The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-02

hot ONtu tltlt louB Nbtb. WIZ S,'R -
way to admiration at the methods en-
ployed, and after two weeks OF the NE theTe,
l have nothing but praise.
Horrible sights and sound there are
but they are the results OF the lcathsofnt
disease and not from lack Of care or atten,
ton. Complaints as to treatment or iood
are almost unhcard.
DR.. Ray, the resident physician. makes
a practice in his tour Of the wards Of asking
II there are any complaints. and lac has
had but two. One came from "a woman
that an attendant had sworn at her. The
attendant admitted the charge, was dis
charged, and within an hour was OIL the
island.
The other complaint was on account OF
the muddiness Of the city water. IL was
during the days when, because Of incessant
rains In The Bronx, the water was UNIT
for use. Siphons of carbonic water were
thereupon placed in all the wards.
OF course there are fault-irders among
every group OF people and the patients Of
North Brother Island are no exception.
Some complain among themselves az the
food. but for every one who finds fault
there are twenty 20 praise.
The gentleness and patience shown by
the nurses and attendants generally are ar
tonishing. ] kno what | am talking
about when say that the reports OF care
less and even Lrutal treatment charged
against this hospital are without founda-
tion. I recall wildly one case where a
patient became delirious and started up
saving, Il am going home"
He had scratched his face considerably,
In his delirium and the nurse endeavored
to get him to lie back and allow his hands
to be tied down with towels When the
man would not consent, instead OF using
force, a very little of which would have
suficed, the. nurse and his assistant argued
for fully twenty minutes and In every way
tried to persuade the poor fellow TO submit.
Finally his delirium subsidized and weak
ness forced him back OF the bed where he
was fastened down without trouble. Such
occurrences are frequent In all the wards
where the severe cases are kept. In no
case Is Unnecessary force applied. Re-
monstance and eutreaty are the harshest
methods.
Knowing thai my own little fourteen
months-old baby might be brought to this
place ] took particular pains to see what
treatment the children received, and |
cane to the conclusion that, were she to
contract the disease, | would I've perfectly
satisfied TO see her taken 10 the island, and
would trust her to the mercieS OF the at
PENDANTS there in full confidence that she
would receive a. tender care as az home
II is a pathetic sight to see the little tots
a. Young AZ five months aud up TO twelve or
thirteen year.. sitting or living about in all
stages Of the disease from the very lightest
to the most malignant forms. A. they
grow better the little ones are allowed
TO run out on he green lawns 20 play. Such
Is the treatemnt that when the time comes
Tor these cured lttle ones 10 go nome lntN
actually cry 10 stay very significant in
dication Of the conduct shown them by the
attendants.
A large proportion Of the patients on the
ISLAM are from the tenement districts
and life there Ia an outing for them. Groups
Of convalescents can be seen in mild weather
sitting or standing about the wards or
lawns or on the vcrandas.
Some show scarcely an indication that
they have the disease: others e. about
| .pftA Fa,,. md fnralaaIa hanAanaI soma
] are hobbliug about ON crutches. but all are
laughing and talking in happy clusters.
II il a ummOn sight TO see a group OF
men sitting under "A shade tree about All
imprOVisad card table. while another party
is over Oh the east lawn playing ball. Often
as one strulls bv he hears the tinkling 81 a
mandolin with the accompaniment of voices
singing the pppulav songs. Men do not
sing coon songs when suffering.
A one time in the negro ward there
were tweuty-six patients. One negro was
the proud possessor Of a harmonica on
which he WAS an adept, and To its accom-
paniment the others would sing
SOoT. they were organized into a very
respectable chorus and would gather every
evening The poor fellows who were suf-
fering from boils would sit about wrapped
in their blankets. and a. the music flowed
these sufferers wou begin keeping time.
first with heads lnbbing, then hands, toes.
feet. until finally the music got the better
~ their pain and they would be OF their
feet dancing and singing
These patients were nearly all discharged
AZ the same time. and to show their apprs-
citation - their treatment. s"rcnad"d the
phV-iclau- Then they sang all the way
down the river 90 Sisic"uth street
And nov the time Approaches go leave
the Island The "ruT'i"u- haN" dried
down 30 surface scales and the rkin r.
-muuth Firrt Dr Ray, th" resident phy-i-
clan. pas-rr uI'uu the patient Then a
{ physician ~ uur-" g'"- carefully Over ih"