Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-17
NEW POLYCL|NC To
Be READY SOON
[Continued From First Pasel

purchase of the property of the late
Judge Thomas Capp was. considered
the board of directors decided to lease
the Capp mansion at Front and Har-
ris streets until January 1, with an
option to purchase outright at the
expiration of the lease. This action
was followed with immediate work to
install medical and surgical appli-
ances and to remodel the Capp prop
erty to meet the needs of an up-to-
date hospital.
To Do Charity Work
All classes of charity patients will
be treated at the Polytechnic. The de-
partments will include surgery, med
ical. women's diseases, children's dis
eases, skin diseases. eye, ear. nose and
throat cases and a special department
for maternity cases.
The Harrisburg Polytechnic Hospital
was organized and chartered five years
ago. Since that time many hundred
cases have been looked after. The
hospital has occupied houses in vari-
Gus parts of the city from time to
time. awaiting the opportunity to Sc
cure an ideal location. Two appro-
priations have been received from the
State. The needs for a hospital of
this kind were fully expressed in a
Harrisburg Republican Club at the
time the Polytechnic Hospital project
was first taken up.
Support of Large Staff
So that the Harrisburg Polytechnic
Hncnita1 M a
the institution will at all times have
the support of a large staff of Harris
burg's most successful physicians and
medical men. Daily clinics will he
provided without charge to the pa
tient and the worthy poor will receive
prompt attention. Outside patients
will also be looked after by members
of the hospital staff. In referring to
the needs for closer attention to ma
ternity cases DIR. Samuel u. Shope, one
of the staunchest supporters of the
new Polytechnic Hospital, said to-day:
"A whole floor by all means should
be devoted to the care of maternity
cases only. That the maternity cases
are important factors in hospital work
no one will deny. To take care of the
ever-g growing demand for hospital at
tention, an institution must be prop
erly built and scientifically equipped.
1t means no small outlay of money to
handle such a proposition; but. after
all. isn't it worth while when the
sacredness of the cause is consid-
cred?
Maternity Treatment
Time was when the expectant
mother was given about as much kind
and scientific attention as the gentle
old family COW. Is that comparison
too crude for your refined senses? Do
not let it shock you. for it remains
true nevertheless. Is that statement
true in the light of present day ad-
vancement? In many-too many. in
fact-instances, yes! 1t is too true
that even to-day the eXpectant mother
often must plod along. guided only by
the free and confidential wagging of
older and more experienced tongues.
But the times are changing the meth
ods Experience has been a severe
teacher of maternity work the world
over Scientific investigation has
brought us face to face with stern
facts and we must not ignore them.
New Light is Dawning
Someone may ask Why does it
seem so important to have maternity
hospitals and maternity departments
now when years ago. and even to-day,
thousands of babies were born whose
mothers never heard of such a place.
Probably one good reason is that the
cred to be of much importance. Listen
while is cited you some statistics,
kind reader, and then think and
think. and think, of what this really
means.
Seven per cent. of the deaths of
women between the ages of 20 and 40
years are due to so-called blood poi
son. Just think of it, Do you know
of some motherless babe whose
mother was one of the unfortunate
seven?
Thousands of women enter our
hospitals each year for the repair of
injuries acquired during child bear
ing. Proper attention in a scien-
tifically equipped hospital would prac-
tically wipe out such a record.
Nearly one-third of the blind peo-
pie in the world have lost the light of
day because of the ignorance or the
carelessness of the attendants at time
of birth
DIR. Shope limits his practice to the
eye, ear. nose and throat. hence has
no interest in the maternity cases ex-
cept that of a broad minded. public
spirited physician.
Men back of the new institution
who are giving their best efforts to
make It a success and give the people
of Harrisburg a hospital long needed
President, William r. Houser su-
perintendent of the International Cor
respondence Schools, of Scranton,
Central Pennsylvania division: vice
president the Rev. William S. Harris:
secretary, Harry d. Delmotte. division
superintendent, International Corre-
spondence Schools. of Scranton: treas
urer. Charles F. Hoover. furniture
dealer: board of directors. James H.
Gingerich. superintendent of the Pos
tai Telegraph; A. S. Miller, real es-
tate: II. W. Miller. State Highway De.
partment; DR. Melancthon Nj. Ritchie.
DR. Herbert F. Gross. DIR. w. Tyler
Douglass, DR.. Robert r. Holmes. l..
Frank Bass. manager, Stieff piano
house; DIR. George II. Widder, Charles
c. Schriver, secretary Harrisburg
Consistory; Dr. Samuel u. Shope, Bert
F. Blough. treasurer-general manager.
the Blough Manufacturing Company.
and the Rev. B. II. Hart, pastor of
the Fifth Street Methodist Episcopal