The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-08
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
AN APPEALING RRBUKE TO THE
OFFICIALS OF MEMPHIS.
A Carefully Prepared Statement by
a Medical Expert-Instant
Reform Demanded.

dated DullOluRS anu bhauthb WIZ"
collectively constitute the Taxing DIS
trict Hospital. The executive build
ing, q two story brick structure, is an en-
leebed relic Of the pristine grandeur
OF our Southern country, being oris-
nally erected, il we are credita6ly ln-
formed, as a plantation residence. The |
remain der OF the buildings are OF wood |
Of the plainest style and cheapest
structure. There is an air OF deiormi-
ty and neglt ct about the whole place
intensely suggestive OF poverty, and
which strikes one as en- app ealing re-
buke 10 the officials and generous citl-
zens OF Memphis. This is an impress
sion gathered from casual glance at
the exterior. A tour OF the wards or
vnit TO the kitchen, the operating
room, the dispensary, or the
internes' quarters, will rem
der more palpable the fact
that tue institution is disgrace to our
progressive city, and reflection on
| iiberaiity and humanity. In the wards
a disgusting odor prevails, peculiar to
the congregation Of the sick, and due
10 q want of cleanliness and made
ouate ventilation. The architecture
| Gt such word applied TO such struct-
ures is permissibe) of the buildings
permits only OF window ventilation,
which can only be utilized during the
mouths OF midsummer. In the rear
of each ward is the patients dining
room, and in one corner OF this Is the
bath tub and water closet. During fev-
eral of our vieits to the hospital We
had OCCASION to inspect these closets
and found them in an amazingly I'M
sanitary condition, from which ema-
mated most foul and unsavory odoIs,
which, could it be demons rated that
as Geological factors Of disease they
were inoccuous, certainly vera not
calculated to add zest 10 the appetltes
OF convalescents who are required to
take their food in this room. The
bath tub, if we may judge from the
condition and personal appearance OF
the patients, is never used for it's legit-
innate purpose. AS rule, upon adj
mission, patients are put to bed in the
clothes which they wear in, odorifer-
GUS as they are with decomposing SC
cretions of the body, and in many in-
stances inhabited by that pest, the
sarcoptis hominis. A pre- tention is made
10 supply the patients with clean
c'othiug, but the Effort is an abortion:
The same is applicable in regard
to the bedding. Each werd con-
tains more than twenty-five beds
and is in charge of but a single
attendant. or nurse, if the individual
who occupies that position may be
thus dignifed. Before his elevation
to this important position he was prob
ably mechanic, probably day labor
or, or very probably a tramp, with no
tact or sympathy for the duties OF his
place and no former experience in the
prof, ss.ou he Has assumed. He has
driited into the hospital sick, and
when we'll is retained az q nurse in
charge of ward. The only attraction
to him is the pittance Of $2O a month,
which he considers it duty he owes
himt elf 10 earn with as lit le effort az
possible. Assuming him to be intelli
gent, experienced eni faithful, il
} would be practically impossible for q
!, single individual to properly dlsch arge
, the numerous and onerous duties In
Cident Ito the care OF 30 many sics
people without assistance. During the
night the nurse is off duty and the
ward is left in charge OF the nigh
Waterman, who at interva s, which We
suppose is optional with himself, visit
! the wards and where necessary ad
+, ministers medicine. The only thinl
! in the way of an operating room pcs
i seseed by the Hospital is an eight b.
z ten space in the large amphitheater
3 built by tbs Memphis Hospital Medi
: cal College in the executive building
@ situated about 200 feet from the ward
r and to which the patient has to b
II borne on litter, the wea her permit
ting. The room is very large
with no means OF being heate
+ except by two email stoves, an
= the consequence ia that IT
never comfortable, and we might ad
. that II is never clean. The stock {
!. instruments for diagnoslic and operi
!, tive purposes is not sufficient for tn
= demands of the Hospital, and Tia
2, seek drugs Ia 20 limited rs to II
" stct tho Hospital physician in b
therapt utiCs, thus very poteDtly d
minishing his sphere of useiulnesl
= The diet furnished the patients neeC
., special censure. For an active, health
70 working mau, it is quite enough fC
10 all purposes Of the animal economy
- but TO feed the sick, whose digestiN
= system Is di,ordered, upon it, is irI
~ tional, and offers another impedtmel
* to successful treatment Bread is fu
w nished by contract by prominel
baker on Main street, whose bid WI
ne not much, If any, above the actu
cost of flour. He Is cradle
n 10 do this, as his contra
as furnishes him a channel by which
~ work of stale bread, which would OF
OF erWise accumulate on his hands AT
oil be loss, We suppose meat is Gu
10 piled on the same basis, but OF this Y
lie cannot speak positively. Milk is Il
'e, only article Of luxury upon the men
'rt ana this is only issued in special cas-
re upon the physician's order. The /
es teTnes quarters consist Of one room
pit the second floor of the executive bull
ID, ing. Although they devote thel
n selves Assiduously to the interests
he the Hospital, they are required to fl
he nish their own furniture and beddi
ng and to eat at common table with t
nurses, ambulance driver, watchm
aud oonVaescing patients, thus pl
ting them on an equal footing wi
their interiors in RANK, much TO thu
m own deriment and that of the I
tients in their charge. This is a M
II. take which should be CORE
1s) ed. Their services should certain
ar. eutitle them TO decent lodging a
he better fare.
S4, These are but few Of the imperf
VS. tons in the operation OF our Hospit
ms which have impressed themselves
.ial our mind during occasional visits.
cir is far from being a careful CRITICS
cd. although conscientious one, and
red are induced to make it by no spirit
,ed i'll feeling toward the Hospital auth
,s's ities, but from an earnest convict
wv that since we undertake to care
for tha Rick stranpers within our cat