The Alaska sourdough., 1911-12-26
THE NATIVE HOSPITAL

tribute to the native hospital at Ju- neau. There was but one thing omitted that might have been said. The coming of w. G. Beattie as superintendent ef all the Indian work in Southeastern Alaska has had it's effect at the hospi- tai as we'll as on the activities of the bureau in this part of Alaska. Be yond question MT. Beattie has been the ablest superintendent the bureau has ev had here.
 Mr. Jamison s story is as follows:
 The United States government hospi tai, the only institution of its kind in Alaska, has extended it's merciful aid to Southeastern Alaska natives for nearly thirteen months.
 On November 8, 1910, month after the bureau of education in Washing ton had lent it's ears to crying need and had authorized the establishment of the hospital, the institution was giv- en birth. The late Dr. c. H. Slightam had been named as physician in charge; the building had been fitted up for yeoman service; staff of nurses had been engaged and from the first month following the throwing open of the doors to the Indian patients a lessen ing of the Indian death rate in this section of Alaska was noted. And the work did not stop. As the fame of the "white doctors" spread to the many outlying villages, the natives came for treatment. The hospital was fixture.
 Following the death of pr. Slightam in February, many in Juneau said the hospital would be abandoned; with such champion gone they reasoned, a hitherto we'll regulated native hospi- tai would be thrown in utter chaos while the government was making new appointment to the superintendent cy.
 Dr. F. J. Malone was given a tenn porary appointment to the position on February 3rd, 1911. On July l he was officially appointed to succeed his pre- decessor.
 A great many people in Southeast ern Alaska are in ignorance as to the good work which has been done since the hospital first commenced. Many are totally unaware that natives are given the best of medical treatment for which they pay but trife. Con- sultation, medicine, care; everything is free with the exception of board For daily subsistence patients whose ills necessitate confinement are charg ed fifty cents for board. One of the obstacles which the hospital has en- countered is belief among the natives that the government tmakes' some thing out of the ffty-p day board rate. This is a false impression for in the course of time their gratitude bump will have been developed so that such fancy will be discarded.
 At the present time Miss Jean B. Rankin, an experienced nurse and an untiring worker, is assisting pr. Ma hone in managing the hospital. Miss Angelica Babbitt, who has been dis pensing medical aid at Killisnoo and Angoon, will be added to the hospital staff within the following week, taking the place of Mrs. Rebeeca Young, re- gently resigned.
 At the present time there are seven patients occupying as many rooms in the hospital. Since the hospital was opened nearly 300 patients have appli- ed for treatment Of that number SS were given rooms and many underwent major operations. The majority of the applicants, however, were treated for ailments without confinement.
 This clinical mode of dispensing re- lief to the sick without causing the patient loss of time has proven boon to the Indians.
 Since a years report of the hospi- tai work is available, the statistics show that on an average for the twelve