Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-15
LOCAL NEWS.
The Proposed General Hospital.

LOSAL IN Il w -.
The Proposed General Hospital.
REPORT OF THE CoMMTTrEE-INTERvIKw WITH
THE COMMISSIONERS.
We have heretofore given the particulars OF
the movement Of prominent citizens, members
OF the medical profession and others, in behal!
OF The organization OF q General Hospital for
this District The affair has taken definite
shape, and committee appointed at a meeting
OF citizens, have prepared a report upon tie
needs and requirements OF such an institution
Among these who took part in this meeting
were MeSSrS. Thomas j. Durant. chairman
John Eaton, Commissioner OF Education; John
A. Baker, A. S. SolomonS, S. V. Niles, w. :
thompson, b. G. Lovetoy, VIM H. Claggett aud
Drs. Noble Young. j. NJ. Toner, n. S. Lincoln,
johnson Eliot, j. Ford Thompson, S. C. Busey,
A. \. p Garnett, F. b. Loring, W. G. Palmer. c.
T. Hagner, A. F. A. King, Ralph Walsh, ID. W.
Prentlss, VIM. Lee, F.. A. Ashford, c. II. A.
Ardle. J.Taber johnson, s. S. Adams Swami NJ
others.
The committee on the report were Ora John
son Eliot. f. A. Ashford, VIM. Lee and Hon
Thos. j. Durant; with DR.. ID. w. Preltiss. secre-
tary. Their report, addressed TO the District
commissioners, is 10 the following effect:
Your earne~- consideration is respectfully in
vlted TO the great necessity which exists In this
District for general hospital This urgent need
has been, from time TO time, brought to the
Il.
the medical faculty, and by various other ciri.
Zens who have had opportunities for knowing
the very limited facilities which exist for The
general care and proper treatment OF the largs
class OF sick poor Ia this community. Ever
since the burning OF the Inf1rmary nearly 20
years ago, this District has been without any
organized general hospital over which the aa-
thorlties had any control, except the unhealthiiy
located Aims House Hospital. SO obtectIonab.s
Tor this purpose on account OF its tnacceSS.bii'y
as well as its relation to the Aims House. There
IL taff7 f7aor tn.
as well as the superintendent, have done every
thlng In their power 10 use their poor facil!tie,
10 the best advantage yet the prompting OF hu-
man1ty, as well as popular Consideration csG
fora separation OF the deserving sick-poor from
the vagTant and the criminal classes Advanced
civilization has everywhere bestowed its ten.
derest sympathieS upon the unfortun lte sicx
and suffering, so that in every city OF this couu.
Try whose population approXimateS that OF this
DlStrlct, plideS and congratuateS Itself upoa
the poss ession Of well organized general hos
p1tal Independent OF its Aims House.
Leaving out OF consideration humanitari AZ
promprlngs, true economy IN dealing with The
SICK poor OF any community dictates those
means which will soonest and most effectIalty
restore such untortunateS TO health and to q
capabllity OF supporting themselves and Their
Families, thus relieving The community. as soon
as possible, OF their maintenance, nursing, &C.
To attain this they should be placed In the mos
favorable conditions for recovery, heaithily 10
ca,ed, with every attention TO proper sanitar,
and hygienic laws, with good and careful nurs
lnS. III addition. the very best medical and
SuIglca! skill should be invoked for their proper
treatment. AT present, the hospital accomno-
dations for the sick are comprised, except the
Aimshouse, In the Providence hospital whica
Is uLder the care and control or the Sisters OF
Charity, with limited number OF beds for the
use or transient paupers. non-resideGts OF the
DlStrlCf; the Freedmen'S hospital and aSy,um
for the colored race; the Columbia Lying In a.
YUM, exclusively for women peculiarly affected:
and the Chlldren'S hospital for children only
None OF these hospitals are under munictpal
MANAGEMENT although m nfb
in part, are supported out OF the District treas
ury; nevertheless they have served well the pur-
poses had In view by their establishment,
and reflect great credit upon their project
ors and patrons. 1t Will thus be apparent
that no adult resident male, aud but
few resident females chose suffering with dis-
eases peculiar to womeD) have any hospital ac-
cemmodations whatever provided for them 2
The District, except such as is furnished at III
Aims House. The distance OF the Aims House
often Is great bar to the safe removal Of vefs
SICK or dangerously wounded patients. For
contagious diseases or for those classes OF in
durable diseases, which should never be ad-
mitted to well regulated hospital. protection
OF the community by isolation makes 1t desira-
bic that all such should be removed from the
populous portions OF the District; but, for ord,
nary sickness, for very dangerous illnesses, fjr
the subjects OF accident, or those OF injuries
humanity and convenience alike dictate Thai
the Institution for their care and promOt treit-
ment should be centrally or, at least conve-
niently located The immense area as well
the great bulk OF the population west
and north OF Providence Hospital l.
entirely without any hospital accom-
modatlons OF general character. II moreover
behooves this District, aS well as other like az
gregations OF population, TO preserve a well
organized hospital service In the event of any
OF those fearful disasters which, unfortunately.
are all TOO frequent In the presence OF any
such calamity, when large numbers might be
wounded or be stricken with epidemic disease.
our authorizes would be powerleSs to afford
that prompt and efficient relief which Should
IN ms md Ina
pendent OF the duty which every municipality
owes TO its unfortunate citizens there are ad-
vantages accrulng to It's population which al
pays rebound tots prosperity. While hospitals
primarily have for their object the relief OF
suffering, the cure OF disease and tie
preservation OF life. there are many other
sick-poor is directly and indirectly rewarded.
SOME OF the more direct ways Ia
which these advantages are manifested, grow
out OF he very performance OF this benevolent
practice. For instance, the medical profession
upon Which every community depends SO much
for the preservation OF its health for the RELIEF
OF IT'S suffering, and the ameloration OF the
evils OF disease, viii be made more efficient ana
stronger for the accomplishment Of its humane
functions In proportion as It's members al
VaIce Id knowledge. In skill, and in the pracf-
needs OF humanity, will every family and every
citizen be made debtor to those factors which
1aVor this announcement No one can doub:
that hospital advantages are to the physician
or surgeon what the workshop or laboratory
are to the mechanic or artiZan. The medical
men who practice In hospitals are not Only
Denettted In becoming more skillful and prac-
ucal, but the young men, the students who are
to follow and upon whom will rest the grave
responsibilities pertaining TO the life and
Lealth OF the community as whole ana its citi-
Zens as individuals will be better qualified from
hospital service and experience 10 fulfill to
greater extent and more effectively the obliga
uonS devOlved upon them. But not only through
the medical profession will advantage accrue TO
the people. No one who has had any expe-
rteIce With sickness can faii TO have observed,
II net experienced, the often sad deficiencies OF
nurses. A good general hospital would offer
facilities In this direction also. The school for
nurses could here find the proper field for the
cultivation OF system OF training which would
ut its pupils for the intelligent care and man.
age ment OF the sick, suffering and helpless.
This is q matter that concerns the interest or
every family In this District, for no family can
expect altogether to escape disease or the emer-
gel cies which may place their lives and happi-
uesS In the hands OF incompetent nurses. Then,
again, it will add to the general prosperity or
II e District by fostering Indirectly our medical
schools. The great lack or hospital advantages
dives many students from this District yearly
ard keeps away hundreds who would rather
on account OF the advantages which the seat vi
government offers, obtain their education here
than elsewhere. Every student who comes to
this District, or who is retained here adds ma
teIially to its prosperity ana advancement b.
sides il helps TO fix here the great centerS OF
learning and research On much dasirad nd