The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-11-19
IN A NEW YORK HOSPITAL.
HPERrENoE AND OBSERVATIONS
OF A PAT ENc.
How n Patient - Recc'ved-Baths,
Heds, Nurses an "A Medical Attend-
ance-RcIigiOn and Recreation.

How a Patient - Recc'ved-Haths
Heds, Nurses an 1 MEDICAL Attend.
ance-RcIigiOn and Recreation.
A patient, who spent some time in St
Luke's hospital, New York, gives his ex.
perience in the Sun columns as follows
! was turned over to the senior house
surgeon, and by him catechized 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 he treated.
was then assigned to a bed in the mems
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
he 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. 1 walked to the
operating room. After being there,
under the knife, over half an hour, as /
was told, / 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
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 p easing 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 1861 patients admitted and treated
during the year ending last st. Luke's
day, only 6S6 were of American birth
and only 600 were Episcopalians. The
remainder belonged to other Christian
denominations. Fifteen were Jews. OF
the 81, ,2SS patients who. at the date of
the last annual report, had been admitted
since the opening of the hospital in 1853,
S,S29 were Protestant Episcopalians, o.
024 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 map would vol
unfairly observe under like rcAmstances.
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 A. NJ. He examines each patient in
NANANuott1 ahN plCSSIlDcS SuCn ITedJLucuG
rs ne thinks proper. From 9:15 A. NJ. to
70 10 A. NJ. the pastor, or his assistant,
otficiates at religious services in the
wards, each service occupying about five
minutes and consisting of the reading of
a portion of the Psalms aud prayer. After
10 A. N. the surgeons see to the dressing
OF the injuries of such patients as require
1t. 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 / p. NJ, and again
from P. NJ. to p. NJ. At 1880 P. n.
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 6 80
p. NJ, daily Those patients who are
able to do so may attend. The house
surgeon and his assistants then make
haf 4. Il