The morning call., 1892-03-28
HDs-n
49,

chat turned over to the care of the two in
fernes, Drs. Kate Overacker and Mary A.
Cachof. two enthusiastic young medicoS
who are in charge of the wards, and by
them escorted through the place.
The first room visited was the medical
ward, which WAS not very full at the time
the work Of renovating the building, paint
Ing, ETC., being under way. The patients
here, In fact, represented the overflow from
the surgical ward. with one or TWO excep-
tions.
large, cheerful, well ventilated and we'll
lighted room greeted the reporters irquiring
eyes. 1t was very quiet, very clean, and
the rows of little pale faces lying on the
white pillows in the little iron beds were
UNNECESSARILY pathetic as they were turned
toward the visitor. Each one wore smile
OF ~ elcome, and the little patients took a
visible interest in the accounts of their
cases as related by the nurses from the
record-cards hanging at the head of each
bed. In this ward nine of the little beds
were occupied.
As the party approached a cot In the
farther corner Of the ward The occupant
gave merry laugh and stretched out his
nands toward DIR. Chachot. who was evil
IDENTIFY favorite of his. He could do no
more than stretch out his hands, however
for he was lying supinP, the foot of his bed
raised several inches from the floor to give
IT downward slant toward the head, where
not even a pillow was allowed the little oc-
In what Is known rs an extension apparatus,
and suspended from his right foot by a cord
which ran over pulley at the foot of his
bed was weight, to keep the leg more Sc
cureiy extended. The little four-year-old
sufferer was victim of that dreaded bane
OF chlldh0od-hiDjoint disease.
/" This is Harry Crooks" said DR.. Cachot
lie is from the Hawaiian Islands, and he
VIII say goOd-morning for you" Good
morning, said Harry-at least the doctor
chi a pya yhat hac ht,t h. L..
in Kanaks, which the reporter did not un-
derstand. the latter was obliged to accept
the Interpretation unquesti0ningly. But
Harry could also speak English, and demon
strated it by repeating for the party some
verses to the effect that
Harry Crooks and Bessie Brooks
Said Harry Crooks 10 Bessie Brooks
Tomorrow Will be Monday.
With an earnest wish that II might not be
long ere Harry would again be able to walk
out On Sunday and all other days, the party
passed on TO the next bed, where lay beau
tlful boy OF 8 or years, with his face COW
eren with sheet, he being Elm disgrace"
for having disobeyed his nurse. He, too.
was being treated for hipjoint disease. He
took his punishment very cheerfully, giving
his visitors sunny smile as he peeped from
under the sheet for moment
The little chap in the next bed was too III
to be disturbed and after brief visit to one
or two more the party repaired to the sur
gieal ward, where lay a number of little
patients wao had been operated upon for
various troubles of serious nature. On
thrre little beds. eide by side, lay three
children with hipjoint disease. The cases
were almost identical. Typical cases" is
the grim term the medical books apply to a
disease when II presents in regular sue
cesslon the various forms and stages that
are its characteristics In these three cases
IL bad been found necessary TO remove the
mead OF the femur. or thigh bone, and the
three children must go limping through the
world TO the grave.
On the polished floor, In this ward, sal
little George, one OF those pitiful specimens
OF wee humanity who had, even at birth,
oeen cheated out Of tile barest of human
rights. acknowledged parents. Neither
father nor mother knows little George