The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-25
ECONOMY ON BLACKwELL'S ISLAND.
AN AGED CHARITY PATIENT DENIED THE USE
/ OF NEcEssARy crrnfI,T

AN AGED CHARITY PATIENT DENIED THE USE
OF NECESSARY sTIMULANTs.
Among the inmates of the section Of the hospital
Oh blackwell's Island designated Pavilion NJ" is u
poor, broken down. emaciated old woman named
Bridget Walrond. All that is left of her fam
lily are two sons, both unmarried and
siding at No. 100 Cannon street in this city.
For the past four years the old woman has
been suffering from complication of diseases and is
now in the last stages of consumption. Her daugh-
ter who performed the duties Of housekeeper the
family. died two years ago, and the care of the help
less woman devolved on the sons They emp.oyed
women to attend her until both were out
Of employment and they were unable any
longer to afford her the delicacies on which
she subsisted almost entirely. The physician who
attended her for years prescribed brandy and milk
punch. and said that II deprived OF these she must
rapidly succumb. Not having the means to provide
these any longer, the sons mad her removed to the
Charity Hospital on Blackwells Island. four months
ago. Here she was kindly treated and supplied with
brandy. A ter spending two months there she was
removed to the pavilion referred to- and at the
supply OF brandy was cut of.
The eldest son, James r. Walrond, sign painter
by trade, who obtained steady employment until re-
Gently in the vicinity of Houston and Cannon
monstrated against the treatment my mother
received in the pavilion after she had
matron in charge. Mrs. Miller. told that brandy
was no longer allowed. have had some experience
in hospitals aud amy physician will tell you that it
is customary in these institutions to administer oil
and brandy TO consumptivos. If my brother and
myself could only get work We would furnish her
with such nourishment rs she needs"
The reporter called the chief OF staff ct the hos
pita. DR.. @. Il. Esabrooke. He admitted that they
shared the effects of the general hue and cry tor
economy in the public departments, and their supply
OF liquors; such as brandy and whiskey had
been greatly curtaled. The Visiting Commit
tee considered that tile supplies in pre-
vous years somewhat extravagant and
gave strict directions for retrenchment in many
quarters, including the liquor supply. The cost for
liquors In that branch OF the institution last year
was $3.50 These liquors ordered by the visiting
physicians. 'At all events" said the doctor. you
would not expect us to give liquor to all the broken
down patients thrown on our hands here. Just Bee
what rowd we have. Besides, IL is serious question
among physicians whether the use of alcohol should
be permitted at ALL The reporter asked II brandy had
not been prescribed In the institution until recently
in cases like that of Mrs. Warond to which the doctor
replied 1--WE supply 1t still in extreme cases. but In
chronic what good II efiectp IL only pro-
longs life of misery, and surely that cannot serve
the patient. For my part would not administer IL
In any case where the patient had broken down his
constitution by constant indulgence in alcoholic
LIQUORS."