New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-06
HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES ACCUSED.

Considerable attention has been attracted IN fae-
ersoa * by Sesrg Ess %SG bssidng in which
patients suffering from smallpox aie a;naoso ore
Others who have been exposed TO the dlsease ale
ouarantined When the smallpox became preValenV
IN Paterson the health authorities engaged tne
services of DIR. s. Cyrus Townsend, young pn.S
stefan of this city, to take charge OF ,ne pa, man
named tireayes. Some weeks ago charges OF drunk
enness and neglect made against these oiclais
BY discharged Hnd C made an
announced visit to the hospital at the dead OF nRh
and finding everything in good order and the attend
ants sober and Vigilant, concluded that there was
no truth In the charges. Recently runors OF some
thing wrong at the City Hospital began 10 DC RE
again. and they found the more ready credence DC,
cause of the large proportion OF deaths whicn nau
taken place at the institution, as compared WIN
those among patients who were quarantned al thelI
homes DIR. Townsend, at the meeting OF tne DoaIu
of Aldermen on last Monday night, sent o communi,
cation, asking that the charges against MIN shoiu
be investigated. The matter was referred 10 inc
Committee OH Health, which decided that there
was not enough bass for the rulnOrs 10 WarIauV
even investigation. III,
A number of former inmates of the hospital build
ings however tell stories which, If true, snow
bad state OF affairs there under the present manage
ment. Mrs. Ward, OF No. u Elm ST., whose grahu-
son died of smallpox IN the hospital says that inc
doctor insisted on giving the child doses OF pure
brandy; that this was the principal medicine az
mlustered, and that ten minutes before the chlld
died the doctor gave him dose OF brandy anu as
sured her that he would be all right III short time.
Mrs. Ward also asserts that a man named Jacobus,
who died in the hospital was lett alone all OF the
night before be died. that patients were often lett
for hours without attendance and that she had ire
quently given food and drink TO patients herself;
Mrs. Farrell an inmate of the county jail, VINO mad
been sent there charge of disorderly conduct,
relates that she one OF the first persons VINO
went to the hospital, she having accompanied
thither her son, sixteen years OLD, VINO was slch
with the smallpox. She asserts that one nlBnt the
physician ana superintendent were Doth drunk,
and that a smallpox patient who became mother
was utterly neglected at the time she most needed
attention Both mother aud child died soon after
ward She also says that patients did not get
enough 10 eat ana drink. Her son, James Farrell,
corroborates his mothers stCry and states that the
supeuntendent struck hItle boy because ne uld
not take llls medicine quickly as he was Dld.
Some OF the patients tell very different story
James Cottam, who lives at No. Il MulDelry-st',
and who was IN the hospital during mid attack,
declares that the doctor and superintendent dld
their best with the means at their command, anu
that food ana attention were all that cOulu DO
expected. Thomas Kennedy, age twenty, also III
sisCS that there no cause Tor complaint on ine
part OF the inmates Thomas Gardiner, another iOI-
mer inmate cOrrODOrates Kennedys statements, Dut
say $ that Dr. townsend was certainly so drunk that
he could not walk on Friday, September 10. Inc
statements of these persons were published III the
Paterson papers last evening and created % sensa-
ton. 1t Is thought that the official investigation
demanded by DR.. Townsend will now be had.
Two cases OF smallpox and one death from the
disease we've reported yesterday.