Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-20

every way more efficient than 1t has ever
been in its history, yet there is stu
room for much improvennent-of klnd
that only the taxpayers Of Indianapolis
can bring about.
The hospital administration appears to
have brought the institution to as high
point of efficiency as it can.
The level Is not a satisfactory one anu
can only be raised by some radical
changes In the system of adminlstratioh
and in the attitude of the taxpayin5 COM
munitv toward expenditures for It's i'm
provement
Bedbugs are not welcome hospital In
mates. o,.-
They do infect the patients at the CITY
HOSPITAL constant war Is waged upon
them but it is in evidence that the meas
ures taken for their elimination are not
Efficient and it is n fact that the admin
istration rests content with the measures
that are WE'LL known to be inerncleht'
NO APPARATUS
FOR STERILIZATION
BedbuEs can be eliminated from tne
CItv Hospital and they doubtless are
oI,niratpd steadily. But they are carried
into the place by patients and visitors
and thew do infest patients VINO CONS
thera free of chem before they are oe-
tected and eliminated. .a1
Tvpical of the attitude OF the otncinl
city Of Indianapolis ms well as lts cru
zans ia the cause OF the Infection or the
CITY Hospital with bedbugs -,
There Is no apparatus III the hoSPi'"i
for the sterilization of mattresses
sterillKer formerly used for that purpos0
eve yvsv under steam pressure ana II
80. 80 renair it were unayailing- A
49,, sterilizer is reported to have been
nrd.,ed for the hospital more than three
months ago. 1t is not yet In Sght am
a. +ha meanwhile the mattresses hatch
bedbuRs. :, ,.vrn %
che bosDltal authorities and metnod o.
combating them has been evolved. beuA
ere subjected to blow-torch ana 10 com
merclal dlsinfectants and deooorizeFs
linen "a thoroughly washed and sterl-
lied Mattresses are sponged In soiu'
tion designed to kill the nits and bugs
ppt the sponging Of the mattresses Is
not sufTicient TO make certain the elln1i-
natiop n the pests and the hospital prac'
tIces do not provide for any other emil
cient method pending the arrival OF that
steriIizer, the delay In the installation
of which is doing more to ruin pubhc
confidence In the institution than any
other ono thing.
NURSES HOME
Is NEEDED.
In the meanwhile, every once In
while bedbugs are found in the wards.
Attention to them is rapid and com
plete as far as tho prescribed measures
go-hut they do not go far enough 10
eliminate the bugs and that fact does not
appear to have prompted the addition oil
any more drastic means OF rtghtlng the
situation.
In addition TO the elimination OF
the bugs. which competent authorities
say can be done even without the ex-
pected equipment. the city Hospital
needs n nurses home.
II needs more student nurses and Il
needs better accommodations for the
nurses In order that It may attract
persons who Wish TO complete their
course Of training.
Mayor Jewett has Included In his pro-
gram OF building for next year pro-
posed home for nurses 70 cost 5000 900
This is an overestimate OF necessary costs
and the oyerestimate will doubtless ere
ate some opposition 10 the project
Delaying the nurses home means dep
riyatlon OF hospital patients Of nurses
care Tho better tho facilities FOR the
nurses the better will be the nursing at
the City Hospital. and although the
average taxpayer will howl long and
loud for the very best nursing possible
when he Is sick his bowling viii NOT
be equal TO that which he win do when
well and asked to part with a few
cents on the dollar OF his valuation Tor
tho purpose Of providing better nursing
st the hospital.
Mayor Jewetts administration is not
without fault In the premises. II has
never explained the need OF a nurses
home at the hospital and It has shaken
confidence IN the project by asking for
greater sum than Is necessary 20 rs
contamination.
CITIZENS NEED
BETTER ACQUAINTANCE.
What indianapolis Citizens need Is a
better acquaintance wifi their city Hos
rital. The writer recently passed through
basement rooms that were closed to the
public not SO very long ago Then the
I floors were covered with slime and filth.
the walls were black with dirt and the
whole Hoor was piled high with rubbish
that made OF the old hospital buudtne