The times., 1897-04-23
Committee Examine Into the Dis
trict Hospital Conditions.
THE SICK WERE CARED FOR
The Joint Congressional Committee
Considers the Government of Four
Charity ospitais-Discussion Of
Politics at Ereedman,s-PreSid
Rankin and Surgeon Puryis Differ.

ties and Reformatory Institutions in th'
District of Columbia, held in the Senat,
District Committee room, was Genera
Hospitals"
the hospitals examined into Were th'
Homeopathic, Garfield, Frecdman's, an'
Providence. The topics of inquiry consisted
OF the questions whether there lis dupli
cation in the work ofthe District hospitals;
| why should not the District share The eX
| pense OF Garfield HospiUai?" Should tn,
work of the hospitals be supervised by Dis
| trict authoritics?'' and Should the contro
of FTeedman's Hospital remain with tns
| Secretary of the Interior" Other matter!
| of interest inquired about referred to con
| tagious disc ases in hospitals, training
| school foi nurses, and the salaries of tho
hospital staff.
Among those present at the hearing
| were: Agent Lewis, of the Board OF Chill
| dren's Guardians; Sanitary Officer Frank
Major Jerome Burke, and w. Chase Roys
| Senator Martin or Virginia presided at
the investigation. There was a continual
tion OF the hearing of yesterday afternoon
or the Eastern Dispensary work.
Mr. c. c. Lancaster president OF the
| board or directors, gave the information
desired, ana explained that during last
| year tine hospital treated over 5000
| patients, and issued 5000 prescriptions,
| all at a cost of about SO cents per patient.
| Mr. Lancaster explained that the
! hospital had no desire TO make
| a record OF large number OF
| patients treated They desired only to dis
! St
not treat people getting $40 per month
| or $40 month and board only poor peO
| pie could get treatment.
Representative Nurthway asked MIR. Lam
caster hoiy he knew he was not treating
patients able to pay for themselves Mr..
Lancaster said where there was any doubt
as to the inability OF patients the hospital
always got the benefit of the doubt. IL
there was any imposition, ii was on the
patient and not the dispensary.
Gen. Sternbcrg, on behalf of the Proyi-
dencc Hospital, admitted that there is
duplication in the work of the District
hospitals. He characterized Proyidenceas
an Emergency Hospital for the eastern
section OF the city. Providence Hos
nital he said, was under the supervision
OF Sister Beatrice. Gen. Sternberg said
that under contract with the Government 1
Providence was required to treat on u
daily average of ninety-five charity pa
tents Some of these patients We're there
for only a day. Others had been there
for year.
MIR Pitney asked Gen. Sternberg what
he did personally to see whether there
were ninety-five charity patients daily
under treatment in the hospital as pro-
vided by the contract. Gen. SternDerg
said this was largely left to Sister Bea-
trice, who, when called, admitted that
sometimes she may be deceived by people
coming to the door for treatment. Rep
rescntativc Nurthway inquired as to the
religious affiliations of Providence Hos
pital Gen Sternberg replied that lie only
knew from hearsay, but Sister Beatrice
had assured him that she had full and en-
tire control, and had no ecclesiastical
superior.
Mr. pitney presented TO Gen. SternbeTg
a COPS OF the recommendations adopted by
the Medical Association Of the District
February / 8, 1897, and asked him to read
it over and give his opinion of its proyis-
ions
The recommendations were signed by
President DR.. W. 2. Carr and Secretary
Dr. j. R Wellington Gen. Sternberg
agreed with sections 1 .. ard of the
paper, which provided that every institu-
ton for medical charity shall require from
every applicant for relief in a hospital or
dispenSary a written certificate, to bc
obtained as hereinafter provided, emer-
gency cases excepted; that such certificate
be obtained from physicians to the poor,
the Board of a ssoCiated Charities or any
registered physician; that cases Of sick
and injured persons found upon the streets,
in the stations or elsewhere who require
immediate treatment shall be CARR ed To
the Emergency Hospital or the nearest
hospital having an emergency service, or
to their homes if so directed by the pa
tient or his friends; that emergency pa
rients shall not be detained longer in such
imperatively demands.
The witness objected to section ., that
members of the Medical Association be
entitled to the privilege OF attending pri-
vate patients, occupying private rooms in
any of the public hospitals of this city.
Cen Sternberg believed this section was
fathered by a number of young physicians
whodesired to get the experience of hospital
treatment.
Section 6, arranging for certain pay
ments, was not Objectionable, but section
z, which prohibited any member Of the
Medical Association accepting positions
on hospital staff where the aSsocia ton
supported the resignation of certain mem->
bers of the staff.
Gen. Sternberg said this provided a boy
colt to support certain schools where diff
ferences might arise as to treatment and re-
suited in designations. Section was
similar to section Z, except it related TO
diseases which might be Objectionable to the
Medical Association. The inquiry next fol-
lowed the line laid down, and reverted
again to the question of impositions upon
the hospitals.
Mr.. Pitney said the only trouble was
the sisters We're charitable, they were not
looking after the interest of the public
Treasury Mr.. Sternberg thought it was
hard to turn away patient, even If he
was unable to pay. Referring to con-
tagious diseases, Sister Beatrice explained
that there was an isolated building on the
Providence Hospital grounds where diph-
liberia and minor diseases might be treated
Gen. SteTnberg thought this building might
be used for smallpox, as Well. 1t is about
200 feet from the main building Sister
Beatrice said it would accommodate eight
patients. Gen. Stemberg believed in the
plan of providing isolated wards at ex-
listing hospitals for The treatment of con-
tagion
nr drfn r