National Republican., 1886-10-02
FREEpMAN's HOSPITAL.
Anticipating Any Unfavorabie Cam
met,f Made Aootpat Utnroriupotes

ment Made Agninst Uofortunntes.
The report Of DIR. G. B. Purvis, the sur
gcon-in.chief OF the Freedman's Ilospit ii,
has beon made to the Secretary of the lu'
teiicr. 1t says that 2, l3l patients were l.
mitted during the last year, which is an In
crease Of III over the previous year. or the
number received 734 were colored males, GJl
colored females, b9G white males, aud l07
white females, showing that the hospital Is
not confined to any special class. The re-
port continues "fhe management has bent
every effort to make II n desirable place for
all the unfortunate sick who may seek al.
mission" During the year there were 2O3
surgical operations performed, with great
success, the principal ones being as follows
Amputation Of thigh, 2; of leg, 2; OF fore
arm, 4; Of metacarpal bones, /; Of fingers,
IL; OF toes, 9; removal of fatty tumors, IL /;
OF kelold tumors, 3; Of fbered tumor, /; Of
cancer Of breast, 2, and gunshot wounds, %.
There were III cases OF confinement, an
increase of % over last year. "As 1
have reported each year." remarks the doc
tor, "nearly all OF these cases. are colorod.
i deem it my duty, as a simple act OF
Justice, TO anticipate any unfavorabc com.
mcnt that may be made against the un-
fortuDates, for such they are. My contact
with these people has been such as to on
able me to say good word for them. They
are not bad women; not lewd; they belong
TO the laborlug class; are generally house
servants who are ignorant of tue laws gov
erninE good society. They are without
education and have never been surrounded
by healthy moral influence. They truly
have been taken advantage Of Asa rule
they are. industrious, and almost invariably
provide and care for their children after
leaving the hospital. How they manage TO
support them upon their ecanty earnings Is
a marvel. 1t Is matter OF regret that
there ls no way Of reaching the fathers of
these children and making them contribute
20 their support"
or the number admitted there were 1855
ex'soldiers coming to the city from all parts
Of the country TO look after their pension
and other claims against the government.
large number were also admitted upon
the recommendation OF the police authorl-
ties. In the dspensary 5000 persons were
prescribed for. An appropriation OF Si00
additional is asked 70 employ additional
nurses. Religious services were conducted
three times week by the students OF How
ard University. There were 2l2 deaths, of
which number 81 died within ten days after
they were admitted. The occupations of
the patients are given as follows; Servants,
Al; laborers, 34S; ex.soldiers, 1856; waters,
co; drivers, "a; farmers, 45; cooks, 27;
clerks, 20; sailors, 20; carpenters, 10; ex-
United States navy, 16; painters, Is; boat
men, IS; laundresses, 10: gardeners, 10;
hucksters, Is; bricklayers, 13; brickmakers,
IL; BARRIERS, -; porters, IL coachmen, 10;
hostlers, 10, &c. The nativity of the pa
tients is as follows: Virginia, 6l7; District
of Columbia, 500; Maryland, 345; Ireland,
1888; Pennsylvania, 67; New York, O.; Ger
many, 62; Italy, 34; England, 90, &c. There
patients