The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-02
IN The ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
A SMALLPOX PATIENTS LIFE ON
NORTH BROTHER ISLAND.
The Hospital aud lis Management Praised
by This sufferer Nome Of the EN-
pected Horrors The Patients Appar-
emily W~eil-Contcnted and Well-Treated

pected Horrors The Patients Appar-
emil, well-Contcnted and Well-Treated
fever lasting for two days. intense pains
In the back. with nausea and no appetite,
then a rash, and I was fearful that | had
something worse than grip. When the
New York health inspector came in answer
to my doctors call no confirmed my worst
fears.
You have the smallpox
Instantly all that | had ever heard or
read about the pesthouse on North Brother
Island crowded into my mind, and had l
been before a Judge and heard him sem
tence me to the penitentiary l could have
felt no worse. One redeeming feature OF
the situation was the knowledge that my
wife and baby would be watched over by
the Health Board and the house thoroughly
fumigated. That gave me some courage
and reconcilcd me to thoughts Of the horrors
/ must undergo.
Then for two hours | waited. partly
dressed. for my ride to seeming purgatory.
At last the ambulance came.
was compelled to leave my dear ones
without being able more than 10 say good
by, as one would to a casual acquaintance
i believed smallpox. as do practically all
who have never seen II, TO be the most
horrible and fatal Of all diseases, and left
home feeling that my chances Of returning
were slight.
Then came the first disagreeable ex-
perience and the only one resulting from
seeming carelessness or inattention. The
ambulance was a miserable ramshackle
affair. In the bottom were blankets which
smelt to heaven. There was no seat. and
on these filthy blankets ! had TO sit.
II would have taken the habits ana train
ing of a tramp TO lie down. Mechanically
! noted a pair Of stockings. which the young
doctor in charge told me had been left by
the last patient. a little girl.
With a nervous laugh ! flung them petu-
lantly toward him. II is bad enough TO
he carried from home under such conditions.
but common decency at least would require
that the carriage I've clean.
The ambulance rolled on through the
city streets, a mark for the curious. and
gradually my excited nerves cooled down.
Al length We reached the embarking pier
on the East River at the foot of i3sth street
The boat, a converted tug, the Franklin
Edison was waiting. When ] stepped
aboard | WIS met by a young man whom
afterward learned to be the resident ply
sician. Or. Ray.
was conducted 20 the cabin aft where
the doctor carefully examined me for symp-
toms Of the disease. Shortly after the
boat left the pier and ] was fairly started
on a Journey which few take without tho
gravest fears.
IL Is a sail Of perhaps th~ree-duarters OF
a mile To the landing at North Brother
Island After arriving ] waited while a
little child and two women were carried
on street cheers To the ambulance
This ambulance. which carries practically
all Of the patients to the wards Was "a
far superior In comfort and cleanliness TO
the one in which ! rode from NV home.
as a victoria surpasses IA farm wagon.
NV ride was a short one.
The doctor ordered that | be taken to
the observation room Of Ward / because
my rash was 10 very light. and thu room
WAS my home during the two weeks that
| remained on the island Upon my ar
rival in the building ! was conducted to
the hed assigned me- and Instructed To-
undress and lie down. which did
Having but a very mild type Of the dis
ease ! ~as In bed only two davs. Then /
Was permitted 10 dress aud liberty was
granted me 10 ~ about the grounds
NV clothing had been taken from me
ou entering and IN exchange a uigpt-hirt
was given the When I va. ready 10 dress
! received a suit Of Undertaking. a pair
81 socks a jumper. a pair 81 oyeraIi, and
some stout leather rlipp-r-
This constitutes What might be- called
the North Brother Island uniform Hate
are not furnished. hut 10" pa',eu', thrm-
srlve- supply the dehriru,, hy LaAor's
rap- which they make uuf uf IaIH.r
bs this 'iur had br'u 300 rhr ISLAND
lpug enough 49, begin Co - nv is.ariug7
I ram" "ki"oting a." bud q pIi. ' Of torment
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