The Washington herald., 1912-11-03

:
D(strict) z
Nothing has undergone . greatsr
change In The last twenty years than TIA
attitude and sentiment Of the geassal
puhlie toward hospitals. -
Tweaty yars aSo. even tso ysaSs go.
hey were esnsrally locked upou -
plaos: Of last resort for The poor ana
homeless sIek, places OF torture eHd SUI.
tsrtpg from which few returned alive.
The sending Of patient 70 hospital
'or operation was like issuing his dssth
warrant.
Many consultations with fearful rolA-
lives were necessary. and many bitter
rotestO had 70 be overcome before .
rudging consent could b obtained
Dftsn the patient was In sxtssmist sftsf
IL this delay, before he arrived st the
ospitsi. and the result consequently wss
,nloftunlts.
Indss6, the doctor hardly dared sus-
gecs hospital or an opsrstien untn y
hAA become apparent TO all that the
patient was rapidly approaehing ths end.
Then the operation was accepted - .
last desperate chance for saving life. but
without much hope on the part OF the
family. or Of the patient himself.
Mortality Rate Hish.
Such conditions were not conducive to
successful operating. and the worst fears
Of the relatives were too often realized
The mortality rate was high. For
modern surgery was in its infancy. and
IL was the exception, rather than the
rule, to get an operation performed be-
fore the proper and favorable time bad
passed. $500 ..-.--.--
The greatest credit IL due the surgeon
Of that day, who. by patience. bravery.
and untiring efforts. succeeded. not only
in overcoming the dangers Of surgical
work. but also in showing this 20 plainly
to the people that their hopeless atti-
tuds toward hospitals and surgical op'
erations was almost entirely overcome.
Great credit Ii also due the physicians
who were first to recognize the I'M
portance Of early operation in such dis
easss a. appendicitis. gall stones, tu-
mors. &C., where spreading infection or
damage to other organs Ii the usuai re-
suit Of delay. Through the efforts OF
such men the terrors Of surgery and OF
hospitals have been vanished. Vast i'm
provements have been made for the
comfort, as we'll as for the safety OF
patients. and the hospital Of to-day ID
unquestionably the safest and most
luxurious place for the sick. who require
either medical or surgical treatment.
se>ss
applia noes for the comfort Of the really
III are obtainable. no such constant and
skilled care from nurses and physicians.
and no such systematic cooperation Tor
the relief Of suffering can be had a. In
a modern hospital. And this 10 real
luxury to the sufferer. Not costly fur
nishings, nor rich carpets and rugs. but
cleanliness. skillful nursing. and the
constant care Of skilled physicians, sup
piled with every instrument and appli-
ance known to science for the relief OF
suffering. is what constitutes real
luxury to one who II serioualy ILL.,
Food Prepared BY Ex1erts.
Appropriate and palatable food. freshly
prepared in a diet kitchen by an expert
and served in dainty and attractive
way. the constant soothing attention OF
a trained nurse clad in spotless white
light and air In just the right proportion
to suit each case. clear. airy rooms, and
fresh. clean. comfortable beds: only such
visitors as are desired. freedom from
household and business cares, and ths
sense Of protection in being under con.
slant care and observation .of 4 physi'
clan: these are the luxuries Of the sick
And nowhere can they be so we'll sup
piled as in n modern. up-to-date hospital
The public has come to know this. Ever
the wealthiest people now are ready ant
anxious to go to the hospital for surgica
operations when they are necessary. anc
many prefer to go there for medica
treatment also.
This has led to an increasing demand
for better hospital accommodations.
Shabby quarters are no longer toler.
ated. even though they be clean. and
though every appliance and facility 70.
the best treatment be supplied.
The demand is for nicely furnished
rooms. airy and well ventilated and heat.
ed. and furnished in an attractive, though
simple. manner. Indeed, to the public
this is a most important matter. for the
layman cannot associate good service
with shabby buildings
The modern hospital. therefore, has be-
come a costly and complicated machine
and yet one that works smoothly and
harmoniously In all its parts, and must
look handsome. as well as do handsome
work
The employees needed to run such a
hospital will nearly equal the number OF
beds for patients.
But 1t is not enough simply to supply