The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-03
NEED FOR MORE HOSPITAL ROOM.
The Georgia 1nnrmary Unable to
Take Care of Half Who Apply.

Savannah needs a new hospital for its
coIored people, or else an enlargement OF
the present hospital With a colored pop
ulation Of 25.oo0. the city has but one place
where the helpless colored people, or those
who have suffered by accident. can be
cared for. That place is the Georgia In
firmaTy- a visit 20 the Institution shows
that its present capacity is entirely too
small 10 meet the demands upon il.
Mrs. N. H. DeWolfe is the matron Of the
institution. She exerts herself TO make IL
accommodate all who apply for relief. but
with every effort in that direction hun
dreds are turl1ed away every year on ac-
count of the limited accommodations.
At present the infirmary consists OF two
wards with forty beds. This is not half
enough At least 100 beds would be re-
quiSed to accommodate all the patients
who apply. At the west end Of the build
ing IS the annex, built six years ago. This
annex is not in condition for occupancy,
as tie interior is yet unfinished When IL
IS uinshed fourteen more beds can be put
IN IN It's present incomplete condition il
is useless.
Besides the two wards for patients there
are two buildings used as a Kitchen
Laundry, store room and help rooms Ten
people are employed in the hospital and
every b ing is kept scrupulously clean and
in exec llent sanitary condition
Mrs DeWolfe has as an assistant Miss
Hattie Waterman. Both ladies' are emf
nenty lifted for their positions. They are
indefatii sable workers for the welfare OF
the intiI mary, and through their energy
and perseverance the hospital has been
very much improved.
During the last year ass patients were
treated and one hundred death occurred
OF this lumber, however, at least twenty
five We're brought to the infirmary In
a dying condition, and a number were
already de ad. The burial expenses OF
all who die at the hospital are paid from
the approp 1ation for the support Of the
institution. This constitutes heavy draft
on the fnaE ces. A great m any are sent
TO the hospi tai in a dying condition to
avoid payment OF burial expenses.
At present there are between forty and
20 patients at the intirmary. This is more
than can really be accommodated, but
arrangements have been made for some
OF the convalescents 10 sleep
in the help rooms. Quite a par
agon of neatness and completeness
shape of an operating room. It is a source
of great pride to the matron, who has
spent much time and energy in fitting II
up.
The Georgia Infirrnary has been In ex-
istence since 1882. 1t originated from an
endowment fund left by Thomas Williams.
Richard K. Williams gave the land upon
which the buildings are erected. 1t Is
supported by a city and county appro-
prjation. The city donates $500 and the
county $l'50 annually. This is not sutti-
clent TO meet the expenses without a
great deal of squeezing and econOmizing.
The present capacity Of the inhrmary is
entirely inadequate. 1t IS often neces-
sary under the press of an urgent case to
turn out patient TO make room for the
more desperate case. The patients are
given the best of treatment and food of
the most nourishtng quality Is served
them. Or. Wiechiebaum calls on the pa
tients several times every day, and does
everything for them that is necessary
The officers of the infrmary are as fol-
lows:
President-Lous T. Turner
Treasurer-Dr. T. ]. Charlton.
Board of DirectOrs-R. b. Reppard c.
Nj. Gilbert ]. Solomon. Joseph Clay. Dr.
w. H. Elliott
Observation-Disclosures yViechelbaum