Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-06
Clarkson Memorial Hospital and It's Mission to Suffering Humanity

crooked and without strength. He crawled
under his bed at night and went to sleep
there rather than climb into It. Even when
holding to a chair he could not stand
erect, A plaster cast was put about his
limbs and after several years Of treatment
he was as able TO carry himself as any
child. He Is now in the Benson orphanage
and no one could know from his appearance
that he was ever twisted and misshaped.
Nor are these efforts devoted to members
OF the Episcopallan denomination. The
hospital has always been strictly nom
sectarfan. OF the patients cared for each
year It is estimated that at least 20 per
cent have no connection whatever with the
Episcopal church. In 190-s there were
6Oe patients in all and f~ifty-six Of these
were charity. During the winter before
there were seventy-three charity cases and
sixty-three Of these were children. DIR. Gif-
ford. chief of staff at the hospital says
that in a great many cases patients bring
babies TO the hospital expecting TO leave
them there only a few days when the
neglect OF proper treatment for months
would mean loss of eyeslght or hearing.
The parents are often unable TO bear the
expense necessary to insure the health OF
their children, but that is never allowed TO
interfere in any way with the cure. The
treatment is given and no demands are
made for payment. The hospital 10 not
run on a value received" basis.
Many people do not realize the impense
Importance of keeping the children OF the
community healthful. Specialists have too
often insisted that the mind and morals Of
the child are influenced greatly and
directly by the condition Of his health.
Abnormal conditions Of the body produce
abnormal nervous states, upset the childs
moral conceptions and warp his mentality.
The backward children Of the public
schools in larger cities nave been found in
most cases to be suffering from poor eyes,
poor hearing or disease in some other i'm
portant organs. The care and training Of
children under q certain age Is very largely
a matter Of the care OF their health. The
most efficient aid in extreme cases is Just
the sort OF a hospital as the Clarkson has
been trying TO make Of itself and will
make when the new building is complete.
Not the least important activity has been
the training Of nurses. Fifty-one nurses
have been graduated from the Clarkson
training school and they have been carry
ing out the ideas Of the hospital in Omaha
and elsewhere. One of them is now head
OF the Douglas County hospital training
school and others have equally important
positions. The demand for trained nurses
is always unsatisfied and the increase OF
facilities for teaching them is a step for
better public health.
Two years ago It was decided that a new
and larger building was needed. The board
of trustees started a campaign to raise
the requisite funds and a plot Of land one
and one-half acres in extent was bought at
Twenty-first and Howard streets. The site
is on the crown of a hill overlooking the
business section of the city and although
close enough In for emergency cases is
far enough from the street cars to be
quiet The building of light colored brick
is now about half finished and the corner
stone was laid st, Marks day, April 25.
1908, by the Right Reverend John Albert
Williams, bishop of Nebraska.
In the new quarters the thirty-five beds
Of the old building will have become
seventy. Every convenience for the sick
will be provided. Particular care has been
taken to insure quiet. The floors of the
halls, operating rooms and bath rooms will
be monolithic and tho stairways will all
be enclosed in glass. Instead of a bell-call
system there will be an electric light ar
rangement whereby the nurse may be sum-
moned without any noise. For con-
valescents there will be a sun parlor on
every floor, looking toward the east.
The basement of the hospital will be
occupied by the kitchens and store rooms
and will contain besides two dining rooms
and an emergency operating room. On the
first floor. on one side. will be the general
hall and offices. consultation rooms and the
chapel. This chapel will be furnished by
Mrs. George worthington OF New York,
widow Of the late Bishop worthington, who
was one of the founders of the hospital.
The other side of the building, on the first
floor, will be given over entirely TO the
children. Their wards will ell be on the
southwest side of the building, to catch as