New-York tribune., 1901-07-12
4 DAY IN THE TENEMENTS
DESCRIPTION OF A VISIT PAID BY A
DOCTOR ON THE FREE MEDICAL
STAFF OF THE BOARD
OF HEALTH.

ployec by the Board Of Health for free service to
the poor began Monday under the direction OF
Dr. Aspell, medical director OF public schools.
There seventy-fve physicians on the staff, all
of whom have passed the Civil Service examination.
The only woman in the number is on one OF the
floating hospitals OF ST. Johns Guild
The presence Of only the staff
seeus at first somewhat surprising. when it is
sdered that the free medical service is designed
more particularly for women and children, but
when one has accompanied member Of the corps
on a days of the tenements the reason is not
far TO seek
The district chosen yesterday that bounded
by Fifty-second and Sixtieth SITS, Eighth and
North River and is one that contains pretty nearly
.au sorts and conditions Of people. from those in
reasonable afiuence to the indescribabe locality
known by the euphonious title "Hell's Kitchen"
II soon became obvious that the free doctors
need-and possess-tact and discriinat ton, rot only
In dealing with the people, but even in selecting
the houses be entered. 'One cannot always
tell the exact character Of a tenement row by the
buildings" said the doctor. There, for instance
po,nting to a block with ornate brownstone front
from nearly every window Of which a satterny
woman leaned, and whose doorways crowded
with children there is building of much more
pretentious exterior than the across the street.
vet shall go in there and shall pass the other by
The door really settles the question. If the in
mates OF house have sufficient exclusiyeness OF
feeling keep the door shut. it is safe to assume
that they have their physicians. never
enter where need to ring & bell When the front
dor stands open however. and swarms Of chill
oren play IN the hall and on the steps go in
boldly
The first visit of DR. Reynolds and the Tribune
reporter was made TO a pretentious brown
stone front" but shabby row Of tenements In
Eeventh-ave. There are six or eight houses In
the row and such houses. They look If a
strong wind might blow them all down like nine
THE DRUNKEN LADY"
There were no closed doors there, within with
out Indeed it is doubtful if they could be closed
go dilapidated they and their surroundings
AS the doctor entered the first house score Of
children from the sidewalk swarmed about him
and gazed in awe at his hospital suit OF white
duck on which the shield Of the Health Depart
ment cleaned.
Where is the ianitor?" was his first question,
his keen eyes taking a glance the dirty condi
ton OF floor and stairs. part of the duty OF the
free doctor is to observe general sanitary con-
dtons and report when they are bad
Up the rickety flight Of stairs dust covered and
germ laden the doctor climbed. The first room
entered was the most ghastly moekery Of home"
Win Soeyen 0 boards stood tunbIedown bedstead
with a worn mattress and no pretence OF sheeC
sboVe the ee sink These were all the furniture the
room boasted. On the bed sat blind boy about h
man holding baby that presented "a as BAD case
Il the fataer gsd Sobodys sick here in response
10 the doctors CHEEKY, II am the doctor from the
ERo ay Of heed the thought
wise however asked few sue too ao3u. 6hs
boxes and bottles. selected the medicines sultape
and directed the father. how to use them The
There's drunken lady up there" whispered
the stairs with the doctor when the three families
on the first ioorfor the fourth tenement was was vas
the first called upon and sueny Iom tna5
the tenement beside hers came loud voices OF men
and women, and an angry faced ylrago came to
He took no notice of these unfriendly indica-
nons however but put the few aaeshons With
something suggestive OF danger AS ne turnso Sso
had been thinking the matter evidently, and and
decided TO have little amusement. SO sne ssa saaa
exarnin.n me conscience Sure it's not well"
Gruf laughs broke from the other tenements on
Dassy sSs and the ~'man' 0l'ate' face s'nneo
NEAT. CHEERFUL ROOMS.
Not all the tenements. however, were like
these, some being neat and cheerful, with women
busily sewing at little frocks for the fresh air
week excursions. Many or the nats were
vacant. and one wondered that such places could
ever be rented. Paper hung in sheets from ceilings
ano walls. and dirt reigned supreme The front
rooms in the quarters Of one of the janitors was
.piendid in the possession Of old Brussels carpet
mat looked innocent Of acquaintance with broom
~ ~ an It's career and when the doctor remarked:
weather Halls ana nd stairs ' must be scrubbed and
swept or sickness is pretty sure 70 come
trlulen- Sure, sure. coctheri III 3 meSili tHdt
sSeIubs them every wake, and kape my rooms as
cane as a PIN
IN one tenement the doctor found old colored
sonan alone and helpless with rheumatism, and
I.ter preparing medicine for her sent card TO the
thing Daughters Settlement, whose members
nave volunteered TO nurse all such cases.
tenement by tenement, cellar by cellar, every
House IN the visited In the doctors bag
=, as5s n packages OF circulars compiled by the Board
~ iisalth and bundle OF tickets for the floating
tppspItai With every family he left the circular.
gives instruction regarding the treatment OF
T,insuoke These are printed in French, German,
htaaan and English. Wherever there were babies
~ ieit the directions for the care OF infants.
S.Trnteo IN English, German and Yiddish.
me boat tickets were given wherever the chill