New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-04
A VISITING MUSES. DUTIES.

ICAL CULTURE-vIsITING NURSES ATTACHED TO
THE DEMmT AND NEw-YoRK DIsPENsARfEs-
WHAT WAS SEEN AND HEARD BY REPORTER
WHO ACCOMPANIED ONE OF THEM.
i have received my list of calls, and we
start now" said the visiting at the Demilt
Dispensary.
The system OF visiting introduced at the
Dcmit Dspensary by the Society for Ethical Culture OF
which Professor Felix Adler is the head. While the
poor could formerly obtain gratitous advice from ply
slcans and medicines at the dispensares there was no
way by which the sick could receive except by the
hasty visits OF tue physicians. To q person liVlug
alone. or with the other members OF the
family engaged in work, nursing OF any descrip-
ton practically impossible. THIS induced
careessness in taking medicine and in observing proper
hygienic regulations The Society for Ethical culture
which, though founded largely for philosophical and
ethical researches, is connected with many works OF
benevoence and charity took up the matter ana rais
ing sufficient money, obtained educated and carefully
trained nurse, whO with the approval OF the physlcion
attached to the Dcmt Dispensary The dtpensary
physician on his daily rounds notes down the nvaids
who without sufficient The list is handed to
the nurse, who visits each case, taking med
cines deiicaces OF various kinds, ana even money
and clothing, all provided by the Society Tor
Ethical Culture, which bestowed upon the poor and
deserving. The gives the patient ali necessary
attention. and takes that he she is left in as
II
proved successful thar visiting nurse has also been
attached to the NewYOrk Dspensary. Both are gradu
aes of the Bellevue Training School for Nurses In ad
don to direct pecunisry aid the society constantly
eudeavOrs procure work for It's protGge and render
them independent and sef-supporting
The nurse was Just beginning her morning round of
calls spoke. The first that We shall see.
she continued, is not really patient. Ho is very
old. helpless man, whose wife died last Fall. took
care of her. He formerly butler IN family here
and the lady for whom lie had worked paid his rent
and supported him. little while ago found HIM one
morning the apparently In great trouble
| asked him what the matter was, and the
moor Old man burst into tears. Me only frint is did,
was all that he could say. The lady who had been so
kind to him had just died. and he was utterly alone ard
destitute. The society interested itself in him, as soon
as the ase was made known and he has been provided
for up to present time, when arrangements are
being made to secure him place IN a Home"
BY this time the nurse and her companion were at
house at First-aye. and Twenteth-st. Knocking at
door on the third floor, wte-haired man, neatly
dressed spite OF his apparent poverty. opened the
door and broke out EXPLANATIONS of pleasure at the
sight OF the nurse.
"Ah It's Welcome we miss, VOLTS in SPRING
How are you getting alongl" asked the nurse
pretty well miss thanks to you Please excuse tn
looks OF thiu g an it's sorry am have but Que chair
sit down on the bed sur"
You have not been working for time, have
your
All no. thrs nothin' for an old man like Inc to do
But it's not that havn't done well when I've had the
chqnce, sur" and going to his dapidated
bureau, after fumbling In its depths, he took out
time orn package Of letters that he had preserved
for mary years. The first letter written at Cork
Ireland in 1896 and stated that he had proved an hon.
est faithful and sober There others to
the same effect Ivy employers in Ireland, with OF
whom he had travelled extensively on the Continent,
rynnn m iipa IA which served in
this country.
They're all have left now, but they show I've done
what could, sur" said the old man with a touch OF
pathetic pride
Have you heard anything from the Home ateyr
"No, miss, but I'm expectn' TO hear every day.
know IT'S the best Thing me- thefe' be dale OF
common people there that I'll have to be with. But Pl
mind their rules an make trouble. Pa like YOU miss,
Az you, sur TO an me when I'm ut the Home"
The visitors left the room, and the old took up
again the paper he was reaiing.
While climbing the four gifts Of dark stairs leading
TO the little rooms IN the top the cneent-house No
421 East Nineteenth-st the smell OF dlsniectans
stantly grew stronger.
"There are three children here sick with scarlet
fever and dIphheria" said the " The father,
plasterer by trade out OF work for sometime.
and only gets odd jobs to do occasionally"
A tired. hageard woman walking, up and down
the bare room with a gaspng child IN her The
doctor and nurse gave their attention TO the chill
dren.
" Where is your husband to-day 2"
He's workin, sir, up at Eghty-sixthst. He walks
up an down. he HASN'T the money for err fares"
"You must have great deal of with these chill
drenp
lido, sir. I've not had my clothes off. nor hardly
slept wink for eight days and nights"
Your children are better" said the doctor
"I's thankful am for that. sir. Tm sorry have no
clean clothes for the baby. sir"
al have something that Will fit him." said the nurse,
and i'm a moment the baby rejolced IN the posses
sion Of a clean gown Leaving some deIlcscies and
medicines behind, the next place the list, No. 296
AvenueA, was visited IN the common living room,
from which opened two small bedrooms, the father,
mother and four children seated around table at
their frugal MONDAY meal Two more children were
boered up, one In crib, the other III char SICK with
''s, ANY more trouble with the landordi"
1--WE owes him for half OF last month and for this
mouth. We pays 81 month an he's said he'd turn us
out but now he's waitn TIL next week.
Are you at WORK nowl" addressing the man.
I'm worxin in the woodward. Ny hands show it,"
fingers we're missing II get 20 week. but it costs us
81 food and with the rent H. comes hard"
AT No 645 Eds- S,xteenthst., where we are going
next" the said, the man has rheumatism and
his wife tue last stages of consumption The child
Pm badly off today, !" said the man, the visitors
RSS ye u6 Sen SG S 's & Il: w s S
brought. She w4 SO gone 1t seemed to be the only
-" How ong nave you been I'm the country Z"
:" seven years" AN IL Il sOrra day we came"
broke in the wife.
"Tm an Engishman and n machinist by trade.
worked IN Limerick aud then was engineer in the
Ncuchate Paving Company for awhile, but IL failed and
/ haven't had anything to do We pay 50 month for
these looms and has left us and got married,
and don't know what would do II IT wasn't for this
help from the society"
will tell you about the people In the next place No
G54 East Sxeenth-st, after you SEQ them, said the
nurse she entered a light warm room, III which
German matrOn and peasantaced glrl were sew NJ
aud pressing coats Tber faces beamod with smiles as
the nurse entered and they pointed out ther new sew
sewing IN the next roOm seemed To share.
o. yes, we have plenty of work." they said. We
do ten or a dozen coats week and we get 70 cents
coat and then pay out about 20 cents for button
holing." go
They all seemed as happy and prosperous as possible
shori time ago. SAID the nurse, alter leaving the