New-York tribune., 1901-01-03
KELLER FEARS EXTORTION.
SAYS HE WON'T HAVE BELLEVUE EN-
PLOYES TERRORIZEP-MILLS TRAIN
ING SCHOOL MANAGERS DROP
SIX NURSES-MEDICAL
BOARDS LETTER.


~arded by the Board of Managers of the Mills
Training School for Nurses, announcing the dis
nlisssl Of some nurses and offering to cooperate
with the Commissioner I'm investigation Of
abuses. The Commissioner expressed satisfaction
with both communications. and declared that he
would continue the investigation until the
sponsibllity for abuses is discovered Mr. Keller's
health was improved yesterday. but he was still
kept in his rooms by order of his physician.
The Medical Board Of Bellevue Hospital held a
meeting al D. m. yesterday TO consider Commits
sioner Keer's letter and frame a reply. Among
the physicians present were Drs W. VI. Polk. II.
D. LOomis Joseph D. Bryant S. w. Jackson, II.
NJ Bisgs. J. d. Bissen, c. l. Dana s. Alexander
Charles Phelps c. II. ChetwOod, W. S. Fluhrer.
c. d. Fowler. Alexander Lambert and c. z. Nam
mack. The two consulting physicians. Drs. A.
Jacob and c. A Leale, present by invitation.
After session of two hours. the Board a
letter 20 Commissioner Keller. signed by DR.. Lam
bert as secretary.
MEDICAL BOARDS LETTER.
The letter began with a statement of the rules
snd regulations for the government of the sur
seons and physicians the hospital and then
quoted several questions which the Commissioner
had propounded. AS to the effect of bedside and
clinical instruction upon the patients in the hos
pitai. the letter says:
tents being injured by the bedside Instruction se pf in
Bellevue Hospital. they are helped by it. and that
dislike or fear the interest that is shown in them
this institution and of all others that medicai in
s,TGeaon given m in connection with the hospital
The hospital N %
AS to the Limitation of bedside instruction and
'opital is given I'm two ways. In one way the
visiting physician or his assistants takes small
l,s slssss n,umhering from two to twelve students
examination IN proper cases. In the other way the
visiting physician makes his rounds accompanied
ne bedside and 20 whom he shows the patients
s 81. te % stuaehs are not allowed to examine the
NO case is to be used for section bedside
who vii suffer pain or discomfort by the necessary
students are not 10 examine any patient who
objects 70 such examination.
Eases IN the hospital are TO be treated and ex-
ness - and consideration would be shown 10 patients
As an almost universal rule ward is only Wis
lesrso se1 once % by section or bedside class in the
me course OF week Occasionally one class laps
over so that two section classes may visit she
same ward in the same day. but not the same
Clinical instruction IS conducted by ms humanely
enc " has not seemed necessary that formal limits
ss 3e set with regard to the length Of time
majority OF patients are not placed table at
DO NOT CONTROL MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Other questions Of the Commissioner are an
svered ~ the Medical Board as follows:
The Medical Board has nothing TO do with the
zee system in the Insane PAVILION. the medical
control direction OF ihe Medical Board in any
way, aud their functions are not those of the
r nr regulations govern the house surgeon
gsG ne az aitoh"ile ward and pavilion for in
s'SeFed proper ail Fisf for or nurse to sd.
ne directions of house or Visiting surgeons f.
is a part Of their traihing as nurses that they
never except under medical directions.
In conclusion the letter declared:
The records of the Ib0soitaI sviII show that no
rseai work in the he sick lReSlsa eoor than hnn
rk Il khem the ana Te oendeSt a aRs We th s
viii be recognized.
TRAINING SCHOOL BOARDS REPLY
The Board of Managers of the Mills Training
School for Nurses met Informally early in the af-
'erneon, and authorized reply to Commissioner
keller's reques; for cooperation. The following
letter. addressed to the Commissioner. was signed
ny DR. George g. Fowler, president, and Ogden
Mills. secretary:
The Board of Managers Of the Training School
for Male Nurses. Bellevue Hospital. begs TO ac-
d Deesmbsr e: p isoe our Board begs e assure you
EFFORTS that yOu may make TO increase the efficiency
of the system of nursing in the hospital.
school for admission is required 70 bring exact ref
candidate is examined personally by our Board IN
regular session Following this. II accepted. he is
curing which period his fitness for regular service
We have thoroughly Investigated the charges re-
counted in your note against the six nurses tenn
son. McCraclxen. Newcomer Fredcricks and RAT
ferty We have examined personally most of the
testimony test as Te After full and patient investiga
have in ore instance been guilty Of failure 10 use
such gentleness. consideration and good judgment
toward a patient as might he fairly expected Of
them. We have therefore dismissed them from
In conclusion we beg express TO you our belief
that this recent unfortunate occurrence was I'm
par1 At Least the result OF the fact that I'M
nurses in the wards and too great responsibility
them 9'''S ''''O" rs exercised over
The Board Of Managers in the afternoon exam
;ned several nurses. The six nurses mentioned an
the letter Mr. Keller left the institution in the
afternoon Ernest Peterson the technical in
srructor in the school, has resigned TO 20 into b,,s
ness Arthur W. Little has taken his place as in
structor Commissioners Keller said yesterday after
noon:
The reply OF the Board of Managers of the
Ail.s Training School IS exactly what was ex-
men who have only the best interests OF the in
directed 10 improve the service al BELLEVUE ~ "ee"
WON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES TERRORIzrD
MT. Keller said last evening that he thought the
Medical Board Of Bellevue Hospital had answered
MS questions fairly. He declared that the h,,s.s
at Bellevue Hospital should have been discovered
sooner IN view Of the inspection 20 which IL had
Heen subjected Pointing 10 the typewrtten testi-
naony taken at the Hilliard inquest which Law on
his table. the Commissioner said that the investi
cation would go right on. and that all who wore
found guilty would be dismissed
so far as the are concerned >, s.ia NJ
Keller. ahe Investigation IS practically closed
nave dismissed ten nurses and also the helnars A.,
Inc ae0hoiic ward and il is pretty well understood
that no one can expect any favor who neglecte bie
euty or who iiltreats patients At the Same ,,r,o
! 90 not want the employees at Bellevue 10 he
rhe one thing that I am most fearful about is
bes sso5,,, ~, s a1 l alaa that petty extorton has