ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL. (Front.) THE LOCATION, ARRANGEMENT AND WORK OF ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTIVES EAST 143d STREET Between Brook and St. Ann’s Avenues NEW YORK UNDER THE CHARGE OF THE Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis. I j c 3V \ s MEDICAL AND SURGICAL STAFF OF ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL 1907 Physician in Chief: CHARLES M. CAULDWELL, M. D. Consulting Physicians: JOHN DORNING, M. D. FRANK E. MILLER, M. D. Physician in Charge: HENRY WOLLNER, M. D. Visiting Physicians : F. H. DILLINGHAM, M. D. H. L. SHIVELY, M. D. A. R. BRAUNLICH, M. D. J F. HOLMES, M. D. J. B. HUBER, M. D. J. B. MANNING, M. D. J. J. WHITE, M. D