Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-15
Report of Committee on Hospital.


EUREKA, New, July IL, 1879.
To Mr.. j. L. Platter, Foreman Of the Grand
Jury:
Sir Your Committee, appointed on
County Hospital, after examination. beg to
submit the following:
We find the building at present used
entirely too small and inadequate to the
requirements of the county.
The ventilation is so very poor that not
only do patients p~itifully complain, but
your Committee respectfully report that,
in their opinion, confinement ia one OF the
wards for two hours would be sufficient to
make a healthy man sick. improvements,
highly necessary, should be made immedi-
ately to help, and to secure proper %ventila-
tion-such as adjusting the windows, that
they can be made to open from the top.
Means of ventilation are needed by tran
SONS over the doors, and in view of the
TACT that the construction of the building
will not permit Of such means being pro-
vided, is one If several reasons why, in
our opinion, q new structure should be
erected, that will meet the wants Of our
growing county.
Screens for all the doors and windows
should be supplied Immediately, to keep
"a "a a'at aiANof bphh - "%hNfa ~ 49,
mental to patients; added to which, vent is
needed for outlet, or means of escape Of
the impure air that so befouls the apart
ments of the building.
The floor Of the second story is in such
condition that when washed, dirty water
soaks through AMI drops on the patients
in the wards below.
There are too many patients in each
room, owing to the small size of the build
ing, while, ON account Of very poor ventil-
alton. contagious cases cannot very well
be kept from Others.
We consider it a burning shame and a mis-
cradle disgrace to the county Of Eureka that
a larger, better, and in every conceivable
shape, a more suitable building should not
be provided for the unfortunate sick that
are compelled to seek medical aid at the
hands Of our county. than that now in
use.
We observed that the floors were not
well swept, particularly under the beds,
while all inmates agree that when the
floors are dampened, fumes arise, disgust
ing and unbearable.
The water accommodations are INSULT
cient, larger pipes, to afford a more ample
flow, and rubber hose, to sprinkle outside
the building being much needed and, we
recommend, should be furnished at once.
The bath tub is in the meanest possible
condition, being SO badly worn that the
dirty water is liable to, and does. some
times, lay in the bottom of II, almost i'm
possible to cleanse. We recommend as a
very positive necessity a new bath tub and
sink, the sink to he placed outside of the
building, as, at present, inmates are com
PEELED to go to the bath tab whenever they
wash their faces and hands, and that re-
-,s.a Ia. Iu..xr Isolt, 30 10 fn thn H,1 Ia
ton named.
We find that some of the patients, com
paratively helpless, need better attention,
complaining of the want of attendance
duriag the day and the absence Of a nurse
during the night, leaving them alone in
their helplessness, TIC get along rs best they
can. This, in a civilized community, is
heartless and inexcusable. We therefore
recommend that a steward and nightnurse,
in place of only one man, as is the case
now, be employed and that the county pay
for the hiring Of the much needed help,
that no excuse may be offered for negli-
gence.
More, and new beds and bedding are re-
quired. tn mattresses and pillows are
mostly hard and uncomfortable, suggesting
rather pain than comfort to the patient.
Bed clothes are too limited the want Of
Diahntts, as hiop uidctclpliiIlp Is ttlt anu
should be supplied.
A complaint arises of the never-failing
existence of vermin in the beds and blan-
kets; also, most disgusting instances are
cited of the same ON the bodies of some of
the inmates, all Of which can only be reme-
died by providing a room separate from
the main building. attached to which
should be a bath room, and in which pa
tents entering the Hospital can battle and
change their clothes.
We think that books and papers should
be provided and regularly supplied to
break the monotony of the always weary
patient.
We end there are in the Hospital twenty
two (22) patients, all under different treat
ment, while the building does not contain
room for half that number, to do each pa
tent justice.
We annex a report from the attending
physician, DR. Bishop, which we indorse
and repeat: that the building is inadequate
to the present and increasing requirements