New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
MORE WARD ROOM NEEDED.
SHAMEFUL OvERCROWDiNG IN THE
KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL.
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE STAFF POINTS
OUT WHERE CHANGES AND INCREASED

FACILITIES ARE NEEDED.
report addressed to the Charities Comrnls-
sion, and showing the shamefully overcrowded
condition of the Kings County Hospital, was
read yesterday at the meeting of the Staff Asso-
citation of the hospital held at No. 3j6 Brdge-st.
The report had been drafted by special COM
mittee made up of Drs. Winfield, Maddren and
McNaughton. The report in full follows:
To the Honorable Board Of Comnlssloher oi Cha'-
tiles and Corrections or kings Couity, 1Ios-
Gentlemen: The medical stan OF the county is iioS-
pital. under your recognizing tne emo, iouS,
increased demands upon the hospital. peg lrs'e f ~
communicate the report ana reconiihenoao oils g. O.
special committee of the staff. appointed N sep sep
present conditions. and make the work Of the STAFF
of greater efficiency and utliity to the public h
Instituted by YOU: as for instance. the improved
plumbing and sanitary ARRANGEMENTS, , Tnicn tr trd
modcrn heating and ventlatns plant the provid-
ing of iire-cscapes; the building OF an elciell ev
yator: the improved hospital cots; the new noorns
in wards and corridors, h. sienic palhtlhs ol IN, my
walls the provision OF an excellent ,ra,s 5 6ea~
tifying of hospital grounds SIeater iaCiivs ~ ond I'd
fire. the more nor bS,dr at
the Morgue; the projected lmproeeme's ,,r,s r ' in
obtaining new and proper hospital building Mhi,e l,
fully appreciating the fact that your hoiUi M ape M
Board has done so much and accomplished al tnis ms
under adverse circuns lances, We, the star are
deeply impressed with the sad inadequacy OF P.eS,
ent ACCOMMODATIONS and facilities and beg 10 ask
you 10 consider the following matters OF uEsence %
First-aicre ward room. The great need or more ore
hos pa is a disgrace TO any civilized CITY ana WIN
your permission will aid III attracting pubic re ar
crowded in space orginally intended for & io1
sarv }ilnds for all these Urgent demands. ear
nestly desire to aid you. in every possipe, way. TO
result in a general demand for much greater nos
pa accommodation. This demand we beiIye can can
piled by an entirely hospital with up-to o-da'e
necessities and improvements u,.o.,,,,, ,,,or-
tiers for nurses-ro obtain better service and I'm,
proved class of nurses Of it is owo apart from he
regular wards. The custom Of sleeping II, the
II is unhealthy and demorazins. This need you
have already taken steps to meet -
We would also recommend that regular course
Of lectures 10 the nurses be instituted by the visit
inC STAFF This will aid in increasing helr eincchyy
ard interest in their work. and II found desirable,
be- the first step toward the establishing OF train
Third house physicians. ENLARGED accommoda,,
tions for house physicians. that this branch OF
the service can be increased and the terms length
properly TO attend zoo patients in hos9lal' Lf1 , ~ ~
the ashouse GO in the nursery From % DO 90 he m
yearly attendance OF 500 patients In the dispensar
and the casual ailments OF the ifge & rTI%e nmn%nr Of
resident physicians should be increased 10 twsISe ,
duty. and their term heightened to at least eigh'
Fourth consumptiycs. The proper SEGREGATION OF
and the provision of sunny quarters Tor consuhlp'
tives.The considerable number OF thcse patienus ,
at all times in the hospital warrants some a''en-
thorites recognize the danger Of tubercuiar infec-
ton and in justice both TO them and their fellow
vidcd we would recommend the erection OF
pavilion. separate from the hospital. whcre those
and plenty OF air. This would give some room IN
the hospital and the necessity oi p.acns , oih %
olySs obyiated. ed '"' '' "'''. ~. ,..
our crowded condition. and TO favor the recovery
OF acute cases We woulc suggest that the con,
valescents able to be up and about, but not wcii
10 lpay
that admits Of more crowdins - .
ating room is entirely inadequate 10 meet the de-
mands Of modern surgery. 10 say nothing, OF I'm, tne
ment we recommend that new operating-room
be built. which shall contain. besides the opei11
ating theatre the following rooms: one TO De used
for 8nesthetising purposes one for the recovering
of patients after operations-the promp, re'nova nova,
had a bad effect the sick; another for the sur
geons dressing room; convenieht room iof nS ,ns
Appliances: the provision Of some suitable re-
ceptace for surgical instruments. to be placed
near the operating room; suitable room Ior sur
ilizing dressing. And as 1t is OF great iHIor,ance
that the Of all things appertaning TO the oper
ratng-room be placed on one person. we recon-,
mend there should be trained and competent
charge of and be responsible for the and con-
dition of the room and instruments a!so 10 nave ave
vice in all large hospitals is a very responsible h
arduous and exactng one. this nurse should be
free from all other hospital responsibilities ana
Eighth-Room for special cases The desira,
rooms for the Individual care OF special cases.
certain kinds of nervous disorders, tetanus. etc
Ninth-Nerve department. The procuring of the
necessary appliances electrical ec) for the proper
treatment Of nerve cases. The want OF these spe-
cial instruments has greatly hampered the neuroo-
gisis in their work.
Pathological report. We cordially approve and
recommend the report to be made by special
mttee regarding improvements In pathological SER
vice 49,
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES " WINFIELD. NJ D..
WILLIAM MADDRFN, NJ. D.
GEORGE MNAUGHTON, NJ. D.,
Committee for the Staff Of the Kings County Hos
pital.