The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-16

SMALLPOX HospataI-A visit 60 II, dke.
| Hearing rumors that there was great ne.
gect of the sick at this hospital, aud some
OF my patients having been lately sent there,
l concluded to see for myself, and so went
out day before yesterday. The entrance to
| the grounds Is through small opening about
four by two feet, and was informed sfter
| getting there that no one was allowed to
enter the grounds. There seemed to be the
idea that not even doctors had right to
enter. AS this is public institution take
II for granted that any physician who goes
there for proper objects has a right to de-
mand admittaDee. But this in passing.
The special complaint that had from the
parties themselves was that q child that l
consented might go there IA white girl six
years old) had never been treated by the
doctor; that he was never nearer to her
than eight or ten feet, and that she bad to
be brought down to him from the second
story TO be looked at, at the distance indl-
Gated above; and that, In the opinion OF the
parents, the child bad died from neglect.
When / consented that this patient might
go to the hospital 1t was promised that she
and her father and mother would be put
into one tent. Why this was not done l
do not know. l saw two good tents pitched
in the shade, but they were not occupied.
The superintendent denied the charges
in general about the treatment OF this child,
but admitted that he brought her down
stairs wrapped in a shawl so that the doctor
might see her. The superintendent also
said the mother and father had not properly
nursed this child, and hence her death.
The male white patient OF mine that was
taken TO the hospital this week was well
20 rod FOR and coana1 xuall oatioHoH Ha hoA
no complaint TO make. He was the only
white person in the hospital. There were
twenty negroes under treatment-the most
OF them we'll on the road to health, furnish
ishing plenty OF nurses for those very sick.
The house is hardly worthy Of the name
of hospital. But the less house the better
for the sick. There is a fine grove back Of
the hospital, and most OF the patients were,
very wisely, lOungiDg under the trees.
There is one thing greatly needed in this
hospital, and there is no excuse for It's abb
sence-nOt even the niggardy policy OF the
City Council: There should be a resident
physician.
At one time forty patients were in this
hospital. In this number of patients there
would probably occur crises in the condl-
tion OF several OF them in the twenty.four
hours demanding change in treatment, and
upon this prompt change will often depend
the life OF the patient. No one can tell when
this change will occur. II may take place
at night as well as day, aud an uneducated
person cannot recognize this change. A
patient very i'll with this or any other dis
ease had better be seen two or three times a
day. This cannot be expected OF the pres
ent attending surgeon, who really ges no.
thing for his services, | understand, the
smallpox hospital being an appendage to
the almsbouse hospital The liberal COun-
Gil bad once agreed to pay a very excellent
physician S5 day for attendance upon the
hospital when it was open, but upon re1ec.
ton (th0ugh the hospital was not open for
two years ill lately 'he committee in charge
concluded the city "cOuId not stand" this
extra expense, and bence required Of the
almshOuse surgeon this additional and most
disiasteful duty.
1t would be we'll for the committee TO
advertise for an experienced doctor TO
reside in this laZarettO-DOt forgetting to
state that not more than a oal-beayer's
wages. say 1888 per day, viii be paid far
his services, and that so soon as the hos
pital is closed he Will be "turned out to
grass" | wonder what lawyer OF good
standing and experience in his profession
would charge to go out there and take the
deposition Of these twenty patients for Two
months, being cut off from bis family aud
friends during that time? make this pro.
position TO aid the committee in getting
them 10 form some estimate Of the value Of
a doctors services in The premises. There
are some law firms on Main between
Eleventh and Twelfth that might be con-
suited on the subject. Ii is to be supposed
that doctors time and services would be
as valuable as a lawyers under the circum.
stances.
For good reasons withhold my name to
this communication, but it can be bad at
the Dispatch Office by any one interested.
Respectfully, NJ. ID.
JUIY IL 1891