New-York tribune., 1903-06-29
SICKROOMS IN SHOPS.
Medical attendance Is NozU Pro
r;ded IN Department Stores.


June shopping was at food tide recently in q
broadway department store when the startled
rhoppers fell back TO make way for shrielung
woman bound for the nearest door Before an en-
rloye OF the store could intervene she dashed into
the street Over one arm hung the Imp form OF
re- babv and when she reached the nearest drug
store nearly two blocks away, she explained
historically that her baby had picked UP hul'oh
81 the counter where she was shopping, ana was
choking A physician summoned the druggist
doing his best meanwhile TO relieve the itte SUI
serer but death arrived in advance OF the DOCTOR
Yet Fl the very store from which the terrirleo
mother fed was trained nurse, cool, calm ana
prepared for every emergency who could nave ap-
rlied those drastic measures which the physician
vas too late IN Offering.
few zzaets ego a woman OF excellent family
was attacked with vertigo and hurried from a
crowded store into fresh air Almost oi7ectly
1pon reaching the street she tainted crowd
gathered and the police summoned an ambulance
whose attendant surgeon pronounced the case one
NJ alcoholism bundled the victim OF vertigo
into his wagon and OF 70 the hospital Here her
case was correctly diagnosed CAB was called and
she returned 70 her home. The matter was hnshed
,1p because OF the wonan's horror OF notorlety-
+zad she appealed 10 the aiseman In the store she
would have been sent, under proper escort 10 the
Ficl,roon there 70 be attended by maid Win q
knowledge cs the remedies needed, aro there woud
have been no publicity. ANY valuables on her per-
son would have been safeguarded, and. If neces-
sarv e member Of her family or her physician
would have been surnmoned-and all without
charge
The sickroom has become g feature Of every vel
organized department store but this Is not gener-
ally advertised bv their managers for obvious rea-
SONS There are some women who take 10 COD
ding Is z duck takes 10 water, and ne Know
edge that there Z comfortable corner, with easy
chairs q cot and z solicitoUs maid with salts al
he- command. would suffice 70 bring on an at
-arly" in the case OF q neurotic woman. Every
euploye IN the store. however is posted as to me
location OF the room. and how 10 act in case OF an
emergency.
Each firm has its own methods OF caring 1or Gus
toners under such circumstances, but perhaps l7
-,ost oor1plete organization exists IN Stxth-aVe
6eparrrnenr store which occupies one OF the newest
and most modern buildings Here the slckrooI1
oers from the ladies' parlor. in one OF the most e
-5--5 corners Of the third floor. Its furnishings
&c = eoe- rose and dull green. and include COZ
several reclining chairs and complete toilet equip
-,e,~ In attendance IS a colored woman VINO
understands the use Of e number OF slrlpe rem
edies with which she is always suppNeo'
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
s+o,,1a clerk discover that customer IS III. she
g, oce notifies the foor1nan. If II is seen that the
+ta-- Is trea tened with fainting or is too III 10
walk 10 the sickroom the foorElan rings what Is
known as the emergency gong Ihese are PoS'eU
a. Intervals over the entire store The SOUND at
tracts the attention Of the superintendent or MS
assistants. IN the balcony. who can scan not only
the ground floor. by looking Up tle lH-lL5lrS ,
rorunda car be sgnalled by employees on aL4 tiCi ~
snd simultaneously the atteillSLt Al ~ t15 ~ the
invalid rolling chair, which always STANDS II @ te
centre OF the basement 4ooI. 80 iI7 Sin into any-
Of The elevators and with the patient ABOARD II -
hS1leG &c 70 g 1T fe6 10 enter with the patient save
no one = - gbornirg companion should
tpe s6IeICsL- he eoI6Ted maid nnds that her
yerneGjes GO not relieve she summons the trained
orn TS ssr-ero45e symptoms manifest themselves
the nurse summons the store pnys1caL- i ~ = and ~
his Office in the employees parlor az ~ teie-
during the afternoon can De 5lItliol-eo II -Ee
~s+teT+ Is bic 70 communicate her wishes aro qe-
sires her family physician, ne Is c4lSo eSil1, - n
g., ss su,5IOio ~ 5s srraneed nv the attendants. No
cherpes are made for any OF these services ro'
even for the attendance Of the store - store
The emergency room the sickroon ana tne stoI
physician are The zZr9l oq}s9%59 q Of ' enBloges
hours each day and where thousands more g cJLl.g
60 nhvsicfan represent actual money SAVING q 3
the Arm Employees who Eolio lose a ca 3I,1fee
after being treated IL the physician once IN s Ce
ence OF 2 physician may not only prevent serious 9
consequences which would follow oeLay IN @
OF a damage suit One superintendent lhus sulHs
7he sicl-roorn is as much for our own benefit as
FOR tbe convenience Of our customer - - 'o L
ena-geTcv accidents viii happen in the best reEu-
sr+ing ~ oT9 ~ two heavy damage suits win
more than pay the expenses atJasnel 70 sl,l. -.
expense Of the physician salary, and he treats
al employees free Of charge
ILLNESS on BARGAIN DAYS
the demands made upon the siekroon FaTS wiz
tfe character Of trade drawn 70 q store r VI Ia IA
stance a store which caters TO wealthy bra0s VIZ
have little cal for sickroom. save IN case OF "a
csdent On the other hand. store which appears
10 the masses or the poorer classes VIII nave "
regular run on the sickroom. particularly on baI
gain oavs TIE Sc perlutenGent of defaftilieiiii
Store noted for IT'S Monday and Frioay sales ltls
ne that their plys lan treats as many a. tNeiltg
~
~ +FeGe car l4a traced directly 10 the 1act lna!
srorTeu have rushed from light. badly pfeI,atss -
frealrfesf 10 the bargain counter ana nave ot -
vitality 70 wirhs and the crush ana eAtts-lie. -
Three quarters OF the heaGacfs cases. ln "'ii~A