The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-19
VISIT TO CITY HOSPITAL
SPECIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE
MAKES A TOUR OF INSPECTION.
Generally Bad Conditions Found at
That Institution-Gas Com
pany Directors Meet.


The special committee of councilmen-
Messrs. Munro Wheeler, Kaiser, Daller
and Horan-appointed TO investigate neces-
sary improvements at the City Hospital
visited that institution yesterday afternoon
and found IT TO be badly in need Of repairs.
some of the departments being in deplor-
able condition. DR.. NJ. ]. Spencer, the new
superintendent OF the hospital. piloted the
committee through the different depart
ments and wards. but he was unable to tell
the true state of affairs or how long the
hospital had been in need Of improvements,
except by what had been told him. as his
incumbency only dates from the first Of
this week, DR.. Poucher, the former super
intendent, having resigned.
The committee first visited the stable
where the team of animals known some
time ago as horses were quarteret. The
stable was found to be in dilapidated con-
dition, the horses standing eight inches be-
low the floor. The two horses-used proba-
bly, a century or two ago. at least their ap-
pearance showed they were Veterans-dlu
not look as If they were able TO walk 70
Sellers farm. The poor conditloh OF thS
stable, however, could have been remedled
some time ago by throwing few loads OF
clay the floor.
BACK TO THE LAUNDRY.
The laundry was next visited and ii was
found TO be in a fairly good condition, but
the superintendent acknowledged that in
ferior material, such as starch, etc, was
used in washing the clothes. The boiler
room was found to be in good condition.
but the electrical engineer claimed the cleo
trio engine, with capacity of 400 electric
m
power necessary for the institution, and
recommended the purchase of new engine.
with 800 lights capacity, which. with the old
engine, can be used for the new elevator
and also the lights.
The west wing. built four years ago, is in
a very bad condition. In many places the
plastering is falling from the ceilings.
which showed that the work on the place
and the material were of inferior quality.
|. The bathrooms were also Inspected and
three good bath tubs were found. The
others have wooden trimmings and are in
bad condition. In these rooms the plaster
ing is also falling from the ceilings into the
tubs. The plumbing in the nurses depart
ment is badly i'm need of repair. Water
leaks through the ceiling and the plastering
is crumbling from the walls. Efforts have
been made to repair the leaking pipes, but
the fault has not been rernedied. DIR. Spen-
Ger did not know how long this condition OF
affairs had existed.
BEDDING NOT GOOD.
The bedding used in the patients wards Is
Of antiquated pattern and not fit for in
cured or sick persons. The mattresses are
so hard and irregular that they are said to
be decidedly uncomfortable. The table
linen was also inspected, and where pure
white and clean tablecloths should have
been found the tables were adorned with
dirty cloths. DR.. Spencer picked one of
them up and said the tables should be fur
nshed with clean linen, but there were no
changes, as all the linen was in use.
The floors of many of the departments
were found TO be badly in need of repairs,
and DIR. Spencer said this would be attend
ed to at once, and what little money is to
the credit of the hospital-about S5-will be
used to clean and polish the floors.
The hospital was not found to be in such
crowded condition as vas given out, there
being fewer than one hundred patients now
CHARTERED in the institution. The nurses
department is overtaXed, and in some of
the wards there is little room. The COM
mittee requested Superintendent Spencer TO
make an itemiZed statement of what he
needed at once to place the hospital in fair
ly good condition and the committee Will
make recommendations accordingly.
The investigation Yesterday was made to
determine just what was needed at once,
but the committee also took occasion to
look into the proposed improvements and
will include in its report a recommendation
that the new wing to the hospital be con-
some time ago. In this wing will be located
the nurses department, and the rooms now
occupied by the nurses will be converted
into wards for patients.