The Republican journal., 1899-07-06

six wards visited had each twelve iron
beds, supplied with fairly clean sheets
and pillow cases-thanks to Red Cross
auxiliary No 2, which supplied them, to-
gether with quantity of pajamas, at
the earnest solicitation of Major Hisel.
But the stock is entirely inadequate for so
large number of patients and would not
change one quarter of the cots in constant
use. There are no regular laundry ap-
pllances in any Cuban hospital, the
work being always given OUT" or done
by employees and oonvalescents in common
wooden tubs in the patio. The supply of
city water is very short indeed, and not
available at the hospital except at certain
hours of the day and then in limited
quantities. The Cuban doctors account
ed TOR the filthy condition of the patients.
| solled bed clothing, dirty floors, etc., BY
the statement that they could not possibly
get water enough to wash them. Our
American doctor said, with a few adiec-
tlves which l will not repeat, that he
| believed it was lie, because the baths,
post mortem rooms, etc, are abundantly
supphed with water under strong press
ure-surely enough to keep the sick peo-
pie decently clean. All these native med
lcos agree with us in the opinion that
! cleanliness of the patients person is es-
sential to successful treatments but none
OF them explain why in all Cuban hospitals
the sick are allowed to come in sickening
with filth, are put to bed unwashed and
go out iii they live to go), with the orig
NAL dirt upon them, augmented by that
gathered during their stay. This hospital
has good baths, even ia the nurses wards.
but there is no evidence that the patients
ever use them. One feature of this
model hospital, not found elsewhere in
Cuba, is room for embalming, with the
necessary appliances. AL American sol
diers who have died in this vicinity have
been embalmed here for removal to the
U. s., except in one case, where the body
had been too many days in transit and the
tissues were decomposed Just before
~ 49, A1S W ~ "a LII wagon NeibtS up
and delivered the days rations-Armour'
roast beef, timed tomatoes, half barrel
Irish potatoes, several boxes hard tack
and twenty pounds of jerked meat. One
trembles to think what would become of
these hundreds of helpless creatures. and
the many thousands in other hospitals of
the impoverished island without the bonn
ty OF Uncle Samuel. Even now a great deal
is left to be desired. The big store room
was bare of fresh vegetables, cereals. or
any sort Of delicacy, so badly needed by
convalescents and as for soap, am told
that none is ever provided. With the
beautiful consistency for which these PEG.
pie are noted, the kitchen is their pride
and JOY, with its expensive range, not
water boilers, etc, brought from France
in prosperous days ut cost of six thous-
and dollars. Floors and wainscoating are
Of Dutch tiles, and could easily be kept
clean with the force of servants employed,
but the least said on that subject the bet
ter for one future appitite Dinner was be-
ing prepared for $50 people--soup of Jerk
ed meat, stew of fresh meat, potatoes,
onions. canned roast beef bread and cot
fee; good enough for doctors and en-
ployes, but rather heavy diet for sick
people and convalescents.
FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD.