The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-26
OUT AT THE CITY HOSPITAL
Institution Remarkable for Its Cleanli-
ness and Complete System.
Work fthe Trained Nurses Superintendent 8
Inventive CHARACTERIZATION for COnta-
giOus Ailments-Ths Blanket Crank.

The City Hospital Is no longer q bugbear
to those unfortunates who have occasion to
visit 1t for treatment There have been
time to time and duly noted by the citi-
zens of this city. under the different adj
ministrations of the different superintend-
ents of the institution during the past few
years, but probably under no management
has the institution profited more larkely
than under the present, with the systemat-
lied plan by which it's functions are at this
time discharged. There Is at present q
system of managing the minutie of detail
work and keeping in neatness the material
of the hospital, which is so easily dis
turbed. that can, in Justice hardly be CON-
pared with the plans and regulations Of
other institutions of the city or State.
Without making any unpleasant COMPARE
sons, however. plain statement of facts
such as present themselves to the observer
any day he chooses to visit the hospital, is
interesting this time
At present the greatest source of annoy
ance and embarrassment is the disposition
of outside Districts to impose upon the
city's good nature and Hospital facilities.
Superintendent Edenharter has battled
against this wrong as we'll as he could and
be humanitarian. Now and then q bad
the obligations of the city. In times past
the City Hospital was one kind of sober
ing-up place for inebrIates. but at present
serves different ends and purposes John
Barleycorn must give his victim q very
haf0re
hcltstions of the authorities at the hos
pital, In which case be Is taken 10 the ID. T.
room. which Is simply neat little apart
ment where delirlum tremens cases are
treated, and which Is probably too good for
such class of patients. The wards
are airy and extremely comfortable.
we'll lighted, with feature of cleanliness
which predominates the entire building,
wards. laboratories. operating rooms:
kitchen. and In fact every apartment of
the institution. One of the blessings of
the hospital, for In truth il can be little
less. is the absolute absence of any odors
inside the building. except In the drug
rooms, where. of course the smell of medi-
cines cannot be suppressed. This is mar
velous when the TACT that no dislnfectsnts
are used, and must depend upon the sy stem
of cleanliness which is so thoroughly pros
ecuted hourly. AS an instance of this
might be cited the rule of the superintend-
ent in regard TO the preservation and keep
ing of surgical instruments. and W hlch pre-
scribe thar each instrument must be boiled
and thoroughly cieaneed before 1t is put
into the case, whether i has been used or
not, with orders for iiEe operation before
the instrument is used.
Dr. Edenharter IL Of that peculiar in
veDtive turn which secures against all
emergencies. He has in vented an operating
table which Is In itself cOmmIssary of
convenience. with spaces and places for all
kinds o. Instruments washes. medicines.
cloths, cottons and various other mater al
necessary 10 the proper performance of q
surgical operation without any loss or time
or waste of room. A great many people
have feared the hospital performances,
thinking they were being only experiment.
ed upon by amateur surgeons. while the
fact 10 the clinic furnishes them the very
best service Of an order they could not well
afford TO pay for. The chapel where the
clinics are gwen has been improved. but is
withsl inadequate aud should be replaced
with better one. The drug ROOM which
was once filled with cigar-boxes IN which
medicines were stored. As how . very ru-