The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-17
An Hour Spent at Durham $
Haven for the Sick.
CLOSE OF THE FIRST YEAR
The Blessings Are Seen in Many
Ways.
EQUIPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
The Example of George Watts, and
His Underlying Motive,
Worthy of Wide
Emulation.
Emulation.

Emulation.
Durham, n. c., March TO- editorial
Correspondence)-I spent an hour this
morning at the Watts Hospital. II
has been open just little over a year,
and ever since it doors were open have
intended to visit and to tell the readers
of the News and Observer something
about its perfect equipment and bene-
ficent work. Every traveller on the
North Carolina railroad, as he enters
Durham from the west, has admired
the good taste that the exterior of the
Hospital presents. The plan is simple
Renaissance style, giving in the low
pitch and broad oyerhang of the roofs,
Spanish appearance, which pro-
vides a stately as well as picturesque
effect. The interior arrangements,
planned with view TO the special
needs for which the generous donor
founded it, are even more perfect and
complete The finish is plain, with
rounded edges and curved inner-angles,
every dust-catching and dust-retaining
member being eliminated.
The Hospital consists of five build
ings. The Administration building in
the centre, 38x36 feet, two stories and
basement; male and female payilions,
each 31x62 feet. one story high: a
Surgical building, 17x27, at the rear
of the Administration building, and a
low one-story building containing the
autopsy and mortuary, and car
riage shed. The first four of these are
connected by corridors, enclosed in
glass in winter, and the last entirely
isolated on the lower ground, at the
rear of the east pavilion. These COM
modious and well constructed buildings
stand in an enclosure of nearly five
acres, which is being beautified by
grass and shrubbery.
From the moment you enter the
front door, you are impressed with the
sweetness and cleanliness, the laundry
and kitchen being as bright and as
cheerful-looking as the neat reception
room or the Office of the doctors. The
pay wards and the free wards are
models of neatness and comfort At
the head Of each bed there are twenty
twol is an electric bell by which the
patient can summon immediate attend
.ance, and an electric light which gives
light to the patient without disturb
ing those in adjoining cots. The beds
are the same as those in the Johns
Hopkins Hospital, and were designed
by DIR. Hard, superintendent of that
institution.
The heating, yentilating and sanitary
arrangements have been worked out
in the most complete manner, every
precaution having been taken TO pro-
duce the most perfect conditions in all
sick wards of which modern hospital
science is capable. Particularly are the
sanitary appliances to be commended.
They are all of the simplest and strong
est character-everythi open and ac-
cessible. .
There is not method of yentilating,
a surgical instrument, comfort or
convenience-in a word. there is moth
ing that could add TO the completeness
that is wanting, and / was astonished
at the many devices of ventilation,
heating, and for surgery that the donor
had provided, and provided in way
that challenges admiration of the skill
in arrangement as well as in the gem
erosify that prompted the gift. 1T is
evident that Mr.. Watts gave as much
time in planning as in money TO make
this lovely ideal hospital.
Not long ago friends asked Mr.. Watts
what influenced him in the beginning
to build the hospital, and he said:
.sThree years ago / was, for short
while. a. patient in hospital, and only
then did i fully learn the invaluable
services of her we term trained nurse
With her womanly gentleness, given to
her by God, augmented by years OF
study, reflection and experience, she
becomes almost heavenly yisitant, an
angel of mercy at the bedside OF the
sick She knows his needs; she realizes
his condition; her hand is always ready
to make him comfortable; her earnest
sympathy encourages him; her firm
ness stimulates him, and her training
enables her to faithfully carry out the
physicians instructions. More than
once / have been told that her services
are more valuable than physic.
s'This experience directed my atten-
ton and reflection to hospital work.
have studied the subject during my
leisure hours, and examined hospitals
whenever possible. My visits among
different conditions of people in our
community convinced me of the bene-
fits to be derived from an institution of
this character here"
Mr.. Watts has given $4,000 to the
Hospital. IC LOldl GD5b III Lie RIOuul,
buildings, furnishings, and advance
ments for expenses was SOS, 944.6s-say
$4,000 in round numbers. In addition
to paying this sum out in cash, Mr..
Watts has given $4,000 in Durham q
Northern Railway bonds (6 per cent?;
$4,000 in Rocky Mount Mills bonds (6
per cent? and $4,000 in Riverside cotton
mill stock. The interest from these
stocks and bonds gives an income OF
about 81 200 per year; the city of Dur
ham appropriates 5000 per year, and
the other expenses approximating 81
COO per year are met by pay patients
(this brought in S708.53 the first ten
months), the aid association and other
donations and gifts.
The Hospital is managed by Board
Of Trustees as follows: George w
Watts, president; b. N. Duke, vice-pres.
ident; Jno. H. Markham, secretary;
III