The herald., 1895-12-18
NEW QUARTERS FURNISHED
A New Maternity Ward for the
County Hospital
WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT
DR.. Barber Sets Aside a Separate
Building for the Purpose
II Win Be Roomy, Amply Lighted by the
Sun, Well Ventilated and Free Prom
Notes.-The Doctors Plans

maternity ward will be fitted up at the
county hospital at once, which will have all
the conditions and appurtenances that are
essential to comfortable, healthfnl and
sanitary requirements. This is what the
unfortunate women who have endured the
pains of maternity at the county hospital
have not had for the past two months. But
now there is to be a change. DR.. Barber
declines to give up the quarters that we're
originally designed for the maternity ward
and which he will in the future occupy as
his private residence. However, the doc
tor has demonstrated that he is willing to
do the next best thing. He is going to
have quarters furnished for n maternity
ward that will be fully equal in every wav
to the rooms which we're constructed for
that purpose, but which are the only rooms
on the grounds that come up to his own
requirements for a residence.
Up until the time when THE HERALD ex-
planned the way things were running at
the hospital with regard to caring for the
unfortunate mothers going through the
trials of maternity, there really existed
state of affairs which demanded immediate
correction. Women were being delivered
and going through the period OF conftne-
ment in little room less than 20 by ~
feet. The atmosphere was vile and the
facilities to care for patients of this KIND
simply did not exist. There was no chance
for the sun to fight it's way into the little
crarnped room, and one mother was com
PEELED to witness the pains of another
through her critical period, thus virtually
enduring a second time her own trials.
When these facts were presented to the
public DR.. Barber virtually admitted their
truthfulness, for he started in to make the
changes to improve the ward. But II all
49, H.x<>r, IL. h ~
contemplated the quarters would not have
then been up to requirements for the COM
fort and convenience of the patients, nor
would they have anywhere near been equal
to the maternity ward built and designed
for that object, but in which DR.. Barber
saw fit to locate his private establishment.
This fact was pointed out by The HER
AID and DR.. Barber was called upon to
either move out of the maternity ward or
to furnish for the suffering women left
friendless, homeless and penniless, to
bring human life into the world, some
proper, adequate and healthful quarters,
where they cvuld be cared for during par.
tuition.
Dr. Barber yesterday informed HERALD
representative that the latter suggestion
has been followed by him. About 200
feet to the east of the hospital building is
a neat little cottage where the night nurses
now sleep. This cottage is to be fitted up
nshing i; properly will commence today.
II will be thoroughly cleaned. The walls
will be tinted bright color and adorned
with some pretty pictures that have been
donated bv some charitably disposed
ladies'. The cottage consists OF TWO
rooms with a bathroom adjoining each
| one. Each room has two large windows,
| so that the glorious sunlight will have am
| pie opportunity. Then there Is little
| portco attached where mothers in a con-
! valescent state can take the fresh air. The
! building is cut off from the bospi al proper
| and all he noise and confusion of the
large building will be avoided. Hot water
can be secured at any time and the venti-
lation can be perfect. Then, too, each
mother will have all the privacy she de-
sres during her delivery and confinement.
DR.. Barber explained his plans fully and
rnanifes ed an earnest desire to have
everything he possibly could put forth for
the comfort of the women who will occupy
the new maternity ward. If the Doctors
plans are carried out as he exclaimed them
yesterday, the new ward will have all of
the cOnveniences and healthful conditions
of the old ward, and this is all The HEa.
AID mas been surviving for.
DR.. Barber will of course make some
personal saving by the arrangement. He
will get his quarters, his domestic service
and his family expenses from the county.
Ii was in consideration of his not receiving
these favors that his salary was fixed at
$3.50 per month instead of 5000, which is
the amount paid to the superintendent of
the county farm he doctor explained