The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-08-18
SICK N FILTHY BEDS.
Terrible Condition Of Louisville
City Hospital.
KITCHEN IS NAUSEATING.
Committee of leading Physicians Makes
Thorough Personal investigation and
as One of the Results There Is a
New Superintendent

Louisville, Aug g1-A scandal en-
velops the city hospital, following the
appointed by the jefferson County
Medical association to Investigate con
ditions at that institution and the
consequent discharge OF the superin-
tendent, J. c. Vogt
Filthy. wet mattresses, disgusting
odors, no light. white AID colored
children sleeping together. scant sup
plies of linen. antiquated antiseptic
appliances, a nauseating kitchen, poor
plumbing, and not even knives and
forks for the patients were among the
abuses reported. and julius c. Vogt
was removed as superintendent as
soon as Mayor Bingham read the dec
umeut. DR.. Jouett Menefee has been
appointed in his place.
The trouble has been brewing for
long time. Last year DR.. Menefee was
appointed an inferno at the hospital.
He, with Drs. Taylor and AGREE, made
a report to the board of safety of the
fearful conditions. John d. Wakefield,
James R. Smith and John Dettle made
pretended investigation of the charg-
es. and exonerated the hospital man
agement. DR.. Menefee's resignation
was asked for and promptly given.
The committee consisted of DR..
Sidney Meyers, president OF the asso
citation: DR.. Cuthbert Thompson and
DR.. William Bailey, three of the fore
most physicians of Louisville.
A new hospital is recommended as
the best remedy for this state of af-
fairs
The report, in part, is as follows:
Detention Ward-In this place are
harbCred contagious diseases. cases of
deIerium tremens and those of unsound
mind. This ward bears close rela-
ton to the prisons of barbaric Europe.
The unsanitary condition is most
marked, the ventilation is very bad;
in fact, one room has neither light nor
air; the odor of the place is disgust,
ing, the bathtubs dirty and the mat
tresSes filthy.
Male Medical Whrd-This ward is
overcrowded. Mattresses filthy and
wet; bedsteads requiring painting
Not enough room to keep the sick
clean: plumbing bad.
Male Surgical Ward-Dressing room
for cases dirty. Dirty wooden table
and dressing cases. Linens short. Mat
tresses filthy.
Children's Ward-White and color
ed children sleep in the same ward.
Toilet room and bath used to dry
children's clothes in. Linen short
Female Ward-Linens scant. Mat.
tresses filthy. Toilet room dirty.
Female Surgical Ward-Toilet room
dirty Soiled dressings kept in open
al to laundry. Shortage of linens. Mat
tresses filthy.
Operating room-No overhead light
Sink ventilator opens into it. Steril-
izer antiquated. No proper place for
Instruments. Mattresses filthy.
Male Surgical Ward-Mattresse
filthy. Linens scant Dressings and
linens soiled kept in open cans too
long.
Colored Ward-Same conditions,
here, only worse.
Obstetrical Ward-Old wooden table
In use Mattress bad.
In the kitchen all boxes are declared
very dirty, and mats, spiders and cob
webs abound Milk cans are never
kepet covered. Laundry is unable to
meet demands upon it. Nurses are in
sufficient. Plumbing is defective.
There is criminal neglect in allowing
tubercular cases in the same ward as
pneumonia. typhoid fever, ETC.; but
the present arrangement admits of lit
tie improvement in this matter. The
entire building and methods are
crime against humanity and disgrace
to Louisville.