Evening star., 1900-10-11
THE EVENING STAR,
THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SURGEON
IN-CHIEF.
Surgical Work Heavier Than Ever
Before. but With Very Grati-
flying Results.

The annual report of the F'reedmen's
Hospital has been made to the Secretary of
the Interior by Dr. Austin NJ. Curtis, sur
geon-in-chief Of the institution. DIR. Curtis
says:
The total number Of patients treated
within the wards and dispensary was SI4I.
Compared with the last report. the increase
of in-patients has been 16s. the increase of
out-patents 1,423. If the revisits of 2221
out-patients are added. we have the re-
markable increase of 3.S1S The total num-
ber of days board furnished was 51.95o
The percentage of improved and cured of
the total number under care was sos: of
admissions during the year, 1888. or 4.so
per cent less than last year. The percent
age of deaths for the year has been 6.3i a
decrease in the mortality of 014 per cent
"Of the number of deaths. q were morl-
bund cases. dying within twenty-four hours
after admission; 4S We're due to conSump-
ton. Excluding this class of deaths-4 In
number. a percentage of 3.o6 of the total
admissions. or about 40 per cent OF the
total deaths-we have 2,363 admissions of
patients having some chance of being bene-
flied by treatment or operation, with
death list of 9S, the percentage being Az,
or $50 per cent of all under care In
other words, recovery of about 96 per
cent of all under care.
The surgical work of the hospital has
been heavier than for any previous year
and very gratifying In its results. Ihefe
have been 654 operations, including some
of the most difficult abdominal and other
ma jor surgery. The death rate for all sur
gical operations has been 1. 10 per cent
'The genealogical ward furnished much
of the surgery. The relatively large num-
Der of cases of cancer in this department.
is noticeable, since the prevailing opinion
has been that the descendants of the Afri-
can race were rarely affected with the dis
ease Whether the disease is on the in
crease among the c1lored peCp.e or whether
the physician to more readily recognize
this condition is a question yet to be def
niteiy settled"
DIR. Curtis strongly urges the establish
ment of a pay ward, stating that the
charges could be fixed to merely meet
the cost of maintenance. He also speaks in
the highest terms of the training school
for nurses connected with the hospital de-
claring that an evidence of the high stand
ing it has attained is its recognition and
admission to the American Association of
Nurses
DR.. Curtis holds that the institution
should remain intact and under the super
vision of the Interior Department. as Freed,
mems Hospital is national hospital for
the and benefit of the INDECENT sick
from all sections OF the country. The per-
centum of nonresident patients treated in
this institution is far in excess of the res
ident class. 1t is by no means local in
character, and that II deals SO largely with
relieving the unfortunate American citizen
from all parts of the country to make
its scope national and to logically place it
under the management of the general gov
ernment.
TIL" report urges a number of new build
lnSS and other Improvements.