New-York tribune., 1905-02-02
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
REPLY TO PROFESSOR ORTIZ
Superintendent of Mount Sinai Hospital De-
nies Charge of Luxury.
me EDITOR OF The Tribune.

~
e,-. cable dispatch published YESTERDAY oro,a.
s.aternenf by Professor Orth. of Berlin concarn-
-. .hc alleged oyerindulgence OF poor natients a,
=, wards OF Mount Sinai Hospital. 1t is not easy
= believe that so enlightened man as Virchow's
..coessor in the chair of pathology at the RerI,n
r-,tyersity really sees any social danger IN the
-o1ssion OF decent comforts for the sick noor II
ri be publicly assumed. however, that the pro-
.,sor is correctly quoted, and. in the interest OF
.snse who are served not by Mount Sinai HospiteI
sione but by many other American hospitals of
n. same class. II seems more than right to
,,rrect first, the published overstatement of fact
ed second the false impression which the use OF
p-osessor Orth's name in this connection will in
.stably create
professor orths views are reported as follows;
-rre professor says he never saw such luxury SIS
q, the rooms for patients at Mount Sinai HospitaI
s,h their splendid furniture. electric lights bath
-ooras etc. Professor Orth thinks that although
,orafort may play large part in making a pa
.,sut's life happy. ii Of place on the scale
n the Mount Sinai Hospital. where Il can only
-ssult n uniting such men to bear the hardships
!. their home life and In making them in the
future thoroughly dissatisfied with their lot in
Hse"
Now, what the facts7 For the well to do
Mount Sinai Hospital. in common with other IN
stcutions OF the same class. provides such COM
forts as these patients willing 10 pay for
For this apology need be made. especially since
4be surplus revenue, If any. derived from this
source can be utilized only in one way namely
sor the furthersnce Of the charitable work of the
hospital and so far the poorer patients are
ooncerned, what shall be said? Mount Sinai Hos
pataI was established and is maintained for the
purpose OF rescung those who have not the means
10 cope even for short period with the heavy
burden Of acute Illness For these tho hospital
provides clean beds, well ventilated and well light
q wards. expert voluntary medical Attendance
wholesome food and good nursing While in the
hospital poor patients are protected from all the
OF Improper or insufficient food and of ignorant or
careless attendance
In building ana equipping hospital the sole aim
fully Of putting the patient on his feet Just as
soon es possible. in order that he may resume his
paCc 4L - ,---1I iioll N4llS.l ne
II & patient leaves the hospital with q new and
higher apprecla ton of the value of air sunlight
cleanliness order and decency, and with the de-
termination 10 improve the conditions of his home
SO that they may at least approximate decent
standards, 50 much the better for the patient Is
moi this the spirit which our social Settlements
ere trying 70 engender, and may not the hospital
properly take its place among the educational
agencies making for social betterment?
70 hospital in New-York, far as the writer
Is aware, is in a position 10 pamper its ward
patents. When these patients are helpless often
lnss WE tlIt COlIuIlIoA - a4uloSl bOpeless tAey
snce and benevClence But scarcely have they re-
gained their feet when they sent back the
humble homes from which they came. There is no
pampsrng of the abebOdied. not even full measure
q cons nsGeraton for the convalescent for, un-
fortunstely. the pressure Of serious for ad-
mission the hospital is such that the fnstitu-
don Is often forced to discharge patients before
satisfaction Of which Professor Orth speaks there
consolation in the fact that it is such dissatis-
possible and which affords the promise Of a
sgher plane Of living for all humanity in the
future S s. GoLDWATER, NJ. D..
Sew-York City. Jan 80. 1905