The times., 1898-07-21
HOSPITAL INVESTIGATION.
Alleged Indccency and Inhumanity
at Fort Myer

To the Editor Of The Times:
The condition of affairs at the Fort
Myer Hospital needs rigorous investiga-
ton. From reliable authority the follow
ing facts have come TO my knowledge.
and 1t is my purpose to put them before
a patriotic public. in order that a request
be made for the correction of the indig-
mites to which our brave boys who are
sick so far from their homes have been
subjected
a. One patient, whose clothes were in
Tested with vermin, and who had a lOath-
some contagious disease, was removed
from his bed. The linen of the bed was
disgustingly soiled and was not changed.
Into this sOiled. diseased bed another pa
uent was to be put. Needless to say. ne
objected. Clean clothes of the one were
put into a closet with the sOiled clothes
Of the other. This state OF affairs is suffi-
cient TO call forth severe criticism
No one with the faintest dawning of or
binary common sense would permit such
a thing to occur. Il was unpar-
donable carlessness. The linen OF the
beds had not been changed for ten days;
not until the women nurses were put in.
81 The food is not of the proper kind
for the patients. Cabbage boiled with
bacon is not q very appetizing dish for
typhoid cOnvalescents.
3D. Convalescent patients have to sweep
and scour their own rooms every morning.
1t is almost impossible to believe that
such outrageous regulations exist, but
these are facts.
~ Visitors are considered as very IN
desirable. The reason given is that
those boys who did not have friends felt
depressed at the sight Of other boys hay
ing friends visit them. This is about as
lame an excuse as could be offered.
We all know that indiscrIminate visit
ing is not advisable for the sick, but we
also know that well regulated hospitals
gladly permit the calls Of friends.
No one wants TO do that which Is det-
rimental TO the patients or which inter-
feres with the proper and necessary reg
ulations of a hospital, but We do know
that all who hold positions OF public trust
need watching, and every honest individ-
ual is perfectly willing for the public 70
know every detail of every transaction
in which the public has a right 10 be in
terested.
have no desire TO lay blame where 1t is
not deserved, but criminal careIessness
resulting in irreparable damage to the
welfare of helpless sick boys many miles
from their friends is a matter which the
fathers and mothers of Washington city
should insist upon having thoroughly air
ed until all are satisfied that every boy,
no matter of what rank or station in life,
has had. in case of sickness. everything
done for him that science can devise and
love can dictate. One life lost means
but little to the general public. but it is
all in all to the desolated loved ones at
home.
Among other cases that have come tC
my notice is that of three boys who were
vaccinated below the elbow The reason
given by the surgeon was that If they lost
their arms it would be easier TO ampu-
tate them below the elbow than above.
II is to be hoped that the people of
Washington will not rest until a change
has been effected in the existing eondi-
tions, which can be remedied.
VIRGINIA TAYLOR.