Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-18
THE HOSPITAL 1Nyrsr1eg,- ION.
Further Testimony Concerning It's Man
agement

the charges that had been made in the Sun
dag Leader against J. r. Lame, Superin
tendent of the County Hospital, was resume,
/ yesterday morning in the Office of that insti
! tuition, with all the members Of the Board o
Supervisors present. The entire day wa
spent in the hearing of the evidence. Thu
principals in the investigation were only pre-
vented from severely personal remarks by
vigorous orders from the Chairman.
Charles English, the first witness examined
testified as follows: Have been in the hospi
tai since October, 1879; knew Horstmeyel
and Schneider, the nurse; never knew Horst
meyer to complain for want of clothing, OF
Lame to refuse it /; he always had clothing
enough; knew Smith also, but never heard
him ask for anything he did not get he was
well treated know james Butterworth
know how often he has been here, as L in
dexed the old books, which had been neg
lected before DR.. Lame came here
within six months the difference in
his age, as shown by the books, was 90
years; | heard LAME and Mr.. Knowles, q
visitor, engaged in a conversation Laine
said he was trying to induce Butterworth to
be clean, and kept his clothes from him for a
day or two, and would let him have them the
next day.
Cross-examined- was in the ward
with me he frequently got chicken and
other articles not generally furnished he
was allowed whisky and wine, as he was con-
sumptiye; Butterworth had the paralysis;
was near Knowles and Lame when they were
talking, but did not hear Lame say he was
Furnishing Butterworth he was put to bed
eight days before, but was out with his
clothes the next day after the conversation
John Kane sworn: Came here as a patient
last September knew John Smith well WIS.,
tied him in the hospital every day when 1
first came here he complained of bad treat
ment under the old administration, but DIR.
Lame had treated him well L know he had
some stimulants he told me he had been
well treated by DIR. Lame never knew him
to complain for want of gin.
Robert Bley sworn: Came here November
2lst of last year; am a nurse Horstmeyer
and Smith were living there Horstmeyer
had two blankets, and he never complained
for want of them he often said he was zoo
warm, and asked me to remove the blankets {;
never heard Smith complain knew he had
stimulants; the physician every morn.
ing visits both the sick and paupers
anu OFutrS WHdV bucJ WISH ue VS.
its the sick oftener, if necessary !;
knew Mrs. Cantwell sat up nearly all night
with her the night she was so crazy l tended
to her and she was well treated no nurse ran
away in fear; know Butterworth; he was
not clean; until after he was blistered he
would not sweep about his bed as he was
asked to do; heard Laine tell him blister
would do him good I'put a fly blister on
him; they are often used; | took it off
twenty-five minutes after putting it on and
then dressed the blister properly dressed it
seven or eight times before it healed; zinc
oxide powder was put on as is usual; did not
know or hear that it was done for punish.
ment never heard the physician threaten to
punish anyone; he was given medicine to
loosen his bowels he was given plenty of tea
and bread, also got coffee for breakfast; pa
tients are sometimes given light diet.
Cross-examined-I am a general nurse and
go in all wards Mrs. Anderson had com
petent nurse; that night she was so bad the
doctor was not sent for as there was no ne
cessity for it. l applied one blister to But
terworth, and seven healing plasters; do not
know what he was dieted for, but he was
constipated; do not think he was very sick !;
he said once he was aged 62, then "a then so
wears Mrs. Anderson died of consump tion :;
the morning she died the doctor went to see
her directly after leaving her she sent for
him and he went at once; Mrs Lynch came
here she said she would not be confined for
four or five weeks; do not know who was
present when she was confined the day be-
fore the birth | vas in the ward; some one
spoke of her condition, and she said she would
not be confined for a month, and the doctor
said so too, and also the women of the ward /;
it was premature birth / know nothing Of
NTrs | vDch' ha ~ ri rarSnnallv
Thomas Sheehan sworn: Have been q
nurse here since the new year began; know
Bueterworth he often refused TO attend to
his bed and was insolent; he never com
planned of pain except in his back, sa ring it
was caused by being run over years ago he
told Dr. Lame so, and asked to have some
thing put on his back a blister was then put
on he was there in bed seven days; never
heard of anybody being jalloped" here he
was given all the bread and tea or coffee that
he wanted during the seven days, and several
times dried apples never heard anything
being said about punishment; the members
of the poorhouse are expected to clean their
own beds they are not required to do so if
feeble; he was put to bed so his back could
be treated his clothes were taken away so
we could keep him in bed.
Daniel Kienbortz testified Am q stew
ard, and put up medicine for patients /; it is
customary for the physician and myself to-
gether to visit all the patients every morn
ing knew Horstmeyer and Smith never
knew Smith to ask for GIN think gave him
stimulants once on LANES order it is his
custom to give consumptives liquor; never
knew any patients to work without stock
ngs have been in San Francisco County
Hospital think this is far better managed in
every respect; when Mrs. Anderson was
dying was there she gave DIR. Lame $40,
and he said he would take care of it know
Butterworth was put to bed !; he complained
of severe pain in the back, and asked for it
to be treated the doctor examined him and
ordered plaster; his clothes We're taken to
keep him in bed; since then he has cleaned
his bed and not complained, and has gone to
town several times | think he is cured 4;
don't think it was done to punish him;
gave him purgative composed of bicarbonate
of soda, compound spirits of lavender
and cape aloes; it is strong
remedy, and we gave him q good
dose, for he needed it; we applied but one
blister and it was perfectly dressed when the
desired effect was had. Mrs. Lynch was
here, and gave birth to a child. have ad-
ministered that purgative to almost every
one in the hospital and have taken an ounce
and three quarters myself; never knew DIR.
;
never heard Mrs. Lynch, Mrs Anderson or
the nurses complain of bad treatment from
DIR. Laine.
Peter Grierson testified as follows Have
been an inmate since October %, 1879, to
March 4th i; had the dysentery AID dropsy;
was well treated, and have no complaint to
make have taken that purgative, and think
it good, judicious one.
J. w. Thompson sworn Was an inmate
of the hospital three weeks; was well salts
fed with my treatment, and there was gen.
eral satisfaction here; never knew any cruel
treatment.
The prosecution stated that they were will
ing to admit that the general management
was good, and only asked for an investigation
Of the specific charges that had been made,
and not a general investigation.
Supervisor Bauer said the Board intended
to find out all about the matter, and if there
was ground for complaint in any case,
whether or not publication had been made.
Herman Shute stated he had been an in
mate and was well treated, and knew of no
one being n,istreated. There was no COM
plant in my ward.
John n Larkin, when sworn, refused to
state who was the author of certain articles
in the paper it may have been stated in the
Leader that the hospital was managed in an
| inhumane manner; | am responsible fol
| what We have published will not tell who
dictated the first abusive article ; l refuse to
| answer who was the author of the first arti'
Gle published.
Cross-examined-I was never biased in the
publication of the articles never knew DR.
| Lame; thought the publication was due the