St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-13
CITY HOSPITAL.
A Visit to the Institution It's History
and Present Condition.

By invitation OF city and county physician. DR..
Ancker, GLOBE reporter yesterday afternoon
paid a visit 10 the institution known Is the city
hospital For the benefit OF those who may not
have been aware OF the existence of such an in
stitution in ST. Paul, IL may be said that the hos
pitaI is located short distance beyond the Short
Line crossing on 3 beautiful plateau. situated
between the high bluff that over
looks the river and West Seventh street.
At nrst glance the building and surroundings
strike the beholder as being the ancestral estate
OF some well 70 do country gentleman. And, in
fact such is partially the case, the main part OF
the building having been originally built and oc-
cupied by the late DR.. Stewart. Some twelve
years ago the city purchased the property. St.
Paul al that time being comparatively a village,
and no doubt the authorities thought they
doing a big thing in the interests OF suffering
humanity and charity. Since then
modest little wing addition has
been added to the building and while 81. Paul
has taken her position in wealth, rapid develop
ment aud her cosmopolitan spirit OF enterprise
as one OF the foremost cities Of the land, her
charitable institutions have been permitted 10
shamefully langnish II was not until Dr. Ancker
the present young and accomplished and euier-
p.ising incamb bent. took charge ut the hospital
some fifteen months ago that any improvement
at all was made. During his brief term OF Office
Dr. Ancker, seconded by the board OF CONTROL
has succeeded in building a small addition TO the
hospital, but even now The room and conyenien-
ces are ont Of all proportion 10 the pressing
wants and immediate requirements Of the hospi
tai. At present the hospital contains a total OF
81 beds and this for city Of 100, 600 inhabitants.
An idea OF how those in charge and the patients
are pressed for room may be learned faom the
fact that room has 10 suffice for the accom-
mediation of the female nurses and the matron,
while the male nurses are actually compelled TO
sleep with the convaescent patients. At pres
enl the hospital contains forty-fve patients, the
average number for last year being about thirty
five. During last year ahout 375 patients were
accommodated a. the moderate cost Of $4,000,
including the permanent improvements and the
physicians salary. The salary Of the latter Is
only 81 500 aud when il is considered that he has
10 buy all his own medicine and supplies out Of
this sum, IL viii be seen that
the remuneration is quite beggarly.
Since June the hospital has provided for thirty
cases OF typhoid fever, Of which only four died,
two OF which we're moribund when brought to
the hospital.
The pressing want Of the hospit al il more
room, it being cruel to hive patients together as
at present The idea OF DR.. Ancker in this re-
spect is capital; he proposes the erection OF an
isolated pavilion on the hospital grounds
for the accommodation OF patients.
building TO accommodate, say sixty, could be
erected at a cost OF less than Si5,0 and the
proper authorities should use their best endeav-
ors 10 see that the idea : carried out. By this
means the patients suffering from contagious
diseases could be isosted and thus an Away i'm
pending danger obviated.
Another pressing want is the necessity
for steam plant TO warm the
building. AT present there are fifteen stoves In
the building and there is constant danger Of the
place taking fire, in the event of which some Of
the patients would either burn TO death OF die
from removal or exposure. The necessity for
this change is apparent and it should be made at
once, the horse is old and the superannnated
hues and chimneys are liable to
bring catastrophe a. any time.
The water supply is also sadly deficient. the
water being now brought to the building by
means of a windmill
The above suggestions barely indicate the
pressing needs OF the hospital, and are given for
what they a worth.
Il may be said that DR.. Ancker and his able
staff. consisting Of Assistant DR.. Burke, Mrs.
Yeaux, head nurse, Mrs. Reynolds. matron, and
Mrs. Stone. assistant nurse have done all In their
power TO make the most of the circumstances and
the institution has been brought up to the high
est plane OF usefulness possible under the cir
cumstances. The hospital is as clean and tidy as
a new pin, and an examination of the bed cloth
ing and other appurtenances demonstrated that
everything possible is done that can contribute
10 the comfort ease Of the patients, besides
the food is wholesome and there is plenty OF il,
If the elegant report spead before the writer yes
terday is any criterion. The hospital is the asy
lum OF all the destitute sick and poor in the city
and county and the sooner the chan ges indi-
Gated are man the greeter credit viii lie re-
Elected, "for The greatest Of these is charity"