The herald., 1896-07-29
IMPROVING THE HOSPITAL
The Annual House Cleaning Is Now In
Progress
The Buildings Being Put In Good shapey
Some Of the Reformers That Have
Been Introduced

fNThe county hospital Is fast assuming
a new dress as far as it's interior is con-
cerned Under the immediate super
vision of Dn Barber the halls and wards
are receiving an overhauling and after
being thoroughly cleaned are treated
to coat of fresh paint of light color,
which gives them much more inviting
appearance.
The mems wards have already been
finished and work commenced in the fe-
male department. This house cleaning
can only be carried on at time of the
year when the number of inmates is
lowest. The painting and whitewash-
ing has been done by two patients, who
are paid sis month for their services
and adding to this outlay the cost OF
the paint itself sums up the total ex-
pense. dSsif
In the wards all the bedsteads are
painted white and light curtains have
been put UP over the windows, making
the rooms much more cheerful.
Owing to the new plan introduced by
DR.. Barber by which the hospital does
its own buying over $1,000 has peen
saved this year, which would otherwise
have gone into the pockets OF local un-
dertakers. Last month LAT was saved
and this month, so far, $56. The hospital
also constructs its own cofiins, and they
are turned out at the rate of one DAY
by a patient who receives his board,
lodging and So month in return for the
labor.
The dining room has been recently
painted and the windows hung with neat
shades. Everything glistens with clean
illness. In a prominent place hangs
sign to the effect that patients wanting
more to eat must ask for it unhesitating-
ly. The old system of grabbing the food.
which was indulged in by the stronger
patients over their weaker fellows, is
entirely done away WITH and any in
fringement of the rule means the loss. of
the meal to the transgressor.
A special table is provided for the
consumptive patients, and its cups and
plates are cleaned and kept entirely sep
arate from the others in use, in order to
guard against infection. All the beef
steaks served are broiled, and the menu
of the meals is changed every day.
There is at present only one patient
in the fever ward, and he is convalescing
from typhoid fever During the year
forty-five cases were treated, all of
which We're cured excepting one. who
had a brain affection in addition to the
disease when brought in. The treat
ment is somewhat different from that
generally used with typhoid patients.
Instead of starving the patient he is
given all the milk and light food he can
eat at any time, both day and night
The fever is kept down below temper
ature of los degrees by frequent baths in
cool water, which is made cooler by add
ing ice when occasion demands. DR..
Barber is thinking of introducing a new
plan which will do away with placing
hA ;v, 1a t,otI IL I1-
rounded by coil of rubber pipe. through
which ice water passes, and fills the
same province as the bath tub.
During the last year a $4,000 laundry
has been erected, also one 10000 gallon
tank to hold water for irrigating aNd fire
purposes. A sewer has just been com.
pleted, which drains from the hospital
into the kurtz street main. Fire escapes
have also been placed on all the build
ingS, and 600 feet of hose purchased
The space occupied by the old laundry
has been turned into the nurses dormi-
tory, where the young lady members Of
the training school reside. There are at
present sixteen nurses employed at the
hospital, and there Is so great a demand
for them by outside sufferers who can
not afford to pay the prices charged by
regular nurses, that the superintendent
is anxious to add eight or ten more to
the present number. These nurses are
paid IS a month and their board and
lodging, and one Of them brought into
the hospital last month S54 for services
rendered poor family in the city. If
there were more nurses who could at
tend to poor people on the outside, quite
a revenue would be brought into the
hospital
1t is DR.. Barber's wish that the board
of supervisors lease the large house On
the hill Immediately back of the hospital
and let him use it as a residence for the
nurses. He claims that the nurses
could earn enough from outside sources
to pay the rent of the building and bring
in revenue. besides doing their regu-
lar work in the hospital The board has
the project under consideration at pres
ent, and is known to regard it favorably
Continued requests are being made for
private rooms for patients, and twenty
could be used to advantage but the
supervisors hesitate to introduce them
thinking they might injure outside hos
pitals. At present only one private room
exists.
The County Hospital al present proves,
after a thorough inspection, to be con-
Quoted in very economic and satisfac-
tory manner. the only drawbacks are the
old. unsightly and inconvenient build
ings. When the new buildings are put
up the present management will make