The Washington bee., 1889-02-16
THE FREEDMENs HOSPITAL.

THE FREEDMENs HOSPITAL.
A BEE SCRIBE VISITS THE INSTITU-
TIoN. WHAT THE PATIENTS
AND NURSES SAY OF BARNES
sTAEMENT.
On reading a statement of Geo.
Barnes of South Washington, re-
lative to his treatment in the
Freedmens' Hospital in charge of
DR.. c. B. Purvis, F. J. Shadd and
others, representative of the BEE
was admitted through one of the
side gates and escorted to the ward
occupied by Mr.. Barnes. The
scribe was told by Mr.. Barnes
nurse and those who were with him
every dag, stated that Barnes was
we'll treated and that no injustice
was done him. The scribe also
found that the ward iu which Mr.
Barnes WAS is kept in healthy con
dition and that white and cOlored
are treated alike. The ward is well
heated and ventilated so far as the
scribe could observe. In cOnversa-
ton with a few of the sick especially
Mr.. Young, it was ascertained
that the only objection they had to
him was the offensive smell of his
leg, and that it got so offensive that
he was removed to another room
across the hall and the nurse stated
to the BEE scribe that he informed
DR.. Purvis that the man had mon
ey aud the way certain men were
running to see him daily, he was
under the impression that it would
be best tor him to take the money
and keep it until the man got we'll.
1t is the rule of the hospital that
persons who have any valuables
should give them to the Surgeon
in Charge to be kept until the pa
tient is well enough TO leave. In the
case of Barnes, the Surgeon in
Charge requested him to either let
him keep bis money or give
it to his wife. This was corOba-
rated by several sick patient ts
present. Several other wardes were
visited By the scribe and was con-
vinced that the cOlOred people have
better advantages at the Freed
mans hospital than any in the city.
A visit to the dining room disclosed
THE KIND OF FOOD
given. The scribe noticed can
ned corn, lamb, mutton, beefstake,
biscuits, coffee, tea, SC. The meats
are all fresh and everything else
looked as clean as a new pin. On
leaving the kitchen and dinning
room the scribe next went to the fe
male ward and found things there as
bright as a new dollar. There were
colOred and white patients lying
side yb side, one receiving as much
attention as the other. Before leav-
ing the scribe happen to stumble up
no one of his friends James Lenard
who is sick at the hospital He
knew Jim would tell him if be were
not treated we'll, as he is very par
ticular about what he eats aud how
he is treated, Mr.. Lenard stated
that if patients are not satisfied it
is their own fault it is not because
the officers don't treat them we'll. Mr..
Lenard is improving very fast and
will no doubt be out in few
weeks. He has good word for all
hands. Another white patient re-
marked, that he was from a New
York hospital and everything was
done to restore his health, but
since he has been at the Freed
mans hospital he knows tina: he
faired better in every respect, that
the food is better and ifhadhe come
sooner he was coufdent that he
would have been out before Bow
A few yards from this patient was
a colored man who has the shakes
or some peculiar complaint that
causes him to shake all over. He
said that he was satisfied with bis
treatment and that he would have
been dead had it not have been for
the kind treatment of those in
charge of the hospital. There are
MANY old citizens at the Freed.
mems hospital who speak we'll OF
the kind treatment they are re
! ceiving, 4 visit to the institution