Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-03
OUR CRY .HospIr.L
Changes in Tour Of Duty MSshocs >of ADJ,
ministration Other Matters,

On Nov. occurred the quarterly
change of service at the Augusta civ
hospital, DR.. Johnson succeeiing Dr
Clement on the medical side and Dr
Harris succeeding DR. Frederick IN the
surgical side. 1t is only Just to saw a
word CT recognition OF the services rem
dered by DR.. Clement at particularly
trying period. During his term of SER
vice the hospital waslargely given over
! to the care of sick soldiers of the 1st
Maine Regiment. These were selected
extreme cases from the hospital at
Camp Powers. Most of the men reach
ed the City hospital in delirious con-
dition. The disease was typho-ma-
iarial fever which is mixed type pos
sessing the features Of Southern ma.
laria added to typhoid. So far as the
malarial element is concerned it re-
quired but little specific treatment, but
was the factor in making the illness of
gravest prognosis. No one could fore
see from day to day what turn this
treacherous disease might take or
what complications might grow out of
it. In single day there were given
into DR.. Clements care II patients,
nine of whom had temperatures Of 1O5
ana over, ana not one Of whom had a
temperature below 103
To move patients with this tempera-
ture and all other symptoms in pro-
portion is not, to say the least, to i'm
prove existing ditions. 1t was GER
tainiy grave task that was given Dr.
Clement and all those who saw his
conscientious work through those long
and trying weeks can bear testimony
to how faithfully and well he perform
ed it. lie was untiring in his efforts
for the relief of the sufferers. Not a
day passed without consultations with
other members of the medical staff,
and he was frequently accompanied
in his rounds by physicians of the con-
sulting staff and surgeons from the
Camp.
All of these men speak in warmest
praise of the excellent record he made
under most discouraging conditions.
During DR.. FreSerick's service on the
surgical SIDE he performed number of
exceeding skillful operations, of which
it may be enough to say that every one
of them resulted in a complete re-
covery of the patient.
Some misrepresentation exists among
people who are unfamiliar with the
workings of hospitals as to the man
ner in which they are conducted. The
hospital has, in addition to staff of
consulting physicians consisting of
eminent men of the profession in var
ious parts of the county, regular
working medical and surgical staff.
Medical cases come under the care of
the former; surgical cases under the
care of the latter. From each of these
stats one physician and one surgeon is
constantly on duty, or in active per-
sonal charge of their respective de-
partments The term of duty is three
months. For instance on Nov. l. the
term of duty of DR.. Frederick on the
surgical side and Dr. Clement on the
medical side closed for the year, each
having completed three months of SER
vice. They were succeeded by DIR. Har-
ris and DR.. Johnson. These at the end
of three months viii be succeeded by
DR.. Martin on the medical side and DR..
Davies on the surgical side.
1t will thus be seen that during the
year, each member of the staff is in
active charge of his side of the hospi-
tai for q period of three months.
Such regulations obtain in all hos
pitfalls and are absolutely essential to
stitutions. 1t must not be supposed
however that members of the staff
have no active interest with the hos
pital when they are not on duty. There
are frequent consultations and they
must always hold themselves in readi-
ness for any calls that may be made
upon them.
1t must not be supposed that only the
members of the hospital staff see pa
tents. There are patients constantly
under treatment in private rooms by
members of the staff not on duty, and
by courtesy of the physician or sur
geon who are charged with the treat
ment of patients on duty on their re-