The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-09

|, Milton H. Foster, NJ. D., Surgeon
/ Hospital Service; exclusive
er,fce. the Survey Press Bureau.)
prar a million immigrants arrived
a. port of New York last year-a
81 about equal to the population of
60 and Washington combined.
n ks any week in the year and
.ine that, during this week, all
.cople who were sick and needed
= tment in these two cities were to
eri to one hospital, and you will
-. "a pretty fair idea of the total
euut Of work performed by the
nspttals at Ellis Island last year.
Gl these million immigrants about
!, out OF every hundred was sent to
: hospital In actual figures, 1919
rer. treated in the institution, which
a. been aptly called "a general hos
il i for all nations"
Hundred Cases a Day.
\. these days OF huge vessels,
n.3eru steamship often brings over
!, one trip more than 1000 steerage
a ,sencers. 1t is by no means unuSu-
~ receive 100 ca Ses or more at the
,osuital in one day. The task of ad-
mining, examining, treating and
hotSlpg this number Of new patients
Al fye or six hours would tax the ca
racity Of the largest hospitals in the
couutry.
4 few hours before the time of
dep4rture of vessels from the other
side the ship surgeons take their
plaees at the head of the gangway
and carefully scrtinize each immi-
grant As he comes on board. This
insuectiou is made under difficulty
b. as a general rule it prevents any
one who is actually sick "a the time
frem Gaining admission to the steam
er Hence the greater number of i'm
m.-fauts who are i'll when they ar
rive have become so since they left
home.
The medical inspection of those ar.
irving is made chiefly for two pur-
poses: first, TO see that they are
strong we'll and bright enough to be
able 10 earn living and get alons
in this country; and second, to as
certain that they do not have certain
diseases which they might transmi
tl heir new neighbors in America.
Tine immigrant hospitals are mod
ptr lu every respect and well equipp
ej The wards are light, airy an'
comfortable and there are a few pri
Vate rooms for cases which especially
need them. The food is abundan
aua of the best quality. The attend
in physicians are commissioned of
6cers of the United States Publi
Health Service. All the nurses ar
Excellent facilities for the scientifi
treatment of patients are available
inciudins an N-ray plant, four opeI
atN- rooms and a complete labora
tory We're all the complex and diff
cult limitations required by moder
medicine are daily made.
There are no interpreters employe
e>pe,ially for the hospital. Some
ta, physicians and employees ca
ion Ia erp
am3 all on the staff have picked up
ieW useful words in several tongue
When II becomes absolutely necesSf
= nm interpreter is borrowed fro
| tht regular corps employed by tt
| Immigration service.
Elter surgeon has been on dutr
q. he island for some time, he a.
tJAes The ability to make diagnOS
".nHat holding such communicate
~..H The patient. Outside physician
oaEe to do the same thing when trea
th very young children, SO it is n
e" much out of the ordinary, aft
GIL
tar more difficult problem thu
o!asnoais is the attempt to feed {
tNtSe different races from one ge
tfai kitchen. While patients are rea
ts lll and IN bed, a few of the simpl
t.urles of diet, such as milk, egs
FlaFen, toast, etc, will suffice; b
"n'n they remain in the hospital
longer period or are recOveri
from q protracted illness, it is ofte
-h"ee almost impossible TO furni
f"od which will appeal to their fc
''-n palates and poor appetites
tt' Slme time.
lu desperate cases, it has SON
1lit's been necessary to throw
W1"rN dietetic teaching to the win
dHd allow articles of food which
ist blush would appear to be sur'
harmful. little Arab girl Who h
I" operation for an attack Of appe
H''iuS refused absolutely all food I
il She was almost dead from exha,
tlnn and starvation, but she ate gr'
"ily most villainous looking form
native sausage and cream che
men her mother brought to
hospital; and on that most unpro
@'ns diet she made splendid q