New-York tribune., 1901-03-27
M4KES STILL GR4TER CHARGES,
ROBERT MARTINS STORY OF A DEATH ON
NORTH BROTHER ISLAND-SEXTON SAYS
THE HOSPITAL is ALL RIGHT.

Robert Martin, n member Of the lace importing
firm at No. 459 Broadway who was for a time one
of the smallpox patients at North Brother Island
and who attacked the arrangements and methods
which he declared he found there replied last night
to the statement OF John E. Sexton. president of
the Health Department. that Mr.. Martins story
was made out of whole cloth. by reiteratng his
previous assertions and charging that a patient
died IN the pesthouse as the result of conditions
which he says prevail there.
Mr.. Martin taken from his home at No 90
West Eightyhfth-st., March 9. removed TO
North Brother Island. and discharged from there
on March %
On learning of the assertions made by Mr. Martin
on Mond Az John 3. Sexton president of the Health
Department. said that Mr. Martins story was
made out OF the whole cloth and that he could
prove H." In order TO convince the public that
what he said true. he invited a number OF
newspaper men 70 accompany him yesterday after
noon 10 North Brother Island. Health Commits
stoners Cosby and Jenkins went with Mr. Sexton
and the newspaper men to the island. After the
inspection of the island ended one OF the lay
men of the party said:
The management of the island seemed to me to
be conducted on humane lines. There was no evil
dence Of the existence OF any deplorable conditions
The houses for the patients We're clean and every
thing about the houses seemed TO be in ship shape"
Before going 70 the island yesterday Commis-
sioner Cosby said:
Mr.. Martins story is all rot and rubbish l have
visited the pesthouse North Brother Island once
a week and occasionally dined there. The meals
l have eaten there wholesome clean and pal
atahle- We not only try, but do give the patients
clean places 10 sleep in, wholesome food and the
very best medical attendance II our command
The place Is kept in as good sanitary condition
as possible
Mr.. Martin. when at his home last evening
said:
In making charges against the pesthcus. I
have no object except 10 try 10 have conditions
bettered. Patients who ! believe would recover
II given proper attention. not only aided
20 recovery, but they are constantly liable in
fecton of other diseases more lCathsoCse than
smallpox. The simplest safeguards against infec-
tion are entirely overlooked by the attendants on
the island They wear coats UlSyerS while in the
pesthoUse. When an attendant gets might off,
he throws aside his robe ard goes TO New-YOrk
He may sit beside you or one of my family
car may brush against Us In the street. He is
constant menace 10 the public health. I could
the island. The surroundings filthy and the
bed clothing is never washed Ii is used until IL
could be picked TO pieces. \ named Davis
who I'm bed few feet from died. l am
sure. because of this condition of affairs.
He suffering from slight attack of Sma IL
pOx and would have been we'll in a few days The
itching which Ch1raCterizeS the disease caused
him scratch his leg. This slight scratch. by
coming IN contact with the infected bedClOt hing
caught germ which brought about blood poison
ing What shcudld he done Ia 20 buildings
that ne made sanitary. and those patients who
are only slightly indisposed should not be obliged
10 sleep in the beds in which have lain
for days while afflicted with terrible diseases