Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-27
A NEW BUILDING.
An Important Addition Made to the Freed
mems Hospital.

An Important Addition Made to the Freed
mems Hospital.
In one respect, at least, Freedmen's Hospi-
tai is now claimed to surpass the other hospi-
tails of the District and that is in the possession
of the largest and most conveniently arranged
and completely equipped operating room in the
District of Columbia, if not in the south.
Recently an addition to the main hospital
building of brick, standing in about the north
east corner of the hospital grounds, has been
completed, the addition being built out Of the
general fund of Howard University. The new
building is about fifty feet square and three
stories in height and erected ut a cost of
about $4,000. In planning the erection of the
building DIR. C. B. Purvis the surgeon-in- chief
of the hospital. and his associates
had first in mind the building #
convenient and practical results; and their pur-
pose has been fully accomplished. In the base
ment has been erected great furnace of the
latest improved character, which heats the en-
tire building. In the basement, too. is a large,
well-hghted room, where DR.. Melvin Lamb,
with his microscopes, reigns, and in the room
adjoining DIR. William Allger propagates and
studies the innumerable bacteria which are re-
sponsible for the ills mortals are heir to.
substantial concerted floor excludes all damp
ness, and here and throughout the entire build
ing the finishings are of oiled woods.
THE GREAT OPERATING ROOM
On the floor above are found the pleasantly
furnished office and reception rooms Of the
surgeon-in-chief and hospital stall. And on
this floor. too, are situated tie great operating
room and the necessary adjoining rooms. The
operating room is great amphItheater about
40Xj0 feet square and some twenty five feet
hiuh RI-rrO abOnf this. tabIa ipt he
form Of a horseshoe are the tiers of wood and
iron opera chairs in which the students witness
ing an operation are seated. There are 176 of
these seats and enough standing room remains
back of them, but yet in full view of the table,
to accommodate twenty-five more students.
The floor of this room, as indeed is true of all
the other rooms of the new building. is Of thick
and solid concrete. Convenient to the operat-
ing table is a great flow. and ventilating pipes
carry off the bad air. returning the good in its
place. Just above the table is an immense
chandelier, raised or lowered to any desired
position, and making it possible to operate at
night ~ perfectly during the day.
The antiseptic operating table il of glass and
iron. of the very latest and most approved of
design. and SO arranged that any desired posi-
ton of the patients body and limbs can be
obtained. Furnished with noiseless wheels,
the table receives the subject in the etherizing
room adjoining. and is then easily and noise
lessly wheeled into the operating room. Already
the new operating room has been the scene of
several interesting operations, the students OF
the medical school of Howard University being
joined by students from the other medical
schools of the city. and the convenience and
completeness of the new operating room have
been highly praised.
GOOD WORK OF THE HOSPITAL.
Freedmen's Hospital is both a general and
emergency hospital. and is open to both white
and black alike. The daily average number of
patients is about 26O. about one-fourih of whom
are white. Men. women and children are re-
ceiyed and. if necessary, 300 patients could be
accommodated. The outside poor are treated
and medicine supplied from the hospital dis
pensary to those unable to purchase it. The
following physicians comprise the hospital
staff: C. b. Purvis, surgeon-in-chief
p GlennOn. executive officer; F. j.
Shadd, house surgeon; L. Oliver
Belt diseases of eve and ear, and
Thomas b. Hood. Neil F. Graham and Robert
Reyburn. consulting board. 1t is the purpose
of the hospital staff to establish next fall a
training school for nurses in connection with
the hospital. and for the first time in any SINH
lar school in the District both men and women
viii be received for instruction. Instructors
competent in every degree will be secured and
nothing will be omitted in the effort to make
the contemplated school noted one in every
respect