The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-21
LANDED In HER NIGHTGOWN.
STORY OF a PATIENT DISCHARGED
FROM NORTH BROTHER.

Found Astrny and ScsntiIy Clad In the street,
Although Her Address was Known-
Taken Home by Kinaiy st-snesrs-she
Had Keen Cured Of smnii-pox In sis Days.
Alice Morton, q young English woman who
was an inmate Of the Wetmors Home for
Friendless Girls, 40 South Washin Rton square.
was taken III on April with inflammatory
rheumatism. DR.. ". Il. Forest Of 101 Waverley
place, the physician OF the home. advised her
removal to the New York Hospital. and she
was removed on the 9th. Mrs. Lane superin-
tendent OF the home visited the girl every day
and on Thursday. April IL. read to her all the
afternoon She went away at about o'clock
after kissing the girl and promising to come
again next day.
Early on the morning Of Friday. the 18th.
the house physician at the hospital discovered
in Miss Morton what he regarded as symptoms
Of smallpox. Word was sent to the Bureau
oftContsgious Diseases. and DR.. A. Blauvelt
confirmed the diagnosis and had the patient
removed to the Reception Hospital as q sus-
pect Shortly afterward II was declared that
the girl had the small pox and she was trans
ferred to the Health Depsrtm snts hospital on
North Brother Island.
About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Girl
was found astray in the street up town. She
WAS clad in her undertaking. woollen
niRhtGown, stockings. canvas shoes. an old
WhtBTpFOOI, anu n nat hukles, SWOlleu w
rheumatism, panied her 80 that she could
hardly walk.
her. She told them her story. and that she
wanted to 20 TO the Wetmore Home. They
called a carriage. hut she was suspicious and
refused to get into It, so they took her 10 the
home In the street cars.
Mrs. Lane was astonished to see the girl. but
took her into tho hall; and. after making her
comfortable. got the girl to give an account OF
Miss Morton said that she was taken to
North Brother Island and placed in the SMALL
pox ward, where there we're numbsr OF per-
tss Tss
was examined BY number OF doctors. who
handled her very roughly. Yesterday morn
examination of her case, and finally told her
that she had not got the smallpox. and that
No clothing was given to her except stock
ings and shoes. An attendant gave her nve
the foot OF last Twenty-siyth street on tho
departments boat and turned adrlft.
She started FOR the Metm no. III. Home; but be,
covered her mistake. She had Just got OF the
had left North Brother Island in the morning.
but 1t was O'clock when she reached the
Or. Chalmers sangree Of - South Washing
ton square, who happened to be visiting the
quest. and said there was nothing the matter
with her except the rheumatism . Dr. Forest
also ex amined her. and then Mrs. Lane sent to
the Bureau OF Contagious Diseases and made
inquiries about the case. The attendant there
telepho1ed to pr poty the ehiei inspector.
charged yesterday morning az cured.
About noon on April IS. the day the girl was
went to the Home and fumigated the house
and also vaccinated all the matrOns and the
Hons are empioysd in a laundry oonnected
with it, which had large patronage. put after
hs e the nS hass
had clothes at the Laundry refused to take
SFearlng Fiat IL might not be safe to take the
girl into the Home under the circumstances.
Mrs. Lane a. first knew not how to dispose OF
ton for advice and Police surgeon John II.
Dorm was sent to Investigate the case HIS
and Forest. However, as matter OF precau-
tion no advised that the girl be sent to an In
stitqtion. 80 she was taken to Bellevue Hos
Dr.. Dlauyelt was seen last night. He was
disinclined to talk, but finally said:
least thirty distinct and weli-deyeloped pus-
tples, on her neck and arms and there is not
correctness Of the diagnosis. She had been
yaccinHted recently. which may account for
When told that DR.. Forest said the girl
should have been kept on the island for few
days after being discharged from the small
Patients are, not discharged from the instI-
buttons on North Brother Island while there 10
disease germs with them"
DIR. Alyah II. Doty Chief Inspector OF Con-
tagious Diseases. who makes daily visits to
North Brother Island. said that he could not
believe that Miss Morton was landed in the
city dressed as described. He would make an
investi cation to-day.
He said there was no doubt the girl had
smallpox. She was placed in the female pa
yilion, which Il almost entirely made OF glass
and hardly half filled with patients.
There was no lack OF food or Attendants:
Or. Doty also said that the clothing OF all
patients is put In an oven and baked. Some
fabrics burn up. while others are not affected
When, moro clothing Is required for dis
charged patient It Is supplied as far as possi-
BILE from stock contributed for that purpose.
Friends are notified OF the approaching dis
charge OF patient but in this case he under
stood that Miss Morton was friendlesR. Her
complaints OF the food and the treatment he
said. were not true
Miss Lane says that Miss Morton Is very
respectable girl. 10 well educated, and comes
from a weli-to-do English family. She has
been in this country less than year. She loft
home on account OF domestic troubles she
has no friends here, and. after trying for some
time to get work. she made application for adj
mission 10 the Home An uncle died recently
In England and left her considerable property.
She was preparing to go home when she was
taken with the rheumatism.