The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-31
BOSTON'S FLOATING HOSPITAL
is MARVEL OF PHYSICIANS.
Lives of Hundreds of Babies Are Saved Every Summer by Sea Air
and Careful Nursing of Atter dants in Charge of This No
bic Charity-Vessel Attracts Almost as Much At
tention as Does d Millionaires Yacht.

Boston, Aug. 3O.-This city's floating hos
pital. the barge Clifford, attracts almost as
much attention as does the steam yacht OF
some millionaire. and strangers who see It
for the first time ask many questions
about 1t.
When told it is a real hospital for babies
they often wonder how hospital work can
be carried on aboard a boat, and even now,
so many years since it first went into
commission. there are people who cannot
get rid of the idea that it is something like
an excursion craft. But from the very first
that feature has been eliminated and the
care of sick. often dying babies has been
the sole motive of its existence, the power
which keeps it in motion:
Every year something has been done to
improve the system which governs its work.
and all with the single motive of doing
more for its little, helpless charges.
At first It began by taking babies
sick with summer disease. and their
mothers down the harbor on daily
trips. giving them medical care and
nursing, and the improvement in the
condition of the little ones was most
marked. In 1898, in addition, the work
for permanent patients began, and it is
this feature of the hospital, perhaps,
which to-day commands the attention
OF the public, and especially of medical
men. For, although this has been a
cold season, when the summer diseases
among children are not generally so preva-
lent, the permanent wards, which accom-
modate sixty patients. have been crowded
to overlooking.
Those ~Unproyided For.
There has been a waiting list of very sick
babies, some of whom have died before a
place could be found on board the boat. In
one instance parents who had taken to the
hospital a very sick child waited two
hours for the cot of a little one VINO was
then dying. in order that their baby might
have the care given at the hospital.
While the preference is given to pa
tents having bowel troubles essa aaei ceme TO TO
the Floating Hospital. There nave been y
number of pneumonia patients. Others OF
TENTS an appetite and they improve at once
with the nutritious food. GOOD
A mother whose baby had, been carea
for on the hospital i had not 6 on th seie re- 70
ports brought by the father as to It's I'M
provement. When the authorities told her
II was well enough to be discharged she
went to the boat after 1t. ,u
THAT isn't my baoy." she said. looking
Mt the plump baby, growing away In the NJ "
tie white bed. why, 1t doesn't look d "''
The nurse smiled and said: 1T is your
baby. II you don't think so see IL you can
II The mother was convinced that the
healthy. fat child was the little starved
skeleton she had carried on board the poat
a few weeks before.
Sometimes babies are taken on board with
some illness. not very severe. ana the PhES-
sicians detect some other troupe wnncn'
taken in season, they are often able to cure.
Children in Permanent Wards.
All the babies in the permanent wards
have been very i'll when they entered. Many
of them have been sent by physicians whose
verdict would be: 1T Is all that can save
your child. ] have done all / could for it,,
And very often the Floating Hospital would
those who work there. Sometimes when a
child dies the mother will say: Il am sure
everything has been done for my baby. 1t
AS is generally Known. the hospital boat
is moored at East Boston during the nlght
and takes on its day patients at the CITY
But long before that time a group OF doc
tors and nurses has gone over to the city
wharf TO receive. the patients be
and medicines for any SUDDEN
They examine the cards each
mother or attendant must present with a
child. II /. signed bv a physician and gives
a brief diagnosis of lis trouble. stating 1t
has no contagious disease. The doctor ex-
il snail have. which the nurse in
writes down or her list, with its
name.
An examination being made of every pa
tent, they are ready 10 go on board as soon
as the hospital boat arrives. are sent TO the
list Of foods is sent tc the food department
and supplied at once for their first feed
ing. A physical eXamipation is also made
later OF each child. The sickeI babies, who
are to become permanent patients, are also
examined and their cots as
signed to them. Their food and medicine
are all ready for them also. and there is al
most no delay after the ~gangpiank connects
the wharf and the boat before the sick ba-
hes are in the bands OF the nurses and re-