South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-23
PAINT GLOOM
OF HOSPITAL,
ADEATH HOUSE
Assert Partially and MiSman.
agement is Running EffiCi-
enCy of Institution Costing
County $40, 900 Year.

We know that we are going to
die. But why can't our life be made
endurable while we are here?"
That is the plea of eight patients
at Healthwin tuberculosis hospital.
who have added their statements to
back up the charges of Miss Ger
trude Rizer. former nurse at the hos
pital. who alleges mismanagement
and Partially is running the eff
cheney of the hospital.
The News-Times has the names OF
these patients as a pledge of the sim
cerity OF their story Conditions
such as their statement reveals are
TO be investigated by County Atty.
Stuart MacKibbin, recently dele
gated 70 this duty by the county
comm issfoners. MacKibbin has as
serted emphatically that affairs at
the hospital will be gone into thor
oughly and all the charges sifted.
TIE statement OF the patients who
assert that as many more OF their
number would substantiate the dec
laration il they were not prevented
by their weakened condition. paints
Healthwin designed as a house of
hope for victims of the white plague.
as rather a house OF gloom, where
the immiuence of death IS constantly
kept before patients who had hoped
through proper surroundings and
care. to arrest the ravages of their
dreaded disease.
IL the county is 70 pay $40 600 a
year for the maintenance OF Health
win. the hospital should be made TO
serve its purpose. the patients main
tain
story Of Patients.
Following is the story OF the pa
tients. supported in detail by their
several signatures II begins with
conditions at the time complaint was
made 20 the directors. who are now
in the city:
Mr. O'Brien and Mr.. Baker came
out 10 the hospital two weeks ago,
sfter Miss Rizer had complained TO
them Mr.. O'Brien picked up some
of the blankets and asked DR. Cobb
IN they v-ere wool. and DR.. Cobb said
that they were supposed 10 be That
was all the investigating they did
until one Of the patients asked Mr.
O'Brien 10 look at the toilets. which
are i'm a filthy condition.
Mr.. O'Brien looked at the toilets
after which he stood for a few min
utes as IL thinking. Then he turned
To the patient who had asked him 70
look at them. and demanded IL he
thought the hospital was going 20
Furnish servants 70 clean up the
toilets
Inmates Not Strong.
Persons who are confined i'm this
institution are not very strong a:
best. Their vitality is generally low
aud the excitement takes from them
what little vitality they have left
So when Mr.. O'Brien turned on this
patient. the patient became Brighten
I'd. lie made no reply 20 Mr.. O'Brien
The same Is true when we are
asked bv the directors IL we arc get
ting enough TO eat We are not
strong. and the whole atmosphere
surrounding MS is one Of death. We
are told repeatedly that We are not
going 10 get we'll We know that
we are not going 70 live very Ions
lint we came out here in the hope
that we could be helped. None ever
has had his tuberculosis arrested
They most generally die here, and
we are made 10 believe that there IS
not much use for rs 10 try 30 live
Very often we hear from those In
charge that anything viii be good
enough FOR us as we are going "a
die ANYHOW
$50 YOU SEQ We are easily cowed
when We are bullied by Or Cobb
Mrs cobb. some OF The others who
are ove~ us az the hospital. and D.,
1I~. O'Brien when ne visits us We
came here because we thought Il
was The right place for us. We were
looking for place i'm which VIC
could get good treatment. and where
the atmosphere would be one filled
with hope. We are always remind
cd Of our condition here.
Partially j. shown.
1--WE also object 20 the Partially
shown certain patients here They
seem 20 be the favorites Of Or. and