The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
VISITING THE
COUNTY HOSPITAL.
A Tour of Inspection Made by
City Officials.


For several days the papers in this city
have had something to say regarding the
City and County Hospital, and severe criti-
cisms have been passed ON the management
of the Institution.
A newly organized association called the
Daughters of the Good Shepherd sent some
of its members to visit the hospital, and they
told horrible tales of the treatment, or rather
lack Of treatment, the patients received, of
"cOld mush" furnished, of inattention of
nurses and of foui-smelling odors that per-
vaded the Institution.
The terrible stories they told were rather
offset by communication which was sent
to the Board of Health on Friday, signed by
five young ladies VINO belong TO the Beth
any Church, on Bartlett and Twenty-ffth
streets. These young ladies have been
more or less constant attendants at the hos
pital for two years, and say. speaking from
experience, that the place is as well con-
Quoted as it can be with the money at COM
mand, admitting that many improvements
are needed, which without the necessary
funds cannot be supplied.
AN EARLY MORNING VISIT.
Mayor Sanderson aud some of the men,
bers of the Boards of Health and Supervisors
were greatly exercised over the reports pub
lished as to the msma nagement ana foul
condition Of the hospital and determined 10
make an early morning descent on the place and
ascertain for themselves the truth or falsely OF
Accordingly, at $50 o'clock yesterday morn
Ing four carriages drew up In trout OF the new
City Hall, into which entered Mayor Sander>on,
Supervisors Wilkinson. Hunt, Carnes and Aver,
Drs. lie TOuTneux, Fisk and Davidson Health
Officer keeney and members oil the press AS
sa1 nYnpaSeiOu
the hospital.
On arrival the visitors were met by the Resi-
dent Physician, DR.. Bradbury, whose navy blue
eyes opened with astonshment TO see such dis
tinguisbed guests al that hour OF the day. Super
iDtendent Healy arrived few minutes later ana
when the Mayor suggested that the party would
like 10 make a tour of the building and verify
for themselves the truth or falsity of the charges
that had beeu made, offered 10 act as escort.
THE TOUR Is BEGUN.
His Honor thought that as il proposed to
make thorough investigation and TO talk 10 the
patieuts, The presence of the SUPERINTENDENT
might not be advisable The Superintendent
concuTTed, and Charles Morgan, nurse Of Ward
G, was detailed by him TO act elcerone.
The hrst place visited was The basement. OF
which much has been said regarding its filthy
condition. II was found TO be newly white
washed and very clean. The floor was in very
bad condition, tie concrete beiug full of rutS and
holes. There were no toul 0dOrs whatever. 1t
was stated that when DIR. Healy took charge
the basement was In a fearful condition, and
that he had forty or fifty loads OF filth carted
away from 1t. ] he Mayor SAID the floor should
nave a new coating OF aspHaltuin, to which DIR.
lie IourneuX replied that thereare no funds on
hand with which TO do IL.
at the south end OF the basement was a room
containing tour beds and one patient. This is
the room about which the Daughters of The Good
Shepherd complained SO bitterly. Whatever it
might have been IL was certainly not an unin-
wiling spot yesterday. Ii was clean aud warmed
by nice tTe. The Gully occupant was cancer
patient.
SHOCKING SIGHT PRESENTED.
HIS name is p. Tierney and he presented
1I,.. ..1A In. and
part of his cheek and forehead have been eaten
away by he terrible disease. He can ariiculdte,
and he told the reporters his name and age, and
received. Ii appears that Tlelney Was formerly
gardener OF the hospital and as such occupied
the room where he now lies. Three years ago
he was operated on by DR.. MeLane for The can
GER aud for many months has been unable 10
work
The old man-ne is &C years OF aee-lies on
his couch, simply waiing for the end. His
daughter lives near by the hospital and brings
HIM luXuTies, ana she says that she cannot I'M
detstand how The Daughters OF tile Good Shep-
herd could say that lie Is not treated rightly. 1t
was proposed some time ago To remove him 10
the AimohOuse, there 10 end his. days, but the
OLD man protested vigorously that he was al
lowed To remain ID what lie has got TO consider
his home. Two Of the employees Of the hospital
sleep III The room with him ut nights ana attend
TO his wants.
