The evening times., 1899-12-28
TIE LOCAL HOSPITALS
DR.. E.iofs Report TO the Super,
intendent of Charities.
The Number of Patients Treated
During the Year-SuREestiOnsf for u
More Equitable Distribution of Ac-
cident Cases Than LIS Now in
Operation-The Ambulance Service.


year is the subject for an extensive report
to the Superintendent of Charities by DIR.
Lewellyn Eliot, surgeon in charge OF the
casualty department. yesterday. The
The Eastern Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital are the two free dispensaries and
emergency stations in this city.
In both OF these places the patients who
are taken in hand by the police are kept
at the hospital just SO long as their con-
dition will not warrant their removal to
their homes.
There are casualty departments in almost
every hospital in the city where police
cases are taken and for which the District
pays, but these two institutions are the
only two that are devoted exclusively to
emergency cases and the free dispensation
of drugs.
Both obtain large appropriations from
the Government annually for their support
and both are governed By beard OF di-
rectors composed OF representative citizens
OF the District
With regard to the admission of patients
to the Casualty Hospital or Eastern Dis
pensary. as it has been called. DR.. Eliot
makes the following statement:
Under the rules of the Police Depart
ment all cases found in the streets. in the
stations or elsewhere, are taken TO an
emergency hospital for treatment, regard
less of the social or financial condition OF
the party SO found. This, when it applies
10 the sick poor or to those whose mental
condition at the time of being found is
such as TO preclude the possibility OF Sc
lecting for themselves. is correct. but ii is
an assumption OF authority. as well as an
abuse of charity and of the rights OF the
medical profession to follow such course
in all cases. Ii leads to total disregard
OF the ethics of charity and OF medicine.
and to a carelessness of the individual as
a member of the community. making him
the recipient of that to which he is not
entitled and forcing upon him at times
services for which he would not contract
The welfare of the patient demands
that he be taken to the nearest emergency
service. but as soon as his condition per-
mitS of il he should be sent TO his home
or to such a hospital as he or his friends
may direct; and this is all the more i'm
portant when the patient does not belong
to the dependent classes. After the ad-
mission OF emergency cases it does not
follow that they are to be kept under
treatment by the physicians of the insti-
tuition, for such a practice would be unjust
to the individual as well as to the profess
sion and the community at large. since it
deprives the patient of the right to select
his own physician. practically forces him
to receive attendance frcm those unknown
10 him cheats the family physician out OF
a fee. and maintains the patient at public
expense
Upon this line OF argument it is we'll to
mention The practice of the Eastern Dis
pensary. In every case of accident admit
ted TO the casualty service. il is the rule
when practicable. to notify the family OF
the patient OF his admission and to re-
quest the name Of the physician who us
ually attends him. and summon him if de-
sired by the family. When service has
been rendered. the discharge OF the patient
is made and he is directed TO employ a
physician of his choice. Ii a ply
sician is employed by the family
during his stay in the institution he has
entire charge of the patient. He can re-
move him to his home. or ne is at liberty
10 attend him in the institution after salts
factory arrangements have been made for
board and nursing. This is an arrange
ment to which no reasonable objection can
lie urged and it is our intention to allow
lis continuance.
The equitable distribution of accident
or emergency cases can be effected without
cncroaGhinS upon the field of existing in
stitutipns II appears 10 me that il all
cases occurring east of. say, Third Street
west. from the River Front 10 New York
Avenue. and then east. were sent to the
Eastern Dispensary and Casualty Hospital
or to Providence Hospital and the Wash
ington Asylum, the question of the eastern
distribution would be solved without any
discordant feelings on the part of other in
stitutions in the city; while those cases
which occurred west OF that street and
north of New York Avenue would be dis
tributcd between the Emergency. the Co.
lumbian University. the Garfield. the Ma
tionsl Homeopathic and the Freedman's
Hospitals.
Georgetown would be cared for by the
Hospital of the Georgetown University.
while the Columbia would continue to ad-
init those cases which properly belong to
it,
With regard TO the space available for
patients in the hospital and the operating
room DR.. Eliot says:
Our operating room has so far answered
the purpose for which ii was constructed
but with the increasing work il is not what
it should be. and steps should be taken to
make such changes as modern surgery de-
mand. The plumbing arrangements of the
house are located directly above it, and in
case the waste pipes should become OBJ
structed or berak. as has already happened
bu tNo OtIdslcHs. Inc ttillIiE anu Walls
would suffer to a very great extent and
force us TO vacate; then, the floor is not
susceptible of thorough cleansing. To rem
edy these defects it is necessary to remodel
the old plumbing, have metal ceiling
well-cemented walls. and a granolithic
floor. with a sufficient incline to allow
washing with hose pipe, the waste pipe
being placed in the centre of the floor
Notwithstanding these defects. we have
been enabled to carry out a fairly satisfac-
tory aseptic surgery. but these conditions
are liable to promote infection with fatal
results, and should be promptly remedied
The light used is sunlight in the daytime
gas in the night, but the latter is far from
satisfactory and should be replaced as soon
as possible by the electric light the ex-
pense of which would not be very great. as
the wires Of the lighting company are with
in easy reach. and the after expense could
be regulated by the needs of the institution
The surgical equipment is sufficiently COM
Dlete for the general run of work; when.
however. an unusual instrument has been
needed it has been my custom to furnish
ii from my personal supply in order TO
keep within our means. In addition to our
operating room We have five beds and three
wards. available for instant use though
rarely more than three beds are occupied
at one time
A JOINT BOARD PROPOSED.
General Breekinridge,s Sugxestiop