Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-02-01
rHl covnry llosp'rAl.

Character OF the Inmates Descrip-
tion Of the Building : Credit to
the Supervisors DR.. Hannoas
Devotion to His Charge The EN-
ployes Knights Hospitaier.
EDIroK HERALD:-The County Hos
pitalis one of the institutions Of which
Los Angeles may well be proud. as it af-
fords a shelter for the sick. MANNED and
helpless, who would otherwise be left to
the cold charity Of the world 1t is the
welcome asylum Of many unfortunates.
who have been unkindly treated in the
battle Of life. Here you may find some
who have enjoyed the luxuries Of wealth,
Others who have had good education,
and not a few who have been able-bodied
men, capable OF doing the hardest work.
Now they are seen in the trembling
paralysis. the ho.' .less consumptive or
the wheeling asthmatic. 1t is a mourn
ful spectacle, but the visitor cannot fail
to be thankful that they have such
shelter and subsistence.
THE INMATES.
Among the inmates are a number of
old men, to whom the hospital is haven
Of rest One, an old Frenchman, s3
years old, insists on being allowed to
start to his mines in Lower California.
though he can hardly walk 100 yards
without falling. Another vagary is that
he will be in Paree in three months. He
is good natnred, however, aud has an
appetite like an ostrich.
The "Growler," so-called, died re-
Gently, but his memory still terrorizes
the institution. When he found his
growing fell on deaf ears he died in
despair Should St. Peter be slow in
turning that rusty key in the gate of
heaven he will stir himself up with
hospital growl, and should he fail to get
q golden harp and front seat before
the throne. a deeper growl will re-echo
through the arches Of heaven.
"Old Mary" another OF the old hsb-
itues, departed this life last Saturday
morning. At one time she was chamber.
maid at the old Lafayette Hotel, and
owned some real estate, but when she
died she was penniless. Long suffer
ing partially bereft her of reason and
she had number Of pecularities. One
was q habit Of making constant com
laints. and another childish habit of
hiding candles and other hospital slor. $.
and demanding more. The artIcies, which
could do her M good, and were after
wards foand among her effects, show that
she was harmless kleptoman:ac.
Another patient, Dalmatian who had
been a wharf hand at San Pedro, arrived
about two weeks ago, suffering from a
terrible rupture. 70 attempt cure,
hole had to be cut in his stomach, but
he stood it heroically. He was after
wards removed to the French hospital,
where supplemental operation was
performed successfully, but he died two
days afterwards of exhaustion. He left
$500 10 his father in Dalm4tia, but it is
poor substitute for dutiiul son.
Another of the institutions is hypo-
chondriac who imagines he has ali the
diseases in the medical calendar. When
the wind blows from the northwest he
points wierdly in that direction, and in
sists that that is the point from which
the disease comes. He thumps his breast
a la Sullivan to cure heart disease,
grinds his teeth ferociously to allay the
asthma, aud uses second. hand
electric battery that rattles like thresh
ing machine, to reduce dropsy. He
don't want to die just yet. as he. has
not been TO church for five years. He
sends for priest almost daily. thinking
he is about to die, but manages to be
frat at meal times and last to leave. He
has worried the patience Of the rever-
end fathers almost beyond endurance,
though after their departure he gener-
ally spends an hour in silent prayer, ev-
identity trying to atone for his past dere-
LECTION in church duty. He claims to
have discovered perpetual motion but
will not patent it. as he expects to die
soon. He has holy horror Of the bath
house and has to be washed by force.
Having dread of dying at night he
sleeps all day and then keeps the in2
mates Of his ward awake at night by
grinding his teeth and humping his
breast to cure his numerous diseases.
A few days ago the widow Of the Ital-
ian barkeeper. who suicided after put
ting bullet into her, was discharged,
cured Of her wound. Though 20 years
old she had the ways Of child and was
facetiously named Daisy. A few days
after her discharge this volatile daughter
Of Italy came in high glee and informed
her hospital friends that she was about
to be married to one Of her countrymen.
She goes to her husband with bullet in
her body. the last fond gift Of his jealons
predecessor.
An old Mexican veteran, well known
in this county. is now a hopeless para
lytic. HIS palsied head aud shaking
limbs make him helpless charge. He
is unable to move from his chair with
ont assistance, though he can shuttle
with uncertain gait when on his feet.
Kelly, whilom assistant at Col. Thomp-
sons Hotel, has been appointed ralet de
chansbre to this unfortunate man and has
already acquired the title Of lightning
feeder"
The only colored patient died last Sat.
urday evening at 6.l5, after sinking into
Q lethargy that ended in painless death.
He was well known in Los Angeles, and
his friends may feel assured that he had
the kindest treatment in his last illness.
There are in the Hospital veterans of
the Mexican War and veterans of the
late war, both Union and Confederate.
Their warfare now is with disease or ac-
cident, and all will extend them good
wishes for victory. Many q man has
finished his earthly race here, and the /
unmarked grave may contain hero
while imposing marble shafts are reared
above unworthy men. Far away from
home and friends many pass away, leav-
ing aching hearts TO mourn and void
that cannot be filed; but the sorrowiag
ones may be certain that the departed
were soothed by the kindest care.
THE BUILDING
Is commodious and comfortable, the
basement being devoted to the kitchen,
washroom and store rooms. The first
floor is divided into six wards, one of
them being for consumptives, and also
contains the Office, library, bath house
and dining room. The second floor is the
women's department. The wards are
commodious, clean and we'll ven
tilated and the beds are sub
stantial and comfortable. The bed-linen
and clothing of the patients are changed
weekly, washing being done twice a
week. Every new patient on arrival Is
introdu uccd to the bath. room and enjoys
the luxury Of hot bath. II necessary
q change Of clothing is furnished, so that
the most perfect cleanliness is secured.
The wards are swept out daily and the
wholehouse thoroughly scrubbed weekly.
THE BILL OF FARE.
The dining is largo room and
the attendants are inmates, who perform
their duties faithfully. The table is
well supplied with substantial food, the
patients receiving such ad-
ditional delicacies as their health de-