Tie next places visited were the carpenters
shop, gardeners StOre-ToOm, druggists store
room, lumber store-rOom, bakers store-room
and bakery-all OF which are located IN The base
ment, and all scrupuiously neat and clean. The
little sawed-Off, jolly-Iaced baker handed round
specimens OF his b cad, and all tasted and agreed
that ii was excellent.
IN THE COOKS DOMAIN.
After leaving the basement visit was paid to
| the kitchen on the floor above. There the en-
| ployes were found busy preparing The monday
mr al. Large copper cauldruns, IN which Were
boiling potatoes, lice, soup, beef and stew,
were GU The ranges, while waiting IN the ovens
were sayOIy joints of mutton. Everything was
mlnuteiy Inspected and everything seemed 10 be
good.
The Mayor had a cold aud Supervisor WIIkin.
sou acted as his smelIer and faster In chief.
Steward Bell was there aud they Mayor said,
looking at a box OF eggs: You have eggs and l
by the pa pers that the patients don't get EN-
WHAT'S The TeasOn?" Tile steward explained
that he received 24o dozen OF The best fresh eggs
weekly ana that all patients that are ordered 10
have eggs by the doctor receive them. He then
showed cards that he receives from each ward
daily.
The card contains the number of people in the
ward, how many go 10 The dining room and the
diet those that do not shall have; how many are
Oh milk tieI, how many on low diei how many
receive boiled or raw eggs and SO forth. These
cards ale filled out by the visiting physicians
aud what they order is IN addition TO The regular
hospital diet. From the Information on the
cards The steward gives bis orders to The cooks
In Ward ID yesterday The card showed that
there were thlIly.tnIee patients. three OF whom
were able TO go TO The dinDg-room. or the re-
mander seven were on mix diet, tweniy-rllree
on low diet twelve were ordered eggs and A
plnls of Guadaioupe Dairy milk were ordered for
their use.
GOOD COFFEE FURNISHED.
The cook stated that the same coffee Is sup
Piled to the employees as 10 the patients, no dis.
tnction being made. All the visitors took a sip
OF The beverage. and while not being Old Govern
ment Java, as II could not well be at Is CENTS
the contract price, 1t was good and far better
than the average bOardIDg-hOuse article. Every
thing IN tue kitchen was serupulously clean and
the eoppeis shone like gold.
The next place visited was the butchers shop.
Here were seen Joints ana quarters OF mutton,
loius of beef, chops steaks, ETC. Everything
was CLOSELY Inspected and not piece found TO
be taipted Tie head butcher said that he ie-
ceiyed fresh beef twice aud mutton three times
week About 800 pounds oi mutton received
weekly Adjoining the butchershop are the
vegetable stOie and the stewards store-rooms.
steward explained that it was of the best, and
that while II is not served In The patients dining
room IL Is 10 the sick patients IN the wards.
Here his Homer, the Mayor, delivered a little
dissertation on his fayorite brand OF baking pow
der.
The patients dnng-room was the next place
visited. The tables and floor were clean.
CIockery plates were the tables, iron knives
and forks and tin spoons and paBnikins. Mustard
WIS in old cups, which were very dirty. and the
pepper was III cans, which as rusty and
dirty as If they had been in the AK with Noak.
Uae OF the officials said that II they had better
pepper-boxes the patients on leaving would APP
pfoprale them, but The Mayor thought clean
ones might be provided. as ibey are SO cheap.
lie also thought oilclotn covers might be pro-
yided for tue tables.
AT THE MoRGUE
The Morgue WAS next visited. Here were
seen Two dead bodies. female and a male. Inc