The San Francisco call., 1897-07-21
COMP PEL,LED
To Face
CONTRACTION
Patients With All Kinds of
Diseases Sent to the
Pesthouse.
OnlALJA Iii Lib IVN NUleSL.
The Regular Attendant Holds
the Position of Night
Watchman.
QUEER ACTION OF THE BOARD.
Four Cases Sent There Last Night
and Others Have Been There
Two Years.
QUEER ACTION OF THE BOARD.
Four Gases Sent There Last Night
and Others Have Been There
Two Years.

Owing to lack of funds to meet the rent
and various other bills, the American
Gospel Army Branch Hospital, at 927
Washington street, has been closed. Most
of the patients who were receiving care at
the institution have been dispersed among
their friends throughout Chinatown, but
tour Of them were ordered by the Board
Of Health to be sent TO the Pesthouse,
Notwithstanding the fact that none of
them had contagious disease.
There are two cases of paralysis, one Of
chronic neuralgia and one of cancer of the
throat. The excuse given by the board
for its action is that the City and County
Hospital is full to overhowing and the
AlmshOuse is in like condition. An in
vestigation of the matter reveals rather
peculiar state of affairs, and it would look
as if the Board OF Health were using the
Pesthouse as a dumping ground for in
curables. While the institution is osten-
sibly 10 be used for patients with conta-
gious diseases, it has been used for the re-
ceplion OF those afflicted with all sorts of
aiIments-from a case Of attempted suicide
to consumption.
AS the regular nurse of the Pesthouse
is now occupying the position OF night
wa lehman his place is filled by Chinese
leper, who administers to all patients
alike, lepers or not, and if the disease is
contagious there is danger of it spreading
in the place supposed to be for the pur-
pose OF stopping it. The superir tendent
, says that these non-contagious cases are
placed there TEN porarily, but as one para
lytic Chinaman has Deen there two years
it would appear that TEN porarily has an
indefinite meaning.
]. P. keating, the superintendent, said
yesterday TO a CALL reporter: "Oh, yes;
we have many cases that cannot truthful
ly be called contagious. Why, some time
ago we had a man sent out here who had
cut his throat. He was taken to the R.
ceiving Hospital first and then sent out
here, where he died a day or so after
coming.
1--WE had a consumptiye Chinaman sent
here too. He died soon after reaching
the Pesthouse. When he was dying the
rest Of the Chiname begged me to throw
him out OF doors and let him die outside.
They have a most unreasonable fear of
any one dying in the same house with
them. They did not have their way, of
course, and the poor fellow was permitted
to die IN peace. We have several patients
suffering with cancer and others who are
paralyzed. In all cases, though, they are
OnlnameH. Oue OnlneSe pdrdiy Tic, Lee
Ying. died two months ago."
'Is leprosy contagious?"
"Well, some think it is and some say
not 1t is pretty safe 10 bet, however,
that eventually all will take it if they are
permitted to remain long enough in this
place."
why were not these patients sent to
the City and County Hospital or to the
Almshouse?"
81 know nothing about that. When the
people are sent here by the Board of
Health l take them and ask no questions.
| am here 10 obey the orders of the board,
and L take them all in and do the best
can for them"
sis anything being done for those who
have leprosy p
Yes; we are using the Japanese reme-
dy, and l think it is successful. The
Bindt brothers, who have been here ever
since they were IA years old, are now
almst we'll, and | think they will soon be
able to return to the world perfectly cured.
Annie, the Chinese musical girl, Is also
being successfully treated by 1t and has
been greatly i'm proved"