Chicago eagle., 1899-11-25

politiclanS cannot mJurc MIN IN the
least For about five years he has done
his duty honestly and fearlcssly, and in
consequence has earned his spurs. and
made the best record of any warden
who ever yet served at the great Cook
County hospital.
The huge aggregation of structures
known us the Cook County Hospital
is the most unique public institution
in the state of Illinois. Under its por-
tails more than two.thirds of the dcrc-
licts, the waits, the human wrecks of
the great city. In time Of disease or
treatment Thousands of men and
women annually. who have no other
shelter when suffering from bodily
discomfort. seek refuge and allcvia.
tion beneath its roof. If they he hos.
pital eases aid is never refused. There
is no distinction of persons. Gnarlcd
and dirt.staincd vagrants. trcmulous
with disease and pain. are tended as
assiduously and carefully as their
more fortunate brethren. The wall of
child of the slums Is answered as
quickly as the plaintivc cry of one
born under happier auspices. The hos
pial is an epitomc of humanity. Its
great stone threshold Is worn away
10y the passing of grim and ghastly
tragedies of crime and mystery. of
pathos and despair, of sorrow and
sickness. until 1t seems as if their
shadows lurked there always.
1, is the largest free hospital I'm the
United States. 1t has LOO beds. The
area of land occupied by 1t is thirteen
acres. bounded by Harrison. Polk, Lin.
coin and Wood streets. II comprises
many buildings. The administration
building faces north on Harrison
| street. and has five connecting wings.
which contain twenty wards. The
amphitheater or clinic and the engine
and dynamo houses are located behind
| these, and In the rear of the main
building and detached from the same
are the storeroOm where all supplies
are kept. the laundry, the bakery and
the main kitchen. the barn. the car
pcnters' shop, stcamhtting shop, mat.
| trcss. making and paint shop, where
nearly all the necessary repairs for the
hospital are made. Nearly two-thiris
of the ground area Is covered by
buildings pertaining to or u part of
the hospital proper This estimate In.
cludes the county morguc, which was
planned to accommodate the needs of
the county and the city for years To
come. For Its purposes IL IL the lnrg.
est and best adapted of any building
In this country. II Is used for the re-.
ception of bodies from the county at
large. us well Us from the hospital. II
Is open for inspection by the public NJ
all times. Unclaimed bodies are al.
lowed to remain In the morguc mt least
six weeks. and the clothing taken
from them is kept longer. photographs
of the unknown dead nre taken. a
description Of lost friends may be fled
with the clerk In charge. Burinls are
made In the county burial grounds.
The detention hospital, which Is an
adjunct under the management Of the
warden of the hospital, Is situated on
Wood street. 1t Is the place for pa
ticnts awaiting trial for admission into
an insane asylum. and IL In charge OF
the county physician, who must reside
In the building. Upon the certificate
Of any reputable physician, or upon the
filing of petition from the patient him.
self. or his friends, that he IL proper
candidate for an asylum, he may be rc.
celvcd at the hospital to await trial
The hospital Is also the place for the
detention and care Of dependent chill.
drcn pending the determination by the
court Of the person or institution which
shall bc the child's responsible guard
ian. Trials are held weekly before a
county Judge and jury of six men, one
of whom must be Il physician. Two
physicians are appointed by the county
Judge TO act In the capacity Of chair
man of these jurles. The county physi
clan Is present as chancellor. The ac
commOdations in this building are SUI
ficicntly ample, and 1t Is filled with
modern convcniences. The county ply
slcian In charge at this time Is DR.. w
; II. Hunter. The executive officers OF
the hospital are: James II. Graham
warden; Henry G. Bartell, chief clerk
Joseph Purvis, assistant chief clerk
Charles Lump, engineer; Cornelius
Vanderpoel, pharmacist.
During the fiscal year 1897 1886 pa
tients were admitted for treatment. Ol
this number zoos were sent to the dc
tention hospital. The daily average OF
patients was $40. For the maintenance,
of the hospital, including repairs, i'm
provcments and salaries, there was OK
pended for the same time S252, ,235. .33
The cost daily for patients, per capita
was 20 1-3 cents. The monthly aver
age of employees was 215.
The drug department Is one Of thu
: most important connected with the hos
pital The distribution Of drugs to th'
. aiffcrent wards daily Is immense, ant
for every human ailment known to th'
medical profession and for all tn
schools which are represented on th'
hospital staff Under its present man
agement much money has been saved
TO the county, owing TO the establish
ment OF a pharmaceutical laborator!
under the direction of Cornelius Van
dcrpOcl, a graduate of the Chicago Col
lcge Of Pharmacy. The appropriation
asked for the ensuing year Is SlG,OW
as against $4,000 in other years for
less number Of patients.
There has also been instituted within
the hospital n clinic laboratory fo
| A