Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-08
LAST YEARS WORK
Annual Report Of the Freedman's
Hospital Operations.
IT'S WORK NATIONAL IN CHARACTER
Need Of More Liberal Appropria-
tons Set Forth.
ME- CHAN GEES MADE

The annual report of Freedman's Hospital
was submitted to the Commissioners today.
After touching briefly upon the changes
during the past year the report continues:
1.-The colored people Of this country are
poor and their institutions are poor. Their
poverty aids materially in limiting their
knowledge Of the laws Of health as well as
not permitting relief from suffering when
attacked by sickness. AS a result they
are subjected, helplessly, to disease in its
worst form. The busy practitioner here
has no time to give Them. They sicken
and die without medical assistance. Some
knowledge OF the truth of this statement
may be had by your consideration of table
b. There 1t will be seen that a large num-
Der die from simple neglect, and the first
treatment in the majority Of cases Is re-
ceived only after admission to the hos
pital. II 1t be remembered, also, that in
this table is included only a very small per
cent even of our local sick, and that the
same condition exists among them all
over the country, We can better form some
estimate of the very large number of their
mands for relief. 1t is here that the hui
name element of the hospital broadens and
Its very great possibilities begin to be seen.
The Work National i'm Character.
THE work has always been national in
character; should be continued, and both
the direct and indirect relief Of these suf-
fering people should be made to ramify
every part Of our land.
Here we find the only opportunity for
frst-class clinical advantages offered col
cred medical students in the south. Here
we nave the only opportunity to build up
national institution for the thorough
training of the young colored women, es-
pecialiy in the so 18th, for nurses. The COL
ored people are indeed sadly in need of
both the skilled physician and the careful,
Intelligent trained nurse. They should
come from among their own people. While
the Freedmans Hospital does not limit its
admission to colored people, all races being
treated alike. yet it answers the above pur-
pose in way that no other institution in
the country does, and probably never will
l believe therefore, that Congress should
be urged to be liberal in her AUGMENTATION
for this institution.
Il regret to note that there is a dispo-
sition to have the hospital saddied upon the
District of Columbia. L question both the
wisdom and justice of this policy The
hospital. from it's beginning has been and
still is a national institution This is some
what indicated in table f. to which | invite
your attention. This was SO intended and
should be so continued, as il broadens ma
teriilly the opportunity for doing good Rut
IT Is not just TO the people of the District
OF Columbia to compel them to pay one
nalt OF the expense, as patients are received
mere from all parts of the country and a
large per cent of the soldier element More
over, this transfer tends seriously to narrow
the scope OF the work done here and which
can but result in serious detriment to the
institution.
Need Of More Liberal Appropriations.
The need of a more liberal appropriation
Is very evident from our pay rolls. 1t is a
matter of general comment from all who
occasion he
nurses and laborers that they are SO poorly
compensated. Indeed, We have a large
corps of laborers who receive no pay This
help Is obtained only through the shrewd
management of the hospital officials, from
tne conValescent patients, and without
wnien IT,, we would not be abie to get along
with the means allowed us by Congress-
Il now come to another idea of which 1
nave often thought l believe that pay
ward to the hospital should be permitted
ana us development encouraged. There are
a large number of applicants whom pride
Will not allow to receive free trea :ment of
this hospital Their limited means will not
permit treatment at home They should he
admitted and the fund from this source be
placed with the proper disbursing Official
must, also, call your attention to a con-
ditlon OF affairs at this institution, which
borders almost upon criminal neglect 1t
Is that none of the buildings on the grounds
are connected. The patients who have to be
carried from any Of the eight wards to the
operations.
aminations. &c, must be carried en- stretch
ers through the open ground in the winter
storms and cold and summers heat
without even the protection of a tree
over them. The same condition ex-
lists between the eight wards and the
dining room, through which space the con-
Vaiescent patients must pass at meal times
ana meals be carried to the wards for pa
tients confined to bed. over their path
ways there is no shelter or protection Of
any kind. ] must urge an immediate ap-
preparation for the humane object Of con-
Meeting these several buildings by covered
alleys"
The whole number of patients admitted
and treated in this hospital was 3.oDS an
increase Of $50 over last year OF this
number $40 were white and 2,4o9 colored.
OF the white 45l were males and I2S fe-
males. OF the colored I,12l were males and
l,3oS females. In the dispensary alta ched
6,6o were prescribed for. The cases treated
were surgical. medical and obstetrical The
number OF surgical operations performed
was 49,
This report was made by DR.. Francis, in
the absence Of DIR. Williams When the
latter returned he called upon the Commits
sioners and made supplemental oral re-
port, during which he referred to a number
of changes made and intended.
With regard to the training school, which
Is to train colored women to take care of
patients and to make them proficient in the
science Of nursing. he said these Young
ladies' are especially fitted for that work
they must be able to read and write well;
must know something of arithmetic
geography, history and algebra before they
will take them, and that, with the training
they get, makes them competent nurses,
Throughout the country these colored wo-
men are in great demand. This is the only
place, except in Chicago, where they edu-
cate colored women as nurses, and Dr.
Williams thinks this opportunity should not
be lightly treated. but should be made as
broad as possible.
Mary land Horse Show.