The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
A VACATION IN HOSPITAL.
RECORD OF 4 SUMNER DEVOTED
TO REPAIRS OF THE BODY.

Hursss-The Day OF tho Observation-Disclosures
or tho OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on Leaving.
When the month Of June arrives and well.to-
do New Workers. close their homes for the sum.
mer and disappear, the city at once assumes m
entirely different character. A new army Of
anvaders rises up and Immediately takes posses
sion. Summer in New York belongs absolutely
to the wage earners, and they appreciate to the
fullest extent all that it offers to them. The tre.
mendous pressure of tho work relaxes some
what and the half-holiday spirit settles down
upon the masses, There Is more case and less
friction in life. and those who have been pegging
away year after year begin TO dream dreams
and even plan TO go junkoting along with all
the rest OF the world. Summer is regarded
as the most suitable season for making
alterations and repairs, and those who work
constantly can then call n halt and give ear to
the warnings that tell Of too great a strain upon
the nerves. have been a wage Garner for quite
fifteen years, and during all that period have
enjoyed magnificent health, but Time has been
getting in his innings all the same. and when
At was decided that l should have a two months
vacation the question what l should do with it
had already been settled many months before.
know l should spend my holiday in one OF tho
city's HOSPITALS getting ready for the work OF the
winter-not n cheerful prospect to be sure, but
far better than facing the thought of becoming
a useless member OF society that all the world
can do without.
There seems to be so much ignorance and mis-
conception in regard TO hospitals, many even
going so far rs to consider them mere slaughter
houses or scmi-prisons. that l felt MS IL l must
give some expression to my experience In one.
IL for no other reason than to shed SOM light
where there is now total darkness. and possibly
make It easy for others to knock Off for awhile
in summer and get the rest and care which
make the earning of q living an easier task.
started of one morning about noon just "a II
1 were going on any other trip. save that 1 went
with the minimum amount OF luggage. A
private room had been secured for me In one Of
the hospitals in the neighborhood OF the Park, a
rather attractive red structure, covered in
places with vines, and having at the interscct.
ing angles or corners large circular towers,
which extend the entire height of the building.
As you enter you face q long corridor, with the
necessary administrative offices and reception
rooms on opposite sides OF the front door. There
Is no suggestion of the hospital until you reach
the second floor OF the building. and not even
then. in the ordinary sense, for the wide corri-
dor occupies the centre OF each floor. and tho
large towers develop into the most beautiful cir.
cular rooms. quite unlike the ordinary con-
ceptiou OF a hospital ward.
Through the centre OF these rooms extend two
IafHe supporting plllhrS. IncSe and the walls
are finished in ivory white. Tho small! white
beds. each surrounded with its dainty screen,
are arranged around the room like the spokes Of
a wheel, while the centre of the room. with its
bright red rugs, easy chairs, and touches. forms
y sort of parlor whore the patients sit when con.
found In any hospital. nor are there any that do
more TO lessen Imaginary horrors OF illness. |
%S!eation these details because so many times l
1Aent that even to look uoon the inside OF a hos.
pital was sufficient to develop illness. Some of
with a smaller number OF beds. are for persons
OF limited means, where for $40 a week or even
sources. perfect privacy may be secured and the
best medical care and attention are given nm
those for the ecommodation Of patients MHr Of m Hnl
crate means there are several chronic wards,
die. as well as a large number of private rooms.
The hospital authorities are always notified
I'm advance of your advent. so that You enter as
and take n seat in the office until the clerk is
ready to sec you Two important duties arr then
ways settled in advance. and You register your
name, age. OCCUPATION, and the names OF any
latter duty gives you a momentary feeling OF
circumstances but 1t is ohly momentary. You
are then shown to the quarters assigned to you.
and whatever baggage you have is sent up, Just
Hospitals differ somewhat in the scope o, the
work they undertake. Some treat purely medical
only; others treat all kinds, including accident
take only surgical cases or those requiring ope.
Tations. They are usually thus limited in their
sources. The hospital, in question is one de
t rossd sntireiy to ~. surgical work; and it Is only
up and put in the proper eai light. s"A H'p' 10 ''s"'
The stan Of nurses numbers from TWENTY-FIVE
to forty. This does not include the head nurse
employed in the chronic wards. In this particu-
lar hospital the STAFF of nurses is constantly
IA the ordinary aOos ,tation Of tho term. where
enc may start in and learn how to be q nurse,
in surgical nursing: hence the stan is msSe upp
ofe body Of girls weil trained and skiltul in
general nursing. many OF them having already
well as in private cases. The course, as I said.
extends over six months, one of which is spent on
nurse is expected to serve as a general helper to
those In charge: After being accepted. the term
OF service Is divided among certain lines of work,
a definite number OF weeks being spent In the
operating room. a set period on night duty and
the sf narse P Ps5iPsa s s npGn ssy as duty. ,n Msap While I'll ,
patient who is very low after an operation and
requires constant care. A part of her duty is to
etairs after the operation. While serving her
Seessd to %sispi III snG az GPPe ths aeo seom she fn q ea.
ments. cloths. and towels to be used. to be ready
operation. and to clean up after it is over. The
DAY force comes on at 7 in the morning
Snu bIayB until Z IN the evening, when the
dinners are over. after which the night force
Srriyes. As many Of the operations occur carly
CURED to be in their rooms by 1890 A. M, have
the opportunity OF attending at least one oper-
alton every day: and are thus enabled to see a
large variety OF operations performed by the
most Skiiful surgeons in tho city. AS surgical
nursSe receive anywhere from $25 10 $35, and
even IN some cases $40 q week. there is a con
this field OF work. It demands magnifcent
health, intelligence. adaptability. and ~self-con-
never ending, it offers abundant variety and alb.
sor3ing Interest and even excitement. 1t seemsa
NIUE odd that so many Of the nurses in the hOspi-
tails nowadays should be Canadians, and yet when
one comes to know how skilful they are and
how vigorous and rich 10 their vitality, the
reason Is not 30 strange after all. In the first
place they arc rather fair TO look upon. and
other things being equal, an attractive person
ally Is desirable in a sick room; then they are
business like and well controlled, and yet they
are generously sympathetic and even merry
ana vlvacious., They give unstintediy OF their
strength, which seems untiring. and altogether
seem especially well lifted for the profession.
There seems to DO an erroneous impression
thAt UriyatA DafiAnfs rarniya very diferent ca ra