Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-27
Davis CrItIcises ConneII.

In a long report furnished the council
Tuesday evening DR.. Davis called attention
TO large private hospital bills which the
city has paid, the bills being for the care
of INDECENT persons either injured on the
street or found to be seriously i'll. Some Of
these patients were In the hospital for over
100 days at 81 a day. The city ordinances
have no provision for the care of these indi-
gent persons and DR.. Davis commended they
should be sent to the county hospital. If
they could not be taken to the hospital at
once they could be removed there from the
private hospital within three days time,
he said. and this was specified in a resolu-
ton accompanying the report, which reso-
luton was not acted upon. however.
Many cases we're cited in the councilman's
report, which was a criticism Of the health
department. the first case being that Of a
man who broke his leg in jumping out OF
a second-story window of a house of i'll
fame. The health commissioner ordered him
taken TO one Of the hospitals, where he was
treated. This DR.. Davis objected to, but
DR.. Connell replies h~eatedly that he will
not allow any man to suffer and be without
treatment, mo matter his station in life. no
matter how he was injured"
DR.. Connell, the health physician, says he
'N~ - AhDAN EOFFNh ~ SUM % ~ ~ wv
| county hospital than any other citizen and
that no one can get a man into the county
hospital except Or. Swoboda. II DR.. Swo.
boda cannot be found at the time the in.
jured or sick man must either be sent tC
a private hospital or be allowed to suffer
until such time as he can be admitted Il
the county hospital. Further, the county
hospital will admit no one during the nigh
and 1t will take none other than county
cases, those who have gained a residenc.
here.
DR.. Connell says he and DR. Swoboda
have worked in perfect harmony, but har.
money will not offset ironclad rules.
Categorical Reply.
Picking out the eight leading cases cited
by DR.. Davis in his censuring OF the action
Of the health commissioner. DR.. Connel
makes the following report:
No. 1.-The man who formerly boarded
at the Paxton hotel. Lost every.
thing and was i'll at another hotel, ex
pected to die any time. Upon petition o.
leading business men he was removed lat
at night to the st. Joseph's hospital anC
operated on, gratis, by the late DR.. A. w
Riley. Delicacies furnished by business
men, who objected to his being removed
TO the county hospital. in which objection
the st. Joseph hospital authorities con
Cured in, as II he was moved he woult
certainly die. Was in hospital III days
when he died, hospital %discounting on
months bill.
; No. 2-Man IS years of age. who receives
fracture of the hip and right arm in run
away accident. Taken to Omaha Genera
hospital. where two operations were per
formed. Removed to county hospital a
soon as able. Hospital discounted half o
bill. Accident was In the night.
No. S-Man found wandering ON the stree
> in delirium tremens with four ribs broker
] Taken to Omaha General hospital at nigh
e and cared for seven days.
No. EDemented woman found wander
; ing late at night I'm the vicinity OF Tent
and Paul streets. Taken to Omaha Genera
hospital, where four Assesses were RI
moved, woman remaining in state OF com
for four days. Upon entrance TO hospits
it was found that patient had erysipela
S and was moved to the upper floor. wher
: she had to be quarantined for tn
" thirteen days she was there. when she wa
I removed to the insane asylum. Count
hospital will not take patients s%ufferin