The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-17
IN A NEW YORK HOSPITAL.
EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATIONS
OF A PATIENT.
How n Patient ts Received -Batbs,
Hcds, Nurses ami Medical Attend-
nmce-keIigiOna and Recreation,

peTlenCe III Une SWn columns as follows (.
was turned over to the senior house
surgeon, and by him catcchized as to my
place of birth, age, habits of life, con-
stitution, previous sicknesses and their
character, and everything bearing upon
the ailment for which was to be treated
l was then assigned to bed in the men s
surgical ward. Each iron bed is hung
with white lawn curtains suspended from
iron rods. These are drawn back to al
low free access to light and air, but may
be closed if an examination by the sur
geons or the dressing of injuries is neces-
sary. Upon entering the hospital each
patient is offered bath in a we'll
equipped bath room, and then put in
bed, where the linen is fresh and clean.
The lavatories and other outer appoint
ments of the hospital are modern
and of excellent quality. The opera
ting room where the patient is taken
for etherization is on the first floor, and
out of sight or hearing of the patients
In any of the wards. / walked to the
operating room. After being there,
under the knife, over half an hour, as l
was told, l found myself in bed, thor
oughly bandaged, without having ex-
perienced any pain or having been con-
scious that the operation had been made.
Similar has been the experience OF every
patient who has spoken to me.
In the hospital there are six wards;
male and female medical ward for the
treatment of all patients not requiring
surgery and not afflicted with contagious
or infectious diseases male and fe-
male surgical ward for the treatment of
patients requiring surgery children's
ward for the medical and surgical treat
ment of all children of tender years and
a convalescent ward for the treatment of
patients partially recovered from their
complaints. In smaller building sep
arated from the main one at its western
wing, are two wards for isolated patients.
No patients afflicted with contagious
diseases are admitted into st. Luke's,
but if any patient under treatment for
other complaints is attacked by an in
fictitious disease he or she is at once re-
moved to the isolated ward
To patients afflicted with incurable dis
eases admission is refused under the hos
pital rules. Cases of mania potu, opium
taking, melancholia and incipient insan-
ity are rejected.
Short religious services are held each
morning in the several wards and in the
chapel each evening, accompanied by
music from the organ and choir. The
music floats through the sick wards
somewhat subdued in sound, and is both
soothing and pleasing to the patients.
Its influence daily, and especially on Sun
days when it is fuller and of longer dura-
ton, seems in all respects beneficial both
to the mind and the body.
Neither nationality, creed, nor color is
regarded in the reception of patients
Of 1,551 patients admitted and treated
during the year ending last st. Luke's
day, only $50 were of American birth
and only GOO were Episcopalians. The
remainder belonged to other Christian
denominations. Fifteen were Jews. OF
the 81, 2S8 patients who. at the date of
the last annual report, had been admitted
since the opening of the hospital in 1858,
$500 were Protestant Episcopalians, o.,
1924 were Roman Catholics, and the re-
mainder, excluding ninety-fve Hebrews,
belonged to various Protestant denomi-
nations. A proper respect for religious
services is expected, are regulations for
the observance of decent conduct and
language are enforced, but nothing moro
than any self-respecting man would vol
unfairly observe under like circumstances.
The seal motto, CORPUS sanare, amman
salvare," fairly indicates the purposes of
the management.
Here is the routine. At A. NJ. the
night nurse is relieved from duty and the
work of cleaning the wards, making the
beds, and putting each ward in order for
the morning visit of the house surgeon
and his assistants is done by the day nur-
ses, with occasional help from GONZALES
cent charity patients. At A. NJ. an
abundant breakfast is provided for pa
tients, adapted to the requirements of
each Fish is served on Wednesdays and
Fridays. The house surgeon, or physi-
clan, accompanied by his two assistants,
makes his morning rounds, commencing
at 8 A. NJ. He examines each patient in
dividually and prescribes such treatment
as he thinks proper. From 915 A. NJ. to
to 10 A. NJ. the pastor, or his assistant,
officiates at religious services in the
wards, each service occupying about five
minutes and consisting of the reading of
a portion of the Psalms and prayer. After
~ A. NJ. tllO SUI 5COlo oCO w IhC ulSooluS
of the injuries of such patients as require
it. Those whom the medical staff con-
slider fit are allowed to sit or walk in the
spacious grounds surrounding the hospi-
tai from 10 A. NJ. to l p. NJ, and again
from 3 p. NJ. to p. NJ. At / 80 p. NJ
dinner is served. Supper is served at
$3.50 p. NJ. One of the attendants
passes around the ward with cups of
milk between breakfast aud dinner and
between supper and bedtime. Religious
services are held in the chapel at & 80
p. NJ, daily. Those patients who are
able to do so may attend. The house
surgeon and his assistants then make
their evening rounds, leaving with the
night nurse and apothecary explicit in
structions as to the treatment of patients
At p. NJ, all patients are required to be
in bed. 1t is the duty of the nurse to
enforce order and quiet for the night.
One surgeon and one physician are on
duty each night in readiness for any call
The house surgeon and house physician,
with their resnectiye senior assistants