The San Francisco call., 1896-03-19
The Board of Health Notifies the
Consul and the Six Com
panles.
PLAN OF THE MISSIONARIES
A Movement Started for Mongolian
Hospital to Be Located in
Chinatown.

The Board of Health at its meeting yes
terday, by unanimous vote, condemned
the Chinese hospitals, or homes OF tran
quillity, the presence and condition OF
which were exposed by THE CALL.
Health Officer Lovelace's report regard
ing the filthy dens where the dead and
dying Chinese lie almost side by side was
a revelation to the members of the board,
and their disgust at the thought OF such
places existing within their jurisdiction
was heightened when Drs. McMurdo and
O'Brlen, who made an investigation of the
death traps, reported on the horrors they
had seen.
DR.. McMurdo stated that in one place. in
close proximity to the sick, Chinaman's
dead body was found. and that portion
of the face had been eaten away by rats.
He could hardly find words to express his
condemnation of the sanitary condition OF
the dens, and expressed belief that the
board should lose no time in closing the
places. In some of the hospitals, notably
those in the rear of 724 Pacific street, the
attendants were found to be suffering from
various ailments, some of them being so
weak and debilitated as to render them of
little use in ministering to the wants OF
the unfortunates, who were lying about,
waiting patiently for death to end their
sufferings.
The effect of the report on the members
of the board was at once apparent, and
when DR.. Morse moved that the hospitals
be condemned as public nuisances there
were no dissenting voices. Secretary God
chaux was instructed to at once notify the
Chinese Six Companies and the Chinese
Consul-General that the board had con-
demned the hospitals and morgues at 724
Pacific street and the one in the rear OF go
Jackson street, and to request that the or
ders of the board be complied with with
the utmost possible dispatch. The Six
Companies were also notified that they
must care for the sick Chinese now in the
hospitals in some place where the sanitary
arrangements, or rather lack of them, are
not so Objectionable. The inspector of the
district that embraces Chinatown will
watch the deadhouse closely TO see that
the orders of the board are complied with,
and any evasion of the matter will result
in the arrest of The keepers and those con-
cerned in the maintenance OF the grew
some dens.
As second result of the publicity cast
upon these Homes of Tranquility" and
"Quiet Nursing Places" the Christian
missionaries have started movement for
a Chinese hospital. The Presbyterian
mission on Stockton street, of which Rev.
Ira NJ. Condit is superintendent, the
Methodist Episcopal mission, under DR..
Masters, the Baptist mission, under the
Rev. Mr.. Norris. the Cum berland Pres
byterians, the Refuge Home, pre-
sided over by Miss Culbertson. and all the
other mission workers have at least ap-
proved OF the plan and some of them have
already taken steps to alleviate the con-
dition of affairs which has called down
the condemnation of the health board OF
the City. The Rev. Mr.. Condit has had
room at his mission house set apart and
furnished for the accom- modation of sick
Chinese, and before long it is expected
that some house in the neighbornood will
be put into sanitary condition and main
taired as hospital for the poorer class of
Chinese. who in the absence of such an
institution are forced to go to the dead
house or are taken there by their cousins
Perhaps the Chinese Consulate Will assist
the movement, and the Six Companies
Will De asked 10 contribute.
Several ears ago a similar movement
was set en- foot by the wealthy Chinese;
but fell through after great deal of money
had been subscribed because the Board of
Supervisors refused to sanction the erec-
tion of hospital building in the southern
part OF the City. The present movement,
however, being fathered by the mission
aries, who will have control of the institu-
ton and be answerable for its sanitary
condition, will probably be successful.
Yesterday party of ladies, among them
Miss Alexander of the Presbyterian Mis-
sion, visited as many of the lighthouses as
they could gain admission to, and left food
for the living inmates. At the Hongkong
Chamber of tranquility" one OF those
condemned by the Health Board, they
were refused admission, though they had
brought food for its solitary dying inmate,
who lies in dark, damp and foul room,
along with dead body.
AT the Hop Wah Morgue on Washing
ton street, the ladies found three dying
coolies in most wretched condition, living
on bare boards. OF one of the men, who
could speak fairly good English, Miss
Alexander asked il there was ANYTHING he
wanted. Just something to lie on, he re-
piled, adding that the bare boards made
his bones sore. Later in the day the mis-
sion ladies took him a blanket, which the
poor wretch needed SO badly. He was
asked if he would not like to wash and he
replied that it was impossible-more than
he dared hone for. Indeed. there are no
accommodations of any kind in these
death houses. Towels and soap are en-
tirely unknown quantities, and bare
drink of water in dirty, nasty tin cup, is
often an impossible luxury.