The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-29

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NEW YorH, Oct. os.-Tho Herald pub.
fishes tho following startling story: In
that pleasant part OF the city known as
Lenox llill, tho favored region OF the
town, where mlllionaircs aro thicker
than corner groccrymen in Greenwich
or Varick street and where tho man.
eions OF notabilities are so frequent that
the house OF an ex-President is hardly
pointed out--in that splendid quarter
there is no more splendid looking square
than that bounded by Park and Madison
avenues and Seventeen and Seventy
first streets.
That square Is occupied by the magni.
iicent now buildings OF the Presbyterian
Hospital.
The millionaircs and the notabilitics
WHO are neighbors to the institution
may have, /. would seem, advantages
i'll the things that 20 to make modern
life easy over the hospital inmates.
But when they are III it is, or ought to
tended OF them all can be watched and
surrounded with conditions more con-
ducive TO recovery than the bcncllciarics
oil this noble institution. Tho latest
appliances which science has devised
for the assistance OF the physician and
tho nurse arc there. The most dis.
tinguishcl medical men are on the
institutions list Of visiting physicians.
Medical residence in the hospital can
only be attained by the most thorough
and searching Of competitive cXamina.
tons. Moreover, the place Is gladlencd
by the visitation OF the ladies boun.iful
OF the great church whose name the
institution bears.
So that In all, OF the sicl; OF I.enox
llill-the quarter Of wealth and fashion
and social rank--not the least fortunate
in their surroundings are, or should DO.
the inmates Of the Presbyterian h6spi.
tai. But are they?
Their distinguished visiting physi.
clans they have with them three or
four times week; their skilled resident
physicians three times day, and their
ladies bouMtifEl on Thursday after.
moons.
But their nurses they have always
with them, and OF these nurses tales are
told that bear evidence OF truth, and
certainly bear confirmation one OF an
other, which seem to show that there
are done behind the backs OF superin-
tendent, managers and physicians, deeds
which belong properly to an earlier
century-tho century in which throve
Bedlam the Fleet and Ncwgatc.
TIE NURSES ACCUSED.
In palmer language, certain nurses,
among whom are Edward Putnam, un-
til very recently head day nurse in the
institution, James Mcshauo and John
Burd, still day nurses there, are accused
by patients, who do not, be it plainly
understood, complain Of i'll treatment to
themselves, Of slapping, beating and
trying men for the offenses OF dclriu.n
and rcstlcssness; OF using language to
patients worse, in some cases, than
blows, and OF tierccly and rudcly resent
ing any effort made by convalcscent
comrades for the ameliorGtion OF their
condition.
1t is an unfortunate circumstance for
the accused, tho acCuscrs and the insti-
tuition that some OF the patients upon
whom the rage OF these nurses is said to
have been vented are dead, and that
they died shortly after they were said
to have been i'll used. II is also unior-
tunate that there have beer so many
changes OF nurses in tho institution that
it is impossible in many cases to spcciiy
which OF them have been guilty OF acts
OF brutality.
LAWYER REIMEEsSYDER's STORY.
George Reimensnyder, a younglawyer,
OF Lancaster, Pa, visited this city ON
business in September and put up at =
downtown hotel. While there he was
taken ILL., lie was removed to the Pres
byteriam hospital For several days he
was unconscious. lie became gradually
convalesccnt. and week ago was dis
charged, mucl. improved in health and
thoroughly grateful to the hospital
authorities, and especially to DR.. Ed
ward Z. Cornwall, the house physician,
Tor the care which had been taken OF
him.
81 was hardly able to believe my
own eyes and cars" said Mr.. Reimen-
snyder, when they gave me the first
evidence OF what I tell you. 1t was in
the case of all old man, e contractor,
believe, named James G. McCabc. lie
was lightheadcd at times, owing to m
injury to the skull, l think lie was so
emaciated that was astonshed that he
survived his treatment. One night
when the nurses wcre asleep saw tho
old man rise from his bed and walk
down the aisle between the cots. lie
was disappearing in the corridor when
one OF the nurses Awoke, sprang to his
feet rushed after McCabe, caught him
by the back OF the neck and ran him
in with tho swittness OF burleauue
policeman on the variety stage. AZ
they ncarcd tho old mans cot his
knees struck sharply on tho iron rail,
and down no went on his face, the
burly nurse falling on top OF him. The
nurse eXtricated himself and began 10
rain blows on tho old mans body. lie
spanked him, favorite method OF en-
forcing discipline among the inmates OF
the institution; struck him in the
stomach, which Is common way OF
silencing noisy patient, and struck
him in tho face McCabe didn't wander
around any more" said Mr.. Reimen.
snyder, significantly. "iIe was tied in
his cot"
Mr.. Reimcnsnyder did not know the
namo OF the perpetrasor of this outrage.
He and other patients, however, laid
tho largest share OF Ill treatment at the
: ,}oor ~ E,lword p,{oo,n ,ho bo,1 4.