New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-11

MISS wHEELERs EXPERIMENT IN THAT
DIRECTION.
EACH LITTLE wAIF WILL HAVE NURsD AND
BE WATCHED AS CAREFULLY As ARE
SOCIETY'S DARLINGS.

sOCIETY's DARIINGs
Miss Mnranha Wheeler. superintendent Of the
Babies Hospital. No e57-s59 Lexington ave, Is
about make what they call Interesting ex-
pertinent at the institution. one Of the nurses
said in speaking about IT few days ago;
at has not yet been shown how much mir space
is essential TO the wel-being Of infant. though
the deploraby large death rate in crowded institu-
tons hiss proved conclusivey that the less the air
space the greater is the mortality In the Babies
Hospital where the death Is very low, there is
average of only four infants TO each ward, the
wards being cheerful and well ventilated. but 4
hospital ward. under the most favorable condi-
lions Is a desirable place for convaescent In
FAINT; Ike the adult it will have better oppor-
tunity to regain strength II removed other sur
roundings. As mbecile children should have more
light, air and warmth than normal ones. so the
children who have been born with poor consttu
tons crnnot thrive except under favorable condi-
lions. Miss Wheeler will place one convalescent or
delicate child In large room. under the care ~
nurse. who will take 1t for It's daily airing. and
attend to II II II tho cherished infant or
some wealthy family. Thus she hopes to discover
whether II is possible to rear II into really
robust condition.
1T must be borne in mind that a large proportion
OF the children who inmates Of the various hos
pitfalls for infants have come into tho world under
most unfavorab,e circumstances Fully two-thirds
Of those who were admitted the Babies Hospital
under the age of SIX months were suffering from
marasnus. wasting disease the result OF I'M
proper food. lack of care. feeble vitality at birth.
Sometimes the mother driven from home by
drunken husband. has lived such poor food as
her sympathetic neighbors could supply. Indeed.
in one case the mother had been homeless for six
)nths before the birth OF her child and had
wandered about getting chance meal wherever
she could. Another mother had been almost
starved for eight months. had frequently been
obliged TO pass an entire day without food and
Fei fOr
ard tea. Her child the age OF six weeks weighed
only 1--WE pounds Another child or seven months
old weighed only six pounds when IT was admitted
TO the hospital. Such children are often In hope
less condition when received. and little mora can
be done than to make thei- brief lives as comfort
able possible. In other cases the children have
been dosed with opium in the form OF paregoric or
soothing syrups Fully half OF the children under
six months old who were admitted in one year had
been Systematically drugged almost from the date
or their brit. Some mothers. obliged 70 work out
by the dry. drug the children to make them sleep.
and. ignorant Of the danger. admiuiser the pare
goric or other drug withou. measurement.
Another advantage of Miss Wheeers experiment
will be an additional special training Of the nurse.
When 10 was first announced that nurses were de-
sired number OF the applicants failures in other
directions were found to be totally UNIT. but since
the requirements OF the school have become kno%a
appNcauons, ior admission lar outnumper the Va
canCies. and there - long waiting list Of yourg
women o. good moral character and inteiligcnce.
ne course Ci instruction embraces INFANT feeding,
which includes the care OF milk, milk Sterilization
and preparation Of various foods: hygiene Of the
skin care OF the mouth. eyes ana ears. ventilation.
temperature cleanliness tho training Of children IN
proper habits, simple treatment In nursery crper-
gcnCicS. the making or poult.ccs. tho use OF the
clinical thermometer ana the rudim@uts OF kinder
garten work. Tho course Of training occupies SIX
months. and nurses receive ccrtihcat"s at the close.
! II graduate IS dismissed from her first place
unsatisfactory Il is possible that the fault may
| opportunity is afforded her. bu; in recommending
her to second place the new employer Is Informed
Of the reasons why she not deemed satisiac-
! tary. II she should fail again. she would not he
recommended by the hospital FOR a third place. but
II she succeeds she IS presented with silver medal.
maids ia the North. South East and West, and
with families who have gone abroad"
From June 10 the end Of September the pa
TENTS Of the Babies Hospi,ol are cared FOR in
the country hospital at Oceanic, y j The hos,
pal proper N that place vas Luit by nr. and nd
dauehters A diet kitchen was added by Mrs.
! Havemeyer IN 1886 The Hammersler Cottage
was erected by Mr.. and Mrs J. Hooker Ham
| Kemp-Ilavemeyer reception cottage was presented
! ny Edward Kemp and William f. Havem"yer, the
| Interior being furnished by Mrs. Joseph I. Low and
If)r,a vii n added to The buildings at Oceanic at
a cost OF abol, $500 This VII be accomplished
| which IS composed OF young women who visit the
| hospital in turn Resides ministerng % the little
| patients In many ways the sewing class makes
! officers are Mrs Bryce Gray ir. chairman. Miss
| Madeleine l. Dinsmore. vcechaiIman. Miss Maude
| n Curtiss. treasurer. and Miss Ellen Louise Adce,
The oricers Of ne Board Of Women Managers
! are: President Mrs. John Jay Knox, fret VICE
! president. Mrs William r. Havcmeycr, second wee
| dent. Mrs. Oliver - Jennings. treasurer. Mrs John
! p. Calvert. recording secretary. Mrs. Theron g.
dali L. addition The staff OF men PHYSICIANS and
/ surgeons Or. Martha Wolsten e pa thOlogist and