Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-01

e y a1Gff1tt, &Ae., APP. TtNStSNNe%4S'
Three hundred and sixty-five days
of altruism, charity and devotion!
That is what is being observed, today,
at the Sisters hospital on Highwood
street. Just one year ago as the sun
dawned on the first day of the beauti-
full month of May, four Sisters oil
Charity began their labors in the city
Of waterville, in a building that they
had remodeled and enlarged to care
for the sick and suffering of the city.
During its short career the institution
has been the means of preserving ana
saving the lives, not only of the people
of Waterville, but Of all parts of the
State. It's reputation for thorough
ness, care and wisdom, has penetrated
almost every community of any size,
and the sick and suffering have vir-
tually focked to its doors to be
strengthened both physically and
morally by its environment and at
mosphere.
For many years the institution was
owned and conducted as Libby Hos
pital by Drs. d. b. Cragin and L. w.
Boyer. The Sisters of Charity, with
no institution in the State Of Maine
saw the possibilities of the location
and purchased the building, and the
site. At once, under the direction of
Sister Bernard, the building was re-
modelled and enlarged. An operating
room, modern and sterile in every par
ticular was part of the new equipment,
and 1t has since been in constant de-
mand by the physicians of Central
Maine sterilizng room. where in
struments. bandages and all else used
in the nursing of patients, are made
sterile, adjoins the operating room.
The brilliancy of its nickle, the white
ness of the walls, and the immaculate
condition of everything in the hospital
betokens the word system in its full
est sense.
The present institutiin, with Its ac-
commodations for only 80 patients, is
only the embryo OF what the Sisters
Hospital will be semi decade from
now. Already plans have been drawn
for an additional wing, and with the
coming of better weather enlarge
ments will be started. During the
last IL months over 300 patients have
been received and treated in the hos
pftal. The greater part of these have
come for major operations, and with
chances that were often very meager
for recovery, the rich and poor with
no difference shown have ben nursed
back to health and strength. There
has been a demand for private rooms
fhaf he ci cta h unable
supply, and it is to meet this growing
demand that the hospital will be en-
targed. In cases where operations or
other sicknesses could be provided for
IN advance there have been reserva-
lions made for beds two and three
weeks beforehand.
True to their name of the Daughters
of St. Vincent de Paul. the patron of
devotion and charity to the sick, the
Sisters have not been unmindful Of
their mission-charity. No one, even
the poorest of the poor, has been re-
fused admission because ne had moth
ing. He has been taken in and cared
for with the same watchfulness and
infinite care as the patient who could
well pay for the best the hospital af-
fords. There has been no time since
the institution opened its doors that
there has been no free patient. SO
Uniform is the administration that
patients never know the conditions
under which others had been received.
Beginning their daily duties at 4.30
A. NJ, and closing them often not until
late at night, the four sisters are toiIing
daily for the preservation Of the out
side world with which they are seldom
brought into contact except in the
business of conducting the hospital.
Their devotion to the patients. and