The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-11
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
An Institution Which Does Credit to the City
"A Reporters Observations.

The superintendent of the City Hospital, DR..
W. N. Wishard, has appointed, and the hospital
board confirmed, for the year the following med
ical staff Practice of medicine, Drs. John
Chambers and g. G. Smythe, of Greencastle;
surgery, Drs. John Comingor and j. w. Mar
see; eye and ear, Drs. j. L. Thompson and J. O.
Stillson obstetrics and diseases of women, DR..
I. B. Harvey; diseases Of nervous system ]. c.
Walker.
These physicians are not only called in consul
tation by the resident physicians of the hospital,
but also give clinical lectures and perform opera
tions every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon
in the hospital amphitheater, and before the
students Of the various medical col
leges and the training school for nurses.
These are in attendance on these
days to the number of 100 to 100, and pay fee
to the hospital fund of So each for the privilege
of attending The 20 to 100 patients of the City
Hospital are thus enabled to avail themselves of
the best medical and surgical skill in the city,
and at the same time are kindly cared for by
the house physicians, Drs Wishard, Morrow
and Ridpath, and the twelve nurses of the train
ing school. Operations are often performed and
treatment gratuitously given, which, in
private practice, would cost the patient
the largest fees received by the profession.
The above staff fill the time during the college
sessions-from September to March-after
which they are relieved by Drs. F. S. Newcomer,
e. G. Wright G. " Wooden and j. II. Wood
burn, who are called in consultation through the
spring and summer months.
The City Hospital has ceased to be the dirty,
uncomfortable, bacteria and malariacursed old
war barracks it was three years ago. Two large,
commodious, three story, amply lighted and ven
tilated brick buildings, costing nearly $50, 600,
have been added to the central Office building.
There is drug room and surgery, ample kitchen
and house Offices, large elevator, and bath
rooms to each ward, with hot and cold water.
Instead Of convaleScents acting as nurses. as or
old. the neatly uniformed Florence Nightingales
Of the training school are to be met in every
ward, with educated and gentle touch, dressing
wounds giving out food and administering rem
edies. There are always several of them present
at the clinical lectures assisting in the humble,
but necessary parts of the operation, and their
presence has had the marked influence upon the
students that cultured and earnest womanhood
always insures.
One sees some touching scenes in the City
Hospital, not less tragic and pathetic than occur
anywhere in the world. In the quarantine ward
were two cases Of that disease dreaded among
women and physicians-puerperal fever. They
are under the care of a special nurse, a young
and beautiful woman, but lately school girl,
who for three years has devoted her time to the
suffering. No experienced matron could handle the
little babes, whose mothers are hating between
life and death, but often hoping for the latter,
with more gentle or kindly hand. One OF the
women is raving of the sea-she is in acute
mania The papers Of the week reported that
her husband had deserted her, and gone back to
Germany. But no; he had deserted his own
wife and five children in the old country, and
had deceived and married this woman in
foreign land. When she heard of it,
without upbraidings, but with broken heart,
she said, "Go to your own; that only is right,
and they need you more than l." and took her
way to the City Hospital to await the issues of
motherhood. She raved of the sea and
of the fatherland, and sunk down into death.
in spite of all that the best medical skill could
avail, and the little waif, for whose life she gave
her own, has found a fatherless and motherless
home in the German Orphan Asylum Such
scenes are not uncommon. Every stage of
loathsome disease and condition of dire
misery that falls to the lot of
man may be met in the city hospitals.
There are bright scenes and happy views at
times, too. There funny patients, and
doctors, andnurses who carry sunshine and bless
inee with them, and in whose wake are laughter
and smiles. It is credit to the City Council, to
the kind hearted and generous physicians who
give their time and skill as though it were
naught, and not least of all to the present super
intende IT who has planned and wrought day
and night for two years, and has been the guild
ing star in this work of charity and benevo
lence that Indianapolis has now one of the best
appointed city hospitals of Western cities
That it is not merely house of charity, but is
the clinical education of medical men, is also
matter of congratulation.