The morning call., 1893-10-31
NO MORE ROOM.
A Bad Outlook for the
INDECENT Sick.
Both the City and County Hospital
and the AImshouse Are
Overcrowded.

The city health officers are at a loss just
now to find room for the INDECENT sick.
The City and County Hospital is full to
overfowing, and applicants are being
turned away daily owing to the made
Quate accommodations. while the patients
at the Almshouse are being crowded to-
gether in the dormitories in order to make
room for the increasing number of in
mates. There is no other place where the
city's dependent sick can be cared for. and
unless additional accommodations are ar
ranged for before the approaching winter
tn ere is danger that the unfortunate ap-
plicants may be left to die on the streets
for want of proper care.
The hospital was built over twenty
years ago, when it was thought amply
commodious to answer the needs of the
city. As time wore on it became ap-
parent that additional quarters were
requisite to meet the increasing demands.
The population of San Francisco has
grown 80 per cent since the construction
of the present buildings. which have not
been enlarged in the least.
About two years ago the Health Board
decided to care for cases of chronic dis
eases at the Almshouse. Other classes of
patients have been added TO this list sub
seauently, until now both places are liter
ally crowded.
There are thirteen wards at the hospital,
each containing thirty-four beds. This
number, in luding a few additional cots,
made In the aggregate 450 beds. In the
male department the wards are divided
into three distinct classes. namely, the
medical, and major and minor surgical. It
is not proper to mix the patients. but at
present it is found unavoidable in view of
the existing difficulties.
The female department has also three
divisi ons, the medical. surgical and mater
nifty, but IN no case are the patients allowed
to mingle.
DR.. Titus. superintendent of the hos
pita, was seen yesterday by a CALL re-
porter and appeared to be at loss as to
w hat measures 10 take in his present pie
dicament.
There will have to be some arrange
ment made in the near future for the ac-
commodation of the patients" said he,
''for l am sure we are unable to care for
them properly under the circumstances.
There were two applicants on Sunday
whom l had to turn away owing to the
mems wards being all occupied and to-
day intend to dispose OF few cases TO
the AlmshouSe in oIder to receive couple
who are lying at the Receiving Hospital
awaiting admission here The latter are
urgent cases and need immediate atten-
tion.
There are over 200 cases at the Aims
house who actually belong here, but what can
lido? am utterly powell less TO make addi-
tiOnal accommodations as there is not
spare cot In the house. nor a blanket to
cover it if we had. Then there is no room
for another cot in the present quarters,
and until the Health Board build an addi-
ton / don't see how we are to get along.
During the winter months we have, as a
rule. three times as many patients as dur
ing the summer"
DR.. Titus escorted the reporter through
the wards, substantatng his statements
with reference to space, and not even
corner was found where an additional bed
could be placed.