Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-03
dec27,eodtf

provided, and all other improvements
made that were necessary to thoroughly
fit it for the important uses of the surgi-
cal staff. A thoroughly modern aseptic
operating table of iron and glass Was
added. and when ready for use the room
afforded conditions for successful sur
gerry that had never before existed in the
Kennebec valley How well 1t has full
filled its purpose the surgical statistics
published elsewhere in this pamphlet will
show.
The directors were organized for the
practical work of the hospital by the APP
pointment of the following committees;
Visiting committee. IL. T. Sanborn, j.
Manchester Haynes, Fl NJ, HEATH Is ,.,o.s
'ex-ofticio; $. w. Lane, Seth c. White
house.
Committee on buildings ana grounos. Ira
II: Randall. Geo. +. Macomber. A. W.
Whitney.
Rules were formulated for the govern
ment of the hospital in its practical work.
and for the training school for nurses.
which. together with the act of incorpora-
ton. the bylaws of the corporation. and
lists of officers, were published in pamph-
Let form. Copies may be obtained from
The h6spital opened It's doors to patti
ents on April .. and the first surgical
operation-Lfor apendicitis-was performed
April l. Miss Minnie. NJ. Morse was the
first matron. and 10 her devoted and in
telligent work IL largely due the uniform
success that attended the institution in
its beginnings: Then many new problems
mad necessarils,to be met and solved.
Miss Morse had served successfully as
the matron of the Central Maine hospital.
of which she was a graduate, and was
peculiarly well qualified for the response
Conditions of health. and a desire to Sc
cure post graduate instruction in her
chosen calling led her to resign her place
at the Augusta city hospital in Angus I.
nd oh ,r1p ,hpr To- hnrs N Spnt
IA. All who had been associated with her
in the work of the Institution parted with
her with sincere regret.
Fortunately the directors We're able to
secure Il most worthy and efficient sue
cessor in the person of Miss Sarah Hay
den, a graduate of the famous Provi-
dence. r. L., hospital which has probably
furnished. more nurses for positions of
this character than any other similar In
stitution in the country. There she had
enjoyed an exceptionally good all round
training. serving fnturn as night matron
and assistant superintendent of nurses.
Immediately prior ia coming TO Augusta
she was in full charge Of the two build
ings of the Rhode Island hospital, de
voted to contagious diseases, including
the bedside training of the nurses en-
pfoyed in those departments. She has IN
a marked degree the tact and energy
necessary to success in the responsible
position she occupies. and under her wise
direction the work of the hospital has
been successfully carried forward.
AT the opening of the hospital a train
ing school for nurses was established un-
der the direction of the hospital staH and
the superintendent of nurses. The cur
rculum corresponds in all respects to
that of other institutions of this char
acter. and covers a period or two years.
1t consists of text book studies, lectures.
and clinical instruction. One lecture eaeh
week is delivered by some member of the
hospital staff, which is followed few
DAYS later by an oral examination upon
the same. in which the points Originally
covered are carefully reviewed.
Already the community is beginning TO
recognize the great value OF having
trained nurses within easy reach, In case
of emergency. although 1t must be said
that it has never been possible. for the
hospital to fully answer such gals. Dur
ing the recent epidemic of grip enough
calls for nurses We're received at the hos,
pital nearly every day to have employed
the entire force. and although the junior
nurses and the matron cheerfully assum-
ed additional duties. in order that the
older members of the school might be en-
abled to answer private calls, the numner
that could be spared for such work was
never at any time adequate to the de-
nand The fact must be recognized. how
ever that as the training school pro-
crosses with its work. 1t will be more AMI
more able to- meet the need OF the com
munity.
While the corporate name Of our insti-
tuition is the Augusta City Hospital. Its
work is AZ general in its character as
that of any similar institution In the
State During lne first nine months Of
its work il has treated patients from q
cities and towns of Maine, representing
l3 different counties. In fact, nearly 20
per cent. of its patients have come from
places outside augusta. another proof Of
the fact that boundary lines have no plac ,
in works of humanity.
Soon after the return of the LIST Maine
hospitals at Camp Powers became crowd
ed to OVERLOOKING with soldiers who were
sick with the deadly, typho con-
tracted in the South. Under these cir.
upon by Adjutant General Richards and
Surgeon O'Neil to do what it Could to re-
ieve the situation. The request was
promply met ny work hrs,,rb ereS suo.
day. a number of additional rooms were
put in readiness in a few hours; a con-
siderable amount of additional help was
rendered necessary. but the hospita! was
very fortunate in. securing the efficient
services of several graduate nurses of
other institutions The Ladies' Aid re-
call for the. additional bedding. night
robes, towels. and SOIL cloth that was
rendered necessary. They also contribut-
ed shrubs. cordials, flowers and many
other things for the comfort OF the pa
TENTS.
For nearly three months the institution
was practically given over to the boys.
in blue" No new surgical cases We're adj
mfttedh ana lew OF any OlNeT cI1dFdCtcr
All the energies of the hospital were de-
voted to the critically sick men. commit
ted to its care, for in making the selec-
tons for removal from the camp hospital
the worst cases were naturally taken, not
only to relieve the overwOrked nurses
there, but also because 1t was felt that
at permanent hospital the facilities for
treating such cases would be better than
was possible under camp conditions
With such selection of cases it was
not to be expected that all should re-
cover, even with the most n untiring care
mitted to the hospital or this number "a
recovered and were discharged. One is
the deaths occurred on the third day at
ter admission, and two more within the
sad that the first deaths to occur In our
hospital should be those of young men
who in the full flush of health and hope
had enlisted in the service of their coun-
try, still there was a satisfaction to the
devoted physicians and nurses who ali
tended them in the thought that every
thing in human power had been done for
their relief. 1t was also a source of salts
! faction that Of the large number cared