The San Francisco call., 1896-04-24
Filthy Floors That Aroused the
Curiosity of the Mem.
bers.
EXPENDITURES QUESTIONED.
A Recommendation May Pe Made That
the Nurses Training Glass
Be Abolished.

The manner in which the funds appro-
priated for the maintenance of the City
and County Hospital are expended will
form the subject of an investigation by the
Grand Jury during the next few weeks,
and a number of witnesses have already
been called to testify as to the condition
of the institution, and particularly as to
the food tnat is served to the inmates.
In its recent communication to the
Board of Health, the Grand Jury stated
that it had found much mismanagement
in the institution and that the subject
would be more fully treated in second
letter, the brevity of the first communica-
ton precluding any extended explanation.
Since then the jury has decided to go even
more deeply into the matter.
The decision to investigate has been
brought about by the things seen during
the recent sudden and unexpected visit of
the jurymen to the City and County insti-
tuition. The trip had been kept an abso-
Lutte secret by the members, and the Off
cials at the City and County Hospital
were as much surprised as was Superin-
tendent Weaver of the Almshouse when
line of carriages drew up before the gates
and nineteen grand jurymen stepped out
and, without further ceremony, began an
inspection of the building and grounds,
scattering in all directions, so that no
preparations could be made for their re-
ception in any of the departments.
"The wisdom of this course" said one
of the jurymen yesterday, twas manifested
by what we found in all directions at the
hospital-filth, carelessness and misman-
agement. We were amazed that the place
was not even clean when cleanliness is one
of the greatest needs in place where sick
people are confined and battling for health
or even life.
"The floors, walls, and even the tables,
were, in some instances, filthy. showing
an utter want of attention on the part of
the officials. 1t would seem to me that
with the amount of money appro opriated
for this institution it could at least be
kept clean. and it is this phase of the mat
ter that we will investigate particularly.
One thing that struck Us forcibly was the
quality of the sugar served at the inmates
tables. 1t was almost black, showing that
it was entirely unrefned and not fit for
she use of sick men.
1.-The Supervisors specifications, when in
viting bids for supplies, call for a good
quality of sugar, as well as other supplies,
and yet they do not reach the hospital.
The superintendent was asked about the
matter, and replied that if the contractor
did not send good sugar he could not help
it. 1t would seem to me that it was his
duty to report that he was not getting
what the contract calls for, if he inspects
supplies as close by as he claims to, and as
he should.
"Then comes one of the most important
matters that has reached our ears. We
understand that a polyclinic of young
women, who are studying to become
nurses, is kept at the hospital and that all
members are fed and kept at the expense
OF the City and County.
They are supposed to assist in caring
for the patients, but while novices amount
to very little as help, and when they attain
any degree of proficiency, they obtain GER
tifcates to that effect and leave to earn
good salaries.
"The money expended to keep these thirty
or forty women would hire few good
nurses and leave enough to pay for scrub
bing dirty floors occasionally. 1t is prob
able that we will make some strong recon-
mendations on these lines.''