Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-30
THE COLUMBIA HOSPITAL,
Superintendent Pope's Reply To Certaia
Charges Made Against Her.


Among the Commissioner mail seward
days ago was letter from President Rush r.
Shipper of the Columbia Hospital inclosing an
anonymous communication to the Secretary OF
the Interior, referred to him, charging che
management of the Columbia Hospital with
certain irregularities and requesting that a
investigation be made.
The anonymous communication referred -
was signed PAY Patient" and charged. among
other things, that the female inmates Of shs
free ward do not receive sufficient or whole
some food and that the superintendent whe ID
a woman. is lone OF the most Ill tempered hard
hearted. domineering creatures in existence. {"
The letter further recites certain alleged AZ
treatment on the part Of the superintendent Of
some of the PATIENTS and ends by saying:
81 do trust that this hospital may be invessi-
gated and much benefited by the results- No
better results can be expected ne long as che
present superintendent remains as she 10 unfis
for the position she holds" This morning she
Commissioners received the report of Georesns
+. Pope, the superintendent. which lie - fol-
lows:
Il have the honor to send YOU NV answer
to the accusations made against me in an anen-
ymous letter to the Secretary of the Interior DO
tober. 3, 1881.
1.-The diet Of the patients is ordered by sbs
doctor. referring to regular diet the sane
price is paid a pound for the meat on eyerv
table or tray in the hospital the more choice
pieces of the cut being sent to the pay patieuss
There are two grades of butter used in the hos
pitai, the best IN the market and the second
best: the latter used for the free patients Che
help and for cooking; the former for the rsso
Of the household.
The matron, head nurses. doctors and nv
self dine at one table, the pupil nurses at sn-
other: the food for these tables and of the Law
patients is identical with the exception tl.ns
extra delicacies 70 tempt the appetite are given
alike TO pay and tree (white and colorsdl
patients required.
..In regard TO my disposition I can make no
answer. L consider il beyond my power 70
diagnose myself. Suffice 20 say that perhsrs
the hardest battle have to fight is for patience
with the class Of patients Of whom the writer a
the anonymous letter is type.
"The charge OF being cruel 10 . suffering per-
SON distinctly deny. Sometimes patients VINO
make great deal of noise when very III an
are hysterical, have to be isolated on sccouuS
of the other patients, whom they disturb very
much.
1.-The case referred to as going TO the Gsr6sld
Hospital came to this hospital and went away
while was on my vacation In Virginia. Thsro
is placard in the dispensary which says:
THE dispensary service of tins hospital N M
tended for poor women only, who are uuai.ls
to pay for the services Of physician and vao
are suffering from disease peculiar or es.su-
tally modified by their sex. This law caupos
be violated except by permission Of the board
of directors
NO free patient has ever been refused dr.s-
ings.
In one instance Q pay patient was rsfus<d
Dressing after her surgeon said that she needed
hospital dressing more. -"
The matter VIII be discussed BY the Counxe.
sioners ct board session