The Washington critic., 1890-02-12
EFFECTS.OF Ia GRIPPE"
RESPONSIBLE FOR oVER-cRoWD-
ING THE HOSPITALS.
Alcoholism Also Helps to Eli the
Necessity for an Inebriate
Aeylum-DOctors Want "A Home
for Incurables Established.

have been fatal--so many, indeed, that
the physicians in charge are 10th to
dwell upon the subject, The grip"
had the effect of temporarily crowding
free wards. AS rule the vast major.
ity of those suffering from this ailmeut
were delicate people, who had been ac-
custom,d to luxury, or at least to
working in well ll-heated offices, and were
so susceptible that they contracted the
disease where the laboring man, accus-
toned to exposure, escaped
Of those really sick with ia grippe"
the greater number had comfortable
homes of their own, and so the preva
lence Of the disease did not affect hos
pital wards as much as might have been
supposed. The now prevailing diseases
are rheumatism, typhoid fever, pneu-
monia and kindred lung troubles.
In reply TO questions put by CRITIC
man, Dr. w. A. Hutton, resident
physician at the Garfield Memorial
Hospital, said; Yes, we are badly
crowded just now, but our cramped
condition is referrable to the free wards.
For the four or five months just past we
have been compelled to refuse from fif-
teen to twenty patients of this class per
month. For example, there was total
admission last month Of sixty one to the
free wards, and we were Obliged to re-
fuse twenty.one. These were genuine
cases of sickness, and did not include
the great number of those who feign
illness merely to secure food, warmth
and shelter for day or two. We are
Just completing new free ward of
eight beds, which will give us some ad-
ditional room and relieve the other
wards.
''The appropriation by Congress for
this hospital is $12, 800 annually, which
is not enough for our needs. Thus far
we have been able to barely get along
with the amount voted us, and with
these eight additional beds we will not
have money enough to run the hospital.
The average stay of each patient in the
hospital is twenty-five days. This
would add, in round numbers, 12O ad-
ditional patients to be treated annually.
If we do not get additional appropria-
tions these patients will have to be pro-
vided for in some other way.
THE Garfield Hospital is constantly
growing in popularity, and we consider
that we are only beginning, in com
| parison with what we believe the hos
pital will do some day. This is abso-
lutely a general hospital, and we are
constantly having applications from
every part of the United States. Many
of these we have not the room TO ac-
commodate, and sometimes it is par
ticularly hard to refuse patients who
have travelled great distance and
| spent all their money to come to the
hospital to be treated
"Our grounds cover seven acres of
beautiful hill land at the head of Tenth
street and we have plenty of room to
grow. As we are constantly building
and improving, it may appear that we
are eXtravagant to those who do not
know the details of what has been ac-
complished. The majority of our cases
are typhoid fever and lung troubles,
divided about equally. We also have
a great deal of rheumatism.
In speaking of cases of alcoholism,
the doctor said that his practice was to
cut off the patients supply of whisky
entirely, and after they became well
enough to take care of themselves they
come back and thank him for it.
II prefer very MUCH" he continued,
"not to have that class of patients. l
think there ought to be an inebriate
asylum built expressly for them, and l
heartily advocate the proposed plan to
do so. We will not receive a man who
merely comes because he is drunk.
| They invariably feel better in the morn
ing and leave us merely to get drunk
again. OF course we have no authority
to hold them. This city needs home
for inebriates more than any other in
the country, because of the immense
floating population.
I'm our pay wards we charge for
single rooms from $15 to $25 week.
These rooms are well furnished, light,
airy and well ventilated, with an open
fire in every one. We have one of the
best private rooms in the house, finely
furnished and overlooking the city
from the second story, set aside for the
use of the police of the city. All that
it is necessary for sick or injured
! policeman to do is to get certificate
from the Major, when he is admitted
and receives the best of care free of
| charge"
The Garfield Hospital consists of the
old Hall residence north of the city,
with new wing added on either side.
The centre building is used for the
administrative offices. Everything is
new, sweet and clean, and the hospital
is constantly filled by the sick of the city
! and elsewhere
DR.. Charles b. Purvis, surgeon in
chief of the Frcedmen's Hospital. said
I'VE are always pretty full, espe-
cially in wet winters like this. We al
| ways try and nave room for one more,
l ht1t In t1,a r;,Nt ~
| wits ends, but we did not turn any
! away.
I'VE never refuse anybody who
| sick. We have 300 beds, and ours is by
far the largest hospital in the city. In
my opinion there are hospital accommo
dations enough in Washington to do
for a great many years. In our hos
| pital we treat a great many cases of
rheumatism and lung trouble, and in
| the last nine months we have treated
more typhoid fever than in any similar
length of time within my experience.
There were nearly twice as many males
as females, because the former are
more subject to exposure.
During the year ending last July we
treated ninety cases of alcoholism, and
had but one death. We very seldom
| give alcoholic stimulants in these cases.
Quinine in solution and in small doses
is much better. Out of the ninety cases
alluded to but four were colored, and
| two were women.
Our annual appropriation is $50, 900,
but will be slightly in excess of that
sum this year. We very much need a
small appropriation to build four
room house, detached from all others,
to receive patients suffering from CON
| tagiOus diseases. Our hospital is not
exclusively what its name, The Freed
mems, indicates. Out of 2,279 patients
| last year 525 were white.
| NOnr mrnninst mead IL n hneniInl fnr