Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-11
WORK OF A YEAR
Progressive Scientific Work of the
Freedmen's Hospital.
MORTALITY RATE MUCH DIMINISHED
The Internes and Trained Nurses
Eager to Learn.
NEW BUILDING DESIRED

DR.. Williams. surgeon-in-chief of the
Freedmens Hospital. today filed his an
nual report with the Secretary Of the In
| terror. The period covered is the twelve.
| month ending June so. 1895. During the
year the progressive policy outlined in the
last annual report has been vigorously
| prosecuted with results decidedly crafty
ing and reassurfng. The report says:
with view to placing the Freedmen's
| Hospital fully abreast Of similar f1rst-class
| institutions throughout this country and
| in Europe. the system of internes was es-
| tablished here, and the practical results
| derived from this experiment during the
past year clearly demonstrates the wis
dom of such a STEP Bright young gradu-
| ates in medicine from some of the fore
| most medical colleges of the country have
| entered here as internes, each one bringing
] to the discharge of his duties an eager am
-bition to learn, well-trained mental ability,
| a fair degree of professional Skill. and an
| untiring faithfulness in the discharge of
his duties. These young men have greatly
aided in the professional work Of this in
| stitution. and. in return. have gained
| practical experience which cannot but be
of great service to them in their profess
Sional careers.
| The Inferno \ Graduate.
| Each inferno must have graduated from
| some medical college, must pass salts
| factory examination before admission to
| the hospital, is appointed for one year and
| is provided with food and lodging here. to-
| gether with small compensation to meet
Incidental expenses during the year. The
satisfactory result of this experiment leads
me to suggest at this poin. q further
change in the system of hanging this
| hospital.
"As was said in my las: ..uual report,
| al a h1tSheS in fact a
| war necessity. and naturally, therefore,
partook largely Of the characteristics of
war times. The war hospitals had their
surgeons-ir-chief. their assistant surgeons
and a retinue of unnecessary subordinate
officials. But we have happily passed be-
yond war times, and can we'll afford to pass
beyond war expedents. There Is not
frst-class hospital in this country whose
chief executive officer Is now designated as
surgeon-in-chief. in the same sense as APP
piled to this Institution. and no in
which a number of high-saaried officials
are kept upon the pay rolls for no other
practical purpose than that Of depicting the
treasures Of such institutions.
Students Eager to Serve.
1.-The demand for practical scientific
knowledge is now so imperative, and the
field for practical scientific investigation is
SO restricted, that earnest, ambitious and
Industrious students of these sciences will
gladly avail themselves of every opportCn-
ity everywhere to add to their practical
knowledge on these subjects; and this con-
dition renders 1t first necessary and then
unwise to bar the door to such opportunities
an hospital affords with hiSh-Salaried
officials behind high-scunding titles. This
hospital, like others of its class, Should be
managed by superintendent or warden.
with an assistant. a staff of non-salared
attending physicians and surgeons. a corps
of interneS and superintendent of nurses.
Such an arrangement of the managerial
lcfa mo
fessional and executive, and place the in
stitution beyond a single want in this re-
spect. The plan above detailed was prac-
tically inaugurated here upon the :nculn-
bency of the present management OF this
institution, the only difference being in the
name of the head executive office. 1t Is
therefore respectfully suggested that such
legislative action be taken as will be neces-
sary to complete the change above outlined.
The Training School for Nurses.
This is another one Of the experiments OF
the past year which has produced practical
results of highly satisfactory character.
There has been a marked change in the
character and mental equipn ent Of the
young women who now apply for opportun-
tiles to fit thems elves for this industrial
profession. The lack Of openings in other
fields Of usefulness where bright. young
colored women are permitted to enter and
compete with their more favored sisters for
an honest livelihood has thrown into this
comparatively rev industrial pursuit many
young women who. having graduated from
the high schools Of the country, find them
selves without opportunities for obtaining
employment as teachers, typewriters, &c.
And &C ming into the training school Of this
hospital they have completely transformed
the conditions heretofore observable
throug hcut the several wards. They have
intelligently comprehended the character
of their work anG nave faithfully perform
ed 1t. They have given earnest and palms.
IN a ~
piled themselves with great diligence and
efficiency to the work Of the lecture room.
Mortality Decreased.
"As one evidence Of the practical char
actcr of the help by them in the case of the
sick, 1t is ascertained that the mortality
rate in the wards here has decreased II
per cent during the past year. The splendid
results obtained In this particular depart
mcnt are due largely to the energetic and
ca pable management of Its superintendent,
Miss Sarah c. Ebersole.
1.-THE years work of the Training School
was formally brought to a close on the
18th OF May, when eighteen of the young
women CT the class were publicly awarded
certificates of efficiency by Mr. John w.
Ross, president of the board of Commission
ers Of the District of Columbia, at the
graduating exercises Of the class held on
that evening at thu First CONGREGATIONAL
Church Each of them passed in a very
satisfactory manner most thorough ex-
animation. covering the practical, profess
s!onal and scientific character Of their.
work. and all of them are now well uuali-
fed for professional service as trained
nurses. A full report of the work done in
this department has been submitted to
me by its superintendent, and is respect
fully forwarded herewith and made a part
Of this report.
The Ambulance System.
In my last report reference was made
to the need for we'll equipped Ambulance
for use at this hospital. and 1 am glad
to say that this need has now been fully
supplied. We now have an up-to-date am
bulance, modern In continuation AMI f..ll.z