
upon public charity is by descending to the level
Of the recipients, and associating with them as
one Of themselves. The disclosures in regard to
the 1nismauagement Of the County Poor-House
would never have been made had not TRIBUNE
correspondent, in disguise, entered the institu-
tion as pauper; and the process of slow STAR
yation Which formerly obtained in English
warehouses Would never have been laid
bare had tho late Charles Dick
ems been content to inspect the pazo-
chial almshouscs under the direction Of
their stipendiary Superintendeats, It is only by
going through the mill that the actual condi-
dition of the inmates Of such public Institutions
can be ascertaincd. Eur upwards Of fortnight
have been patient OF this hospital, and i'm
therefore III every respect qualified to make the
disclosures which furm the subject of this ar
ticlc.
In addition to the irregularities of which
have to complain, have succeeded in eliciting
from patients who have luxuFiate1 in the old
hospital, anu who have since been compelled to
cutcr tue new one, the causes which led to the
failure Of the
uoLE-ASD-CoRSEE INVESTIGATION
OF August last, into the charges made against
the Warden and his assistants, and with this
matter PROPOSE to deal first. The trouble was
inauguratei by the ill-treatment Of patients in
one OF the female wards, which resulted in the
publication Of letter Of complaint. Several
Board found it impossible to avoid IN investi-
CATION, which, although regarded by the public
as iarccal proceeding, proved beyond q doubt
that the old hospital was i filthy den, aud that
there was !: serious deficiency in the nursing
and the quality OF the food furnished.
T,ur ri Ina
the investigation WAS to take place, the conva-
lc5cent patients were compelled to assist in
cleaning up: many Of them bcing unable to bear
the unusual cxcrtlon OF svrubbing floors, clean
ing windows, ete- When the inspection Of the
wards was made, the Commissioners walked
through With their eyes slut against irregr1-
laritics, ai.l their ears closed against the CON,
plants Of the paticuts. At this time there vera
very few beds III the building that were not
lousy and infested with bugs, cockroaches, and
Of nercurial ointment and other poisonous
salyes. The Investigating Committee was very
careful in The selection of witnesses. The
female witnesses were for the most part ladies
Of easy virtue. who, on account Of trcc-loyc
had been compelled to seek the as
sietance Of the county acSouchcur. Their
evidcnce was Of the most damnatory
character, but was successfully itnpcached
on the ground Of their former oc-
:upation,. Then they summonded witnesses
3ita, md who we're altogether incapable Of testify
n in regard to the then existing condition OF things
Patients who. were anxious to testify. and whn
could hare given evidence OF q startling nature
we're kept in the background. The Investigation |
regarded Us ffultleas Of result by the Commit
&c, aud the Warden received his anxous}y autici-
'nted calcimining.
THAT UTTER DISREGARD FOB THE COMFORT AND
SAFETY OF PATIENTS
which charactcrizes Cook County Hospital discI- |
'llne was strictly observed in the removal OF the
LEX from the old building to the new. 1t is conf !
cntly asserted by somc OF the occupants of this I
yard that at least one or two deaths hastened
" unnecessary exposure upon thut occasion
I came into the Hospital oil election day. and |
ras brought into Ward 'tA,'' Pavilion 20 = [
Is may be rendily anticipated, found the pa
tents In
A GREAT STATE OF POLITICAL ExC1TEMEST.
he conyalescents had obtained permission to 20
III AMI vote, while thosc unable to bear exposure
cmained indoors, bewaiIcd their fate. and weighed
lie chances of the respective candidates. had to
'alt about quarter OF an hour before WIS an,
roachcd by one OF the attendants. Then Was !
onduetcd to the bathroom and informed that
nd to be doused- took in the grca-y and dirtv
,ndition of the hath al g1ance, and saudoeFed |
Is thought Of qua ity Of the gentry
lat had been cleansed in it anu separated from !
.cir parasitcal attendants l had to 20 through |
le ordeal, 2nd as did so conld not help recall
lg the experiences Ut the - Amateur casual
hose adventures in L London wor1house i few
ears ago once more called public attention 10 the
eatment Of English paupers.
My ablutlons concluded, was unp1easantly sur-
rIscd to lnd thatI should y
OF BE ALLOWED TO WEAR MY OWN UNDER
CLOTHES.
''But can't weae MY sai1t:" demonstrated a.