The herald., 1893-05-26
THEIR CHARGES PETERED OUT.
The Kings Daughters Meant
We'll But Were in Error.
Supervisors Inspect the County Hos
plLal MIlagement Yesterds ~. esl
No Basis Found for the Serious Charges
Recently Made Against DIR. Ha-
gan-The Case Promptly
Dismissed.


papers of Los Angeles have published
many and varied articles on the alleged
mismanagement of the county hospital,
under the charge of DR.. Hagan. These
reports emanated from charitable soci
,ety composed OF ladies known as the
Kings Daughters. The duties peculiar
to this society are comprised in visiting
the county hospital and alleviating the
su6erings of it's inmates by nursing and
many kindly little attentions. Since
DIR. Hagan took charge of the hospital
the society has boen dissatisfied with his
management, and their displeasure cul-
minated last week in the presentation to
the board OF supervisors of number OF
serious charges of cruelty to patients
and general mismanagement. aftale. f
Yesterday morning an investigation
was held at the county hospital before
Supervisors Forester, Hanley, Francisco
and Cook, and a committee from the
Kings Daughters, composed OF Mrs.
Hamilton, Mrs. Landt, Mrs. Potts and
Mrs. Hine.
The proceedings, which were charac-
terised on the part of the Kings Daugh-
ters bv considerable animosity, resulted
in complete refutation OF the charges
alleged, no confrmatory' proof OF any
kind Whatsoever being adduced, and
ending in the complete and utter dis
comfiture of the persons bringing the
charges.
MRS. HAMILToN's PAPERS.
The proceedings were commenced by
Mrs. Hamilton. who displayed formid-
IL 1f xuhi ioh oh
proceeded to read the following acca5a-
tiona: e st'
The lady declared that the various
wards were kept in a dsgustingly dirty
and filthy condition. Ward 8, che aaid,
had only been cleaned once in two
months. The nursery was always dirty,
and was cleaned by patients unable from
weakness to perform the work expected
OF them. Ward was not cleaned for
four weeks. Wards IA and 15 were only
mopped once from March -I6th--until
May 18th, ward 10 being in constant
use.
The second charge was that the sani-
tary condition of the building was bad.
One OF the water-closets in the womeh's
ward occasionally overhowed, dripping
through the floor on to the beds OF the
male patients below. J4r rr
The next allegation was that the hot
water han been cut of for three days at
time rendering it impossible for pa
tients to bathe.
DOCTOR HAGAN's REPLY.
DIR. Hagan rose in answer, and proved
by Dire. Murphy and Post that the
wards named by the lady had been al
ways kept in proper condition. 1t was
true that closet had once overhowed.
but it had since been repaired, and
never. at any time, had the water
soaked through on to the beds below as
alleged. The hot water had only been
cut on In one ward, where the patients
were too sick to make use of it.
This was corroborated by the nurse in
charge of the ward and the patients
themselves. Dr. Hagan protested against
such malicious distortion of the facts.
MRS. BRIGGS,
Mrs. Hamilton also stated that pa
tieuts were compelled to leave before be-
ing cured, and named Mrs. Briggs as
an example. DIR. Hagan rose and stated
that the woman had left OF her own free
will, although he had advised her to re-
main until thoroughly well. DIR. Muir
ply corroborated DR.. Hagsn's state
mint.
This was the first blood to the doctor.
and his assailanis we're somewhat dis
confited, Mrs. Landt remarking:
s'Why didn't you tell US that, sir, in
stead of calling US liars in the evening
paper ?"
Continuing, Mrs. Hamilton said that
men and women were both refused ad-
mission TO the hospital when entitled on
account of sickness. and che declared
her intention of citing an instance OF
this treatment she had heard; which
remark, by the bye, introduced each of
her charges, that q man named Brown
had brought an old soldier to the hospi-
tai for admission, the old man being ex
4 ceedingly weak and i'll, and she had
heard that he had been refused admis-
sion. Here the ladies looked knowingly
at one another and felt that they had
scored point.
In answer to this DIR. Hagan replied
that Brown came to the hospital and
said he had friend in the country who
was ok and poor. Brown was told to
apply to the board OF supervisors for an
order; but he (Dr. Hagan) re-
marked that It was a pity to
put an old soldier into a
pauper hospital, and suggested that he
be sent to the soldiers home. The man
insisted, however, aHd DIR. Hagan sent
a conveyance for the old soldier, and
detailed his own son to accompany the
ambulance. These facts were corrob-
grated by DR.. Murphy, who declared
that no deserving person had ever been
refused admittance.
This was second knockdown blow.
Mrs. Landt didn't have anything to say
this time, and Mrs. Hamilton continut
with a perceptible decrease OF conf.
dence. wt.
Another man, she said, had been dis
charged from the hospital before he had
recovered from his sickness. This man,
one Saunders, she stated. died few
days afterwards as a result OF his dis
charge.
Hr. Hagan again rose and protested
against the ladies bringing such charges
on mere hearsay evidence. Saunder, he
said, had insisted on leaving. He was
q sufferer from dyspepsia, and when he
left, the doctors considered him well
enough to go out. After he left it was
discovered that he had drunk teacup.
tul of sand mixed with dough, under
The impression that it would cure his
nalady. From the effects OF this be
lied. This fact was corroborated by
Drs. Murphy and Post, and also by sew
sral patients in the same ward who saw
him take the sand.
SUPERVISOR FoRRESTER TAKES A HAND
C~oa~v;oor Earraafar +ha~