Bisbee daily review., 1909-10-23
HUGHART GIVES REPLY ID
 FUTILE

The following leItef III TSPl9 to tue letter of Howard s. Futile, excerpts Of which were published in this pa per last week. has been received and in accordance with the request it contains is given full publicity;
 Tombstone, Ariz.. Oct. 20, 1909, The International American,
 Douglas, Arizona,
 Gentlemen: In a recent issue of your paper appears an article from one Mir. Futile. commenting upon the County Hospital at Tombstone in terms far from nattering. I do not know Mir. Futile (his name does not appear upon the hospital register, either among the thirty-seven hobos, the real patients, or the aged and in firm), nor the source of his informE- tion: but l do know that his article as published by your paper and wide ly copied by papers throughout the county has done and is doing the present management a gross injus- tice.
 1 was employed by Dr. John E. Ba- cen to take charge of the medical and surgical work of the hospital on Oc- tober the first, and to employ what help was needed, and in every way administer and manage the affairs of the hospital. and the conditions and rbn b. the, way. spends all of his spare time at the hospital. and myself, feel that in justice to Dr. Bacon and our selves, we cannot allow to go unre- futed an article so misleading and unjust.
 Dr. Bishop spends about sixteen hours a day looking after the com fort and welfare of the patients, and am at the hospital from four to six hours out of every day.
 We all agree with MT. Futile that the contract system is not the proper system by which to handle the indi- gent sick of this, or any other coun- ty; but. neither the Board of Super visors nor ourselves are to be cen sured for the statutes which made this system possible; and, as MT. Tut tie probably knows, the last legisla- ture changed the statutes so that the Board of Supervisors had authority to change the pernicious system, and they are making every effort to build and equip a modern hospital near Douglas, and place it at the disposal os the indigent sick early in 1910.
 In the meantime, the patients ad mitted to the hospital at Tombstone ere receiving every care and attention that circumstances will permit.
 The meals, while plain, are vel cooked, well served, nourishing an( abundant; prepared by whom be lieve to be the best Chinese cook II the territory.
 Every patient in the hospital ha: fuil bath at least once a week, ana is furnished clean clothes and a clear bed. All surgical dressings art changed at least once a day, or of tener if the case requires it. All bel linen and wearing apparel that cal be laundered is sterilized and laun dered every week. The patients ar as clean and comfortable as cleanli ness and care can make them, an, as happy as their afflictions will a low them to be.
 There are seven or eight childre at the hospital: all of them are ol phans or worse than orphans; all c them are the victims of either mi! fortune, vice or heredity.
 While nearly every patient that admitted is infested with either on, or all, of the varieties of domesti vermin, they are given a hot batl if their condition will allow it, and change of clothing before being a signed a bed. Every effort is mad to keep the hospital clean and whol some, and. we believe that we al succeeding in doing so.
 We lGti liAdt MI. I httit, lli eaii Aoi ness to us. should make an early pc soual investigation of the hospit and the conditions that obtain in ar around it, and, if he can consistent do so, write another article for vol valuable paper that will conform little more closely with the facts al conditions that exist today.
 We would very much appreciate Il courtesy of having this published al given the same prominence in yo paper that was accorded the artic which it intends to answer.
 To the end that the whole tru may be known I suggest that an ear investigation be made.
 Very truly yours,
 H. HOUSTON HUGHART, N. D.