New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-27
MJMPS ARE BARRED OUT.
HOSPITALS DON'T WANT SUCH PATIENTS.
THE DISEASE TOO CONTAGIOUS FOR BELLEVUE
AND NOT BAD ENOUGH FOR THE
WILLARD PARKER


AND NOT BAD ENOUGH FOR THE
WILLARD PARKER
Mary Reddington is eighteen years old and has
The mumps. Therein Mary is unfortunate not so
nuch in that she has that troublesome disease but
because she has not just little bit more
dangerous or little less so. If it were the
former. it would entite her TO the tender care of
the Willard Parker Hospital, in East Sixteenth
st. if the latter, she would receive expert treat
ment at Bellevue Hospital. AS il is Mary has
be,n compelled, after delay of several days. 10
GEEK refuge far out on Long Island.
Mary Reddingtcn servant III the family
of Dr. Charles Stuart Wellcs, No AZ West Twenty
dxth-st.. where she had lived for some time. and
was well liked ny the inmates of the house These
are the doctors own family and also several
children of of the doctors patients. who had
been left in his care for treatment
Numps is seldom a fatal disease but never
tbeless is a troublesome one. and extremely con-
tagous, especially with children. Mary was taken
sick laet Monday night, and il was dis
covered that she had the mumps. DR.. Wclless three
children were SICK besides the other children who
are living with the doctor and his
amilv and under his professional care
and his home, under these conditions,
no place for a sick person afflicted with con-
moned cab and drove over to Bellevue Hospital
with the sick girl and asked permission TO place
her there. promising to pay the authorities
at the hospital for the care of the
girl The physicians at the hospital spent
an hour or more in the examination of the
case ard finally refused 10 receive the girl giving
rs their reason that the disease was mumps and
contagious. and therefore they could not let her
stay.
This was surprise to DR.. Wellcs and on the
advice of the doctors at Bellevue he took the
rir to the Willard Parker Hospital at SiXtcenth-st.
and tie East River This hospital is intended
for people suffering from malignant and contagious
diseases and yet Mary Rcddington could not gain
admission here either, because her disease was
not contagious or malignant enough 10 warrant
DR.. T. w. Lester the resident physician, III
receiving her After great deal of urging DR.
Lester told Dr. Welcs that he would let the girl
remain over night, in order to give DR.. Welles
time TO find permanent place for her. but added
that if she were not taken away the next morn
irg he would turn her out.
DR.. Welles, in an interview with Tribune
reporter yesterday. said a friend of The glri
called at the Department of Charities and Cor
rection to learn where Mary could be t&ken for
treatment and care. lie was told there that
Bellevue Hospital the place for her. and that
the authorities there had no right to refuse her.
/ also received word from the Department of
Charities and Correction that Mary Hcd'ilrgfon
was entitled to admission IN Bellevue Las
Wednesday, the day after | had applied 10
Bellevue in the girls behalf, teephoned to Dr
Lester. at the Willard Parker Hospital, what the
Department of Charities and Correction had
stated. and asked him to telephone 10 Bellevue
and urge the doctors there To receive the glr ana
| further promised that il they would not let heI
come ! would that all expenses were palG II
he would send trained nurse WIN tnc 2lrl W
Jamaica L. t. where she had relatives, since INC
CITY OF New York could not provide hospital Iaoll
ties for case of mumps. supposed tiis ~es
sufficient compliance with my prorns. 'o III i ico
ter TO dispose Of the case on the l1ii2N.H. "uS. &
and so considered the matter settled puu 70 NY
estonishment | received the Iollo"lhS lc'Vi ii'"'
Willard Parker Hospital:
I1ar noc.or. WIN you be kind enough to arrange to
transfer YOUR patient Mary Reddnffon' tomorrow ,o
noon as l cannot keep her onY longer ana 49,, w ~
ohood 70 send her out II she Is not cal'd IO''
,ru not receive hcr l did not expect that YOU ""uN
tra r,e tho t,ouhe O. communicating with hef friends
about her removal when you agreed 70 attend t" u Fo"
self | should not have admitted her last 'iAh' NSi
anticipated the result.
t.W LESTER Resident rhr>cian'
"Or rocoint of this letter | tclegraphed 10 the
nresidcnt Of the Board of Health 10 arfant' lPi
some hospital accommodations Tor tif - eii,; Tip I
was about to be turned Out OF the Mluaio iVNC'
IIosnitaL hut ! received no reply learned dlt2l-
ward that Mary bad been sent To Jahilci 10 m irl
relatives There is 40 city IN tnc "oI,' M"'r ,I..
So much money is appropriated c2rh %rar 10. ~,
sunnort and maintenance Of puhAc ih'u h't"n'
aS P%cwYor;. and yet there is too !.lI.e snow %
for the money expended. If Ne'y-l GS 'S ;S,.ic iS
no hosnit1l facilities for case Of mumpS WhIci
=; ,n(ran contaoious than most diseases, ai'h"iGIl
no, ncccssIrya fatal disease, what en- the phil
eypect i'm the case Of chckenpoA ana ",l'L n'.r
sorions diseases? II wa lmpos>i".e 'W ~ - ho
kccn Mar PcGdnqtou in my house. "2'ihI Il & !"
held accountable 10 the parents Of those cIlrn cIa
entrusted To my care il any NeHons ana aGG
Iai
di,ion If mnmrs TO tho ailments for when w
were being treated. My duty 10 my oWn iaHtHc tIc
and 70 tie community forbade her - HlnE ~ '';I
hons What would he done with tlir lYNicl'u
+" did not Isolate such cases? and What WGnd
the doctor do if he had no hos/I mG iag'tHaf wbaf
ad l. q pnor1 of Health If il does not proF!ic
proper place, If isolation where patients s@ei6
from contagious d~ee Sos can he J@t
With good h%G,pita,, % ,or i'GlT' (5Ty Rcddinq,on."