New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-10
VALUABLES LOST IN HOSPITALS.

HOW THE PROPERTY OF PATIENTS rs CARED FOR.
David NJ. Earl, who was recently patient at
Chambers Street Hospital lost valuable watch and
sum OF money while In the Institution. and has thus
unable his property get damages
from tho authorities OF the hospital superintendent
Parks, OF the Chambers Street Hospital, said
that such loss extremely rare, Mr. Earls being
the first In his experience. hen asked II tho
ayers the hospital would hold themselves responsible
for such losses Mr. Parks said that he could not say
positively all questions OF that kind decided by
a special committee but there question III this
case as to the and OF the missing property he
thought that Mr.. Eari's claim would be recognized
DR. H. V. widman, one OF the resident physicians OF
Bellevue Hospital gave n brief outline OF the system
pursued at that institution
"D, you often have such Losses Mr.. Earl complains
OF Z" he was asked.
don't see how IL possible under present regu
latlous for all yauabes taken by the head
immediately to Warden o'Rourke who makes out a
ceipt which is handed to the patient his discharge
and patient dies It Is given TO the friends rea
tives who have just claim"
"Does the warden keep the property here r.
$50 II sent to the secretary OF the Department Of
Public Charities and Correction and presentation of
the receipt from Warden ORourke the property Is de-
liyered 20 the bearer"
Jacob Curtis, a clerk who has been at Bellevue for
some years said that he could recall case where a
patient property either through negligence theft
The clothes OF patient on admission placed In
separate compartment similar to the compartments in
hotel coat-roOms. His and the number OF the
are entered In the book So OF clothes
IA practically impossible Mr. Curtis said
an unusual thing Ind considerable OF money
tho clothing of patients who presented the aspect OF
abject poverty lie cited the OF insane patient
nj Wards Island who had concealed In different parts
of his clothing between 800 and $500.
The chief clerk at Roosevelt Hospital I'm speaking OF
Mr. Earl sad Yea of make "A
great row when they lose anything, and yet 10 Is im
only month ago the day orderly representing himself
TO patient as one having authority got al bis money
What precautions are taken to prevent such losses
Every precaut On is taken and losses extremely
valnabes morey, ewelry and the superintend
ent aud gets =.ceipt which he retains and when dis
receipt In case OF DEATH the goods are dely
cred TO his friends or relatives"
What do YOU do with he clothes I" next asked.
"We enter list OF them on book used for
that purpose, with the name Of the owner and
Ss Srs 8 SoSe. room clean aSa the
is suffering from no infectious disease; Other
aisiniec,ed before being Racsd IN the clothes room
denis IN large hospitals. Only last night one Of our
patients escaped and man with shattered knee pan at
's How did It happen aud why do you use tho word
escaped =" was the natural question.
about Sn but snS Ss f cs G arg these ts
was shot by policeman some e two weeks weeks ago
while trying 10 get INTO carpet stOfo
and his knee cap shattered. He arrested and
sent here treatment Last night he managed 10 slip
out OF the ward got out OF OF the windows the
ground floor lie climbed the fence and that's the
last we we OF him. The Waterman must have been
absent for moment, but such things will happen unless
Won have some one swatch the watchers. -
superintendent Ludlam, OF the New-Y0rk Hospital
said don't know about this Chambers Street
sdair except what rye read In the papers. We have
never during my administration had similar case here,
and imagine 1t Is extremely rare in any OF the hos
pitfalls
to patients T. ,-
opton OF the patient In all III the patient be In
responsible condition he just as At hotel keep his
yauables at his own risk or deposit them with me and
have them locked up"
aDo you give receipt when the money or jewelry is
left with you =
the amount OF money and the ewery any In the book
and It is rather the exception to give receipt. Al
though as say IL Is optional with ehe patient whether
he shall keep his money and ewery not In cases
comes here with delirium tremens, for example and
has money and yaluables, VIC always take them In
charge as he Is In condition TO lock after his own
property"
In OF loss after vauabes have been intrused to
YOU do authorities hold themselves responsible
such case has arsen but should cay on gem
eral principles that the hospital would DO bound TO make
Qood such loss. +"