St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-17
A MODEL CITY HOSPITAL.
cUcH AS rs NOW POSSESSED By THE
CITY or MINNEAPOLIS.
REsTFUL PLACE FOR THE SICK


One of the Sunniest and Most
Thoroughly Equipped Hospi-
tails in the Country Good In
vestment by the City.
The members of the board of charities
and corrections made an inspection Of
the new city hospital yesterday after
noon, and the visitors were treated to
surprise in the nature of a revelation.
1t is generally known that the property
commonly described as the George A.
Bracket homestead on Fifth street
south was purchased by the city for
hospital site, but the splendid results
accruing from the acquisition by the
city have never even been limited at IN
their true significance.
AS between the wretched, tumble
down and vermin-infected quarters in
habted by the city as hospital. and
the present bright, clean and commodi-
Gus building, there can be no compare
and, as one of the visitors remarked
yesterday. it would be comfort to be
taken sick if one is assured of such
comfortable quarters as are offered at
the city hospital. That the city has
made good investment in Secur-
ing the Bracket property for
a hospital there can be no
doubt, and aside from the immense saw
ing, the admirable location and SUBJ
stantlal character Of the building per Sc,
there are many advantages to commend
it. 1t is safe to say that a more COM
modious, brighter and healthful city
hospital, considering the money eX-
pended, does not exist in the United
States.
The inspection yesterday was made
by Mayor Eustis, Commissioners Hove
and Clontier, George II. Bracket and
DR.. G. q. Weston, the superintendent of
the hospital. The hospital atpresent has
accommodation Tor 100 patients, includ-
the contagious wards, and at present
there are sixty-eight patients. The in
spection yesterday started on the third
floor, where the coLvalescent ward is
located, and allusion may be made here
to the perfect heating. light and venti-
lating arrangements, than which none
could be better. The heating is by
steam, from detached plant, while the
temperature is regulated by steam fans.
In this department there are eight beds,
with apartments for the night nurses
and house doctors. Incidentally 1t
may be said that every ward is flooded
with sunshine. when the weather is
propitious, and bath rooms are con-
yenient to each Of the compartments.
The general medical ward is on the sec
ond floor, which contains eleven bedS,all
of which are of steel with woven wire
mattresses. On this floor is located also
the Anna NJ. Bracket ward. This is
really the surgical ward, and it COIL
tains twelve beds, including fracture
bed, water bed, wheel table, etc. In
conjunction with his are, the linen
rooms, medical closets, and, in fact,
everything that can conduce to the
comfort and ease of the patient. 1t is
trait OF Mrs. Bracket hung in this
ward. Every inch of space in the
building has been utilized. and the
mansard roof has been turned into
surgical conYalescent ward with twelve
beds.
On the second floor of the main build
ing Is located the surgical dressing and
eitherizing room. By deft ar
rangement this is separated from the
wards so that an injured person, when
taken in for an operation, cannot be
seen by the patients. All that modern
skill or science can suggest is here
ready for the hand of the operator, the
appointments being perfect in every
particular. On the ground floor proper
is situated the dispensary, the typhoid
fever ward. which now has eleven pa
tients, and the medical ward, where
conyalescent patients are placed. OFF
from this is the dining room for those
who are we'll enough to walk. The de-
tacled buildings, consisting of the
women's ward. the contagious house, the
laundry, steam plant and engine house,
are all connected by a covered walk so
that patients who have to be removed
are not subject to exposure. All of
these are models in their way, and es-
pecially the steam plant, which is the
especial pride of Commissioner Clou-
tier, and he has reason to be proud of
his hobby. Both the contagious house
and the women'S ward front on Sixth
street, and they are models. The for
mer has twelve beds, and is designed
for scarlet fever and diphtheria, and
after this there will be no quarantine
except for smallpox and cholera. The
female ward contains twenty-five beds.
and great many patients are now be-
ing cared for. In this bull ding are To-
Gated the apartments of Mrs. Bard.
the very capable matron, and the apart
ments of the nurses, The latter are de-
tached for the reason that it is not adj
visable to have them sleep in an atmos-
phere breathed by sick people.
An admirable feature in this connec-
ton is the school for training nurses,
and lectures are given once week by
the prominent physicians of the city.
Here also is located the library hospital,
which, sad to say, is devoid of books,
but as the new hospital has just been
started this will doubtless be remedied
i'll time. Meanwhile any contributions
of books will be thankfully received.