National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-29
THE SMALLPOX HOSPITAL.


Probably very many of the numerous visitors to
the District jail are unaware of the fact that the
neat white wooden building, Of barrack like de.
sign, standing on the knoll east Of and between
the institution first. named and the river is used
as pest house or smallpox hospital by the city
authorities The site is II very pretty one, and the
G. neral external appearance inviting; but not
withstanding these facts the locality is
given wide berth by those not COM
PEELED to visit it. The energy and enterprise of
THE REPUBLICAN could not, of course, be repelled
by the fears Of ordinary mortals, and one of its
corps not being as the old durkey said, skeered
of the cease" sent to interview the physicians
in charge, and learn anything Of interest to the
outside world that light be found in that isolated
quarter. DR.. Llewellyn Eliot is the physician in
charge, and not having been beyond the limits of
the smallpox estate since the 9th of last January
and as The REPUBLICAN was, as he said,
HIS FIRST VISITOR
in all that time, our reporter was warmly well
coined Our reporter started in by asking him If
he had Captain Howgate concealed about the es-
tablishment, to which he responded that the Cap
tain had not as yet sought the seclusion that q
smallpox hospital grants, If there was any doubt
ON this point he desired that we should say to the
Marshal that his doors were Us open as those of u
milk dairy. "I have, though" said the Doctor,
"had visitors, several Of them from the jail who
were permitted to come to me without the attend
ance OF baiiff. Que ofthe;e
TOOK FRENCH LEAVE
on the night of the oath instant. His name was
Arthur Jackson, aud be had yet nearly six months
to serve. His behavior was so good that was
cndeayorng to effect his release at the time he
decamped.'
The building is quite roomy, having two large
wards and several small rooms. The wards are
used one for male aud the other for female pa
tientS, and the smaller rooms for special cases.
Everything is ns clean and neat as II is possible for
a building 10 be. The walls inside and out give
evidence of fresh coats Of lime, the floors look
bright, and the cots contain clean and comfortable
We'll, This is not such bad place, afler all"
remarked our man, after looking things over.
"Oh, mol" responded the Doctor, THAT holy
horror in which the generality of persons hold a
hospital for the treatment OF cases OF smallpox soon
vanishes from the minds of our patients and the
trouble Is that when the time comes Tor their dis
charge they are
10TH TO LEAVE US.
They usually want to stay around and act as
nurses or help in some other capacity. My con-
yalescents all work, you Will notice, and are glad
to have some employment. We take good care OF
them while sick and give them good bed and
board when on the upgrade, 50 that VIII, n they
get on their feet again they really feel at home,
here during their outbreak have been from the
poorest classes Of the negro community, and they
| homes us they received ~ our hands"
How many patients have you in all now, doc
tori, -., . - 80, ,o,,.
What is the total number which has been
| treated since the present outbreak"
| 81 lave had thirty-cight patients IN oil, and
| fourteen deaths have occurred"
| "Isn'l that u pretty hign rate of mortality"
Yes very high. The disease has been Of n very
| malignant and extraordinarily fatal type, and
| what l. strange, very many of the worst cases
| have, after complete recovery, had what seemed
| 10 be a secondary eruption OF tine disease"
al suppose you are prompt in making inter-
menls2'
| "Y,s; we don't waste much time Graves arc
kept ready dug, ana II is not far from the hospital
| 10 our private cemetery
| "lo oyuugve discharged patients clean clolhes2'
| "Oh, yest from the skin out, and disiniect them
| thOrou-hly at that.
| " What is done with the old clothing2"
"Oh, that, with all bedding, &c, from infected
| premises, is burned np very II tie Is saved. Only
occasionally piece that can be dis'niected and
used in the hospital"
All the patients Mt the present time I'm the hos
pltal are cUlored persons, aud the Doctor informed
| us that only Two whites have been admitted thi
| year while every case with but two exceptions
occurring in the District during the outbreak ba
| been removed IN the hospital, Dr, Eliot has hi
| force at present engaged in making II road and
| PRTPARISG FLOWER BEDS
around the hospital. lie says he Is going to asl
| the Agricultural Department for supply of howe
| seed and hopes soon TO have mis- place one of tn
mos, attractive looking places OF summer resort IL
| his section.