Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-09
HAS NO PEST HOUSE
But the CRY Hospital for Con.
tagious Diseases.
S THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED
In General Contsgion the City Could
Arrange Accommodations ga zoo
Patients Within as Hours.

Where 10 the pest house, The city
has none. Secretary Wilson Of the
board Of health says says 60, aud Sec
Rotary Wilson knows if anybody does.
But when II comes 10 9 hospital ter
contagious dlseases-why Grand Rap
Ids can give any other city of its size
ON the continent big and little casino
and wan tie game on tae third deal.
Secretary Wilson ssys 30. and Secretary
Wilson knows more about hospitals
for contagious diseases than Dave Hig
does about mans inhumanity 10 man.
Comparatively few persons know
anything about the city hospital, and
those that have any ideas about II pic
ture II as rickety old wooden build
ing IN the midst Of tract of defunct
thisues and blghted mullen stalks
place where the patient that escaped
small poI and cholera infantum would
probably die from ennui and other un.
quarantined diseases. But that's where.
pupular ideas are again wrong 81 they
generally are. The city has first-
class hospital for contagious diseases.
IL ls located on East street, near Oak
Hull cemetery; but the work Of the
hospital has proved that the evident
convenience OF locality Is unnecessary.
The Hospital Building.
The building was erected IN 1855 at a
cost of s. 900. Ii Is a story and a half
brick structure, with basement. The
wards are located on the fret floor.
There are SIX of them and each one
has accommodations for five patients.
The building is IN charge OF c. c.
Barnes, who resides IN the basement Of
the hospital, that having been fitted
into apartments for residence puTposes.
The building Is modern IN every
sense OF the word. The plumbing IS
frst-class, the closets are convenient
and the ventilation j. as good sc can Ice
found IN any hospital IN the country.
The wards are airy, roomy and pleas
ant. Adjoining them are accommods-
tons for four or five nurses; but room
Tor several more can easily Toe ar
ranged.
The grounds Of the institution con-
tam about five acres; 90 the patients
that may happen 10 be confined there
have plenty OF room for air and exer.
else without causing a stampede in the
main travelled road. The nearest house
TO the hospital is at least 400 feet away.
and consequently there is 40 danger
OF the neighbor's children becoming
chronically afflicted with scarle: fever
and malignant diphtheria.
GUARANTEEING the Bacillus.
Within the hospital aud the outbuild.
ings connected with II are excellent
facilities for fumigating bedding and
clothing. Consequently there no
chance for the crafty bacillus aad the
willy microbe TO crawl under the gate
and insnuate themselves into the vie
cera of the passing wayfsrcr.
As yet there have never been more
than four or i've paIente IN the hosp,-
tai AT any one time. There is generally
one there, and sometimes two or three
during the course of the month. They
are usually persons afflicted with diph-
theria, scarlet fever or measles. The
city employs no regular nurse; but
different ones are engaged from time
TO time as needed. The nurses en-
ployed by the city are not training
school graduates; but they are old and
experienced, and thoroughly under.
stand the diseases which they are
called upon to cope with.
The worst feature Of the hospital IL
that II 10 not arranged to take care of
any large number of different con-
tagious diseases. IL could in case of
necessity accommodate forty patients
If they were all suffering from the
same disease. but II would be q difh-
cult matter to sandwich n small poy
D. -
atil lcted with the cholera. However
this could be ren-edied to q certain eK-
tent aud a far number of patients
treated regardless Of the nature OF the
contsgion with which they were at
fllcted.
TAKE Care of 200 Patients.
In case Of 3 cholers epidemic. which
may break out an the ,-ity next spring,
the bo~rd of health IL prepared 20 take
care of all the cases that may devotion.
IL is doubtful IL IA city like Grand
Rapids there would be more than
forty patients sufiering from the dis
ease ~ any one time. Bat IN case
there should be, the grounds Of The
hospital are large AID cottages could
easily be erected. Secretary wilson
| OF tie board Of health declare. that
II Il were necessary accommodations
1 could he perfected within forty-eiFhi
I bouts 10 take care Of zoo cholera ps-
tents. This - not the maximum. how
ever, and 4oo or 500 could he taken
care of IL necessary.
/ $50 far sc know" Said Dr. Nilsor.
there isn't another city of this size ~
( the country that has q better hospital
! for contagious diseases. Bot don't call
| 4 pest bouse. slwsys wsnt 20 hit =
man with q club when he talks about
pest houses. Grand Rapids has any
number Of pest house, Of tbe
streets are lined with them, but there
. only one hospital for contagious dis
eases"