Evening star., 1898-09-22

all that has been said on this important
subject and TO recommend the urgent and
pressing necessity of a new hospital.
Il wish further to direct your attention to
a tract of land donated by Howard univer-
sity to the government of the United States
and accepted by an act of Congress dated
JuLe 16. 1852. This miniature forest faces
Frecdmen's Hospital In its present con-
ditiCn it is a grave menace to the health
and well-being of the inmates there. 1t
also presents an unsghty and repugnant
appearance. The reservation Is overgroWn
with noXious ferns and tall weeds matted
with flth and rubbish after each rainfall.
This pollution floods the hospital grounds
t. the depth of several inches. The reserva-
tion during the day is made a camping
ground by the vicious and lazy, while at
night it affords a safe retreat for tramps
and criminals. The dry, parched grass, to-
gether with the shrubby brush, interlaced
with ZigZag pathways streWn with fifth and
rubbish, presents a picture which beggars
description and shows this place to be the
most neglected spot in this the nations
capital. l desire to recommend that you
bring to the attention of the Congress OF
the United States the said condition of this
reservation in order that some steps may
be taken to make such improvements as
are necessary TO prevent disease and add
to its appearance. With proper drainage
and irrigation the sanitary condition Of
this immediate locality could he materially
improved, and systematic parking, grass
plats and flower beds could transform this
uEhSIlpl waste TITO ii DStiutli vi anu iicditH-
full square, thus adding another bright and
cheerful spot to the many which adorn
Washington.
Pay Patients.
'It is desirable that some arrangement
should be made by which ward for pay
patients might be established in connection
with the hospital. The necessity of this
mas been largely commented upon in former
reports by those having charge of this
work, and the board of visitors, after quot
ing from some of them, indorsed this view,
and pointed out the proprlety of your rec
Cmmendiug to Congress hat legal sanction
be given to the proposed plan. 1t is render
ed mere apparent every day that such steps
should be quickly taken. and l desire to
urge this pressing necessity.
Training school for Nurses.
The investigation of the board of vis-
itors disclosed the fact that there is no eu-
thorty in law for the maintenance of this
branch of hospital work Their recognition
Of the fact, however that it is a necessary
adjunct to the successful conduct of thor
oughiy modern hospital caused them to rec
ommend that Congress be asked to give the
training school for nurses q legal status.
1t is not necessary to do more than en-
phasiZe their recommendation respecting
this matter, for it is apparent to every one
who makes the least pretensions to a
hospitals that such a branch works advan-
tages both to the profession and the public
at large.
Howard University Medical School.
This hospital, being closely connected
with the Howard University Medical
School secures the colored medical stu
dents of this country the greatest advan-
tages of any similar institution. Large
numbers of medical students are attracted
to said school because of the superior op-
portunities afforded by the hospital for
clinical advantages. While the hospital
and school are separate and distinct insti-
tutions, they are so closely related in the
fundamental object of their establishment
to render them mutually helpful TO each
other in advancing the material interests
Of the race for which their existence Is
rendered necessary. There is no reason
why the authorities Of the medical school
and hospital should not continue to be thus
helpful in the interest of science, and, so
far as is consistent with approved methods
and the prescribed regulations adopted by
the Interior Department, every facility will
be afforded to the medical school in the
prosecution of their commendabie endeav-
ors.
II would be derelict in the highest duty
to myself and to the race which represent
should 1 close this report without Offering
some word of gratitude TO you for the deep
personal interest you have taken in the
general nnala ge1nent and highest develop
ment of this hospital, and yet the language
is so impov arished as to furnish ade-
quate means of expressing such sentiments
the situation demands. Your long and
large experience in matters of business
coupled with the fact of your supervisory
connection with some Of the largest elee-
mosynary institutions in this country. rem
ders It especially fortunate for the patrons
Of Freedmen's Hospital that you, as its au-
thorized head. should, at time when so
ms n rafn nr nrpll
rect the new plans for Its management and
the codifcation Of rules for It's government.
You have added new and memorable
epoch to the history of this institution, ana
the near future WILL no doubt show ma
terial evidences of your high purpose to
serve that class Of humanity who most
need sympathy and help
Appended to the report are a number OF
tnblep giving the statistics OF tho ycnr's
work. and also the report of tho training
school for nurses, which Ia under tho su-
LIZ aA l. q