The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-22
DISCHARGED PESTHOUSE PATIENT
TELLS OF THREE WEEKS STAY

1.-THE isolation hospital. or 'pesthouse,'
as some people thoughtlessly call 1t, has
no terrors for me-" said Charles Laughlin
of Chicago. 1T seemed 10 me one OF the
most comfortable places on earth when
It's doors opened TO me. after / had been
Stunned by all who came in contact with
me. | spent three weeks there lately and
my visit was as pleasant as IL could be
under the circumstances.
Business took me to Ashland, Wis.
where stayed about a week. For sew
eral days before my return To Chicago l
felt rather ill. lost my appetite and
was inclined TO fever and ague.
II noticed one or two biotches on my
forehead. which increased in sized per-
ceptibly by the time / reached home so
i concluded that / would see a doctor.
was passing the Harrison street station.
and j stopped in there. ! accosted one
OF three fresh looking youths who were
sitting on bench.
Can you tell me where I can find a
doctor, l asked, pulling my cap over my
eyes
oh, there's only a horse doctor
around here the young man replied
haughuly. Then he laughed and sucked
his cane. j pulled off my cap and said:
We'll, guess | want a smallpox doctor
"'You should have seen those fellows
run. They never stopped TO see whether
] followed them or not. An officer came
along just then and told me 10 go to tho
health department
The doctors there pronounced my case
smallpox, and ] waited In small room
until the Red Cross carriage arrived for
me. Some of the papers at the time did
me great injustice by saying that ran
away and that there was difficulty In find-
ing me.
COULD NOT SAY GooD-BYE.
Like, most persons who know nothing
about the isolation hospital. / felt rather
a dread of going TO the place. but real
ICED II was the only thing 90 do. 40 af-
ter asking tho doctor to send my wife
message. | started.
II had long and lonely drive TO the hos
pital. which is at Thirty-Fifth street and
Lawndale avenue, Just on the banks OF the
drainage canal There are four fine
buildings on ten acres of ground. Three
are used for patients and one Is the home
OF the Sisters. who do all the nursing.
Everything is attractive. inside and out
and | thought had never seen anything
quite so clean and comfortable as that
hospital appeared when got there.
81 was received at the door by one OF
the Sisters black robed and white-carped.
Her manner was kind and sympathetic.
devoid OF all fear. and the horror had
had OF the hospital disappeared ot that
moment.
II was the first patient who went there
during the present epidemic. and. as the
place was not crowded l had private
room. The walls were tinted. the floors
polished: there was a rug beside the bed
and the linen was as white as snow.
Mine was light case but smallpox is
not a picnic. 7 can tell you. However. /
came out all right-and YOU wouldn't
know I had had n, would you? As was
not very III. did not have To- he kept on
Cruel and things like that. but was al
lowed TO eat everything that was on the
daily bill OF fare. They have a good
cook out there. She knows how 20 get
up fancy dishes as well as a French chef.
"The food is all Of the best quality. and
7 never tasted such steaks. porterhouse
at that. And they've the finest hennery
ever saw, The eggs are fresh. and
they don't give them 10 you just because
they have them either for there is plenty
OF variety In the food.
DOCTORS AND SISTERS KIND
'erhe doctors are all right. too. There
is not . hospital In tho city where you
could obtain better care; and as for the
sisters. why. couldn't give them enough
credit ~ I talked all day. They are tire
less. fearless. devoted, and always cheer
fu and amiahle.
"if mothers knew what a fine place the
hospifsl g. they would feel no fear when
their children have 20 40 there. and /
wish they could realized how much bet
Ter the treatment - than that which it
- possible 10 get p, home. one little girl
~ Z was brought IN vhile 7 was there.
She had yer, mild ease. but she was
frightened and hofnesick. and altoscther
presented wretchcd appearance
You would not have recognized her
after the nurses Rad given her little
attention. She looked clean and happy.
for they dressed her In a bright frock.
The child soon became the pet and life
OF the place.
~ had been there over a week when
tHo other eases ware bseuSht ". but