New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-13
BAD WORK ON THE ISLAND.
THE GRAND JURY on THE PENITENTIARY
HOSPITAL.
CUypEMNING THE METHOD OF GIVING OOI
DRUGS-SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS DE-
NOUNCED-THE COMMISSIONERS
COURT lNVESTIG ALTON.

A committee Of Grand Jurymcn has been occupied
RECENTLY in examining the prison, and hospitals on
Elackwelrs Island. in consequence OF reported hisa
agenient in the Institutions. The Grand JnrE "aoc
a presentmcnt yesterday to Recorder snyth III "hi'
the results of the committee, examination "eic e'
forth. The presentment was signed by william =
HAYNES the foreman Of the Grand Jury and BY James
r : sparkman Alexander 1iumc and d. L. ST. Johi'
the member, of the Investigating committee. The
Grand Jurors say:
The committee of the Grand Jury took the boat for
RacHweiI's Island 10 inspect the prison and hospital
hmdinss located there The first Incident calling for
notice. and certainly for condemnatiol occurred a, amc
sumption, was carried oil board the boat on litter
She covered with light blankets only hcr , ia"S
IN . small room. under an open window through which
a strong wind blew directly npon the womai ana enc
would have remained but for the in'crpo,lt," Oh =
member Of the committee. who closed the window anu
caused additional coverings to be furnished aS 'c
woman shivcrcd and said she was very cold $780,, .
First entering the male department. they found IN
charge Joseph +. boyle guard transferred from ,nc
general utility man and ircman. He stated that he
had knowedge of medicine and was not nur,e ,,o
Assisting him u six months convict OF lle
name Of Alfred Iut,man Lnitman stated Ma t,a' the
doctors questioned the LICK men when on tie cnr s
the kind Of medicine to be given From this , book
he dispensed the medicine He wa, Cded d by Labels
." In ma Closet and on table at one end of The
seen VARIETY Ct s ' Wa noticed
that sedaye cough mixture S was G" sensTa uss
bottle Of rough exterior W thc Nlnd ~ Heie.al "S
for posons while in smooth white bottle hSt~Sn G
rough blue one. it should have been. was carholi
sS A s% ali swn sHs ssS %s %
unlawful prerarataon on. ,,a, Ill meac,pe. were sent
i Hospital al q'''''''' '''' ',' p' , - ..
closet the TIE GspG affair 0s IN Tn" close proSny
the beds 1t is entirely open and In fI view O" iT n
trough. covered with wood
II is flushed with water from bucket as 7nninS
six months The drain pipes evidently ont OF
repair as large dock rat found It's way into the
room and was caught by cat while inc committee
The female department was next inspected. This
in charge Of Mrs. De Graf. assisted by Mrs. nmrkc
q nurse Of experience from New York Her. every very
thing found in better condition than III the maze
The Grand Jurors fomnd that the prison was over
crowded. Their chief recommendations arr:
That action he taken looking To- the better pnNr,
i y, ina and 1s s9%fIr of patients While Oes
That immediate action he taken to correct the hishy
culpable and dangerous methods in vogue m the f'
and administering OF medicines especially in the
That Immediate attention be given to The sanitary;
condition Of the male department hoSrltal as well
as TO the Lndecency Of the exposed wafer closet a.,
prison and that trained nurses be furnished to the
male department Of The hospital: nn,.n ,,,,,ir,
he altered for hospital purposes. and new aid
larger prison be erected
The action of the Grand Jury did not seem TO
prise or alarm the Commissioners of Public Charities
and Correction. Commissioner Porter. president of the
Board When seen last evening by Tribune reporter.
eaid that the charges which had been made against the
management Of the institutions the Island were en-
aggera,ed and unfounGcd. and thai h" would welcome
an investigation ly any at amy time When ia"
committee had visited the island Warden Pi!ishuiy
absent. lie absent. however. only acct
dentaly. he had been summoned TO Albany by me
sickness Of his mother There was no better wa.Heh
Mr.. Porter said. than Warden lflisDny or rouiH''
continued the Commissioner. IT j. unfortunate tlt
accidents have occurred We do every 1mns PosSrS
accidents occur in the best Of families. give my
%1xdss sssniSn the to s as a
because Of what has happened. All admit Tat Inc
q The 0 mi Il nc a rsn TT s fault Il % OF s
building 1s Pe1i,e@,ay l% :;i is noE I"ocG
get new building for many year ~, The pi.r w,,
too r sxSsa %s G But t do not s Ink e %
nlendation to build new, peEisentary and TO ne
5e s , Sns as noD@o in tS
il is too old We shall make mi! Investigation II
ALL serd e no is M m the present. time
are always the cround>. and ccrgynon anu pr't'
are in almost constant attcndanc" Why have they
Dr. T. H. Men. president Of the Medical Eoqrd Of
the Charity Hospital said tst tc rn Of r pi n l.
board consisted. he said. Of thirty visiting physicians
ss9t e'T1 here Val IN adaon to 'Ha @
called the house staff There were ,w"nty nen on
this staff, who received Their appointment Only d'"'
a competitive examination. The pntcntiary h:-.
nitalr continued the doctor. is really part OF th'
Charity Hos pal and is attended 20 by thr resident
physicians. An additional resident physician !, no.
necessary Two PAID nllr,e' are also thcfc; III" Dc.t
OF care Is taken the patients I%c taken over :"
the Charity Hospital from the foot OF I'enty,siN,h,:
arc not treated in rough manner they are IN rarIc
Of competent people and handed gently AMI Sill
FULLY The Medical Board Inspect the buildings from
top to bottom at least twice a week IA rt.ln 10
the position of the closet in the hospital yari
admit that it is unfortunate. II Is Kept 80 'r.'
however that no disease ha, resulted from ~ prs
encc 1t could not 10 changed as the building i now
arranged As to the prescriptions. they aye no' pre-
parcd as has been said. III the pcni'cntaiy. IhcN
are prescribed by the visiting doctor: VIII" :"y are
compounded by the pharmacist Of tie 'I'r''N no
nitai lie is an excellent druggist. The man N'Io
died the other DAY did die from tho medicine WINCH
ho received. The autopsy showed that.