Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-10

refreshing wash, she sits down and
takes it in her lap. Here she does not
adopt this course. At half q dozen
points in the wards were tables about
three feet high, the tops padded and
infant had been duly doused in n of
the little baths that stood handy, the
nurse took it to mi of these tables, laid
it down fiat to receive a final polishing,
and then proceeded to swathe it in q
variety of napkins and bands and wrap
pings, the intricacy of which l can not
attempt to describe. It seemed a very
convenient method, and drew forth the
encomlums-of the ladies of our party,
more so, indeed, than did the physical
condition of most of the subjects that
were being operated upon. There was
a pitiful display of pinched and screwed
up little countenances, of puny, shriv-
eled arms and limbs, and even the
sounds of distress that now and then
arose seemed to be rather feeble whim-
perings than the hearty outpourings of
lusty lungs. I am convinced that the
free and independent American baby
can outbawl three Russians of similar
age and weight. One ward after an
other was a repetition of that which I
have endeavored to describe until the
babies and nurses seemed innumerable,
and in all these reigned an air of clean
illness and order that spoke emphatical-
ly of good management and supervi-
sion. This was the more ~praiseworthY,
since, from the very necessities of their
duty, the nurses were not the trained
staff to be found in ordinary hospitals,
but simply strong, healthy women,
able to supply nourishment to the found
lings.
In many cases they were the mothers
of the children they were nursing, for
any respectable woman bringing her
infant here is admitted to take charge
of it herself, is dressed in the uniform
Of the institution, and taken on the staff
for the six weeks that the child is al
lowed to remain. There is a slight diff
ference in the color of the uniform these
women wear, and / should Judge that
they form about one-third of the entire
staff. From the main wards we were
taken to the chapel, where the cere-
mony of baptism is performed, and
thence to the doctors quarters, where
autopsies are made in cases of doubt or
popularity. 1t was difficult to obtain
very definite information as to the rate
of mortality in the institution, but, judg-
ing from the appearance of many Of
the inmates, it must, in spite of care and
good sanitary arrangements, be heavy.
On a table in the DOCTORS room the day
we went there lay four small collins,
very plain and cheap, merely implanted
pine boards, but neatly put together
and bearing a cross on the lids, while
the tiny bodies within them were de-
Gently laid out with snow-white caps
and clothing, and bore evidence that
familiarity with death hadnot deadened
the sense of propriety among the at
PENDANTS of the hospital. In another
large room further on sat or stood some
twenty peasant women, each with q
child in her arms. These were the
foundlings who, after passing their six
weeks in the institution, were being
drafted off to be nursed in the country
and to take their chances of life or death
in the hands Of strangers. There is said
to be a very good supervision kept over
those to whom they are intrusted, and
as they are paid for at the rate of two
and a half rubles-say 81. 25-a month,
which, considering the poverty of the
people, is nc inconsiderable sum, there
would appear to be some inducement to
keep them alive. An infant deposited
in the Founding hospital can be claim
ed by its parents any time within three
years. At the expiration of that time
all individual claim ceases, and the I'M
claimed are brought up by the State I'M
til such time as they are of an age to
earn their own living in some way.
The system is a curious one altogether,
and the details are certainly carried out
in a manner worthy ofhigh praise.-Cor.
San Francisco Chronicle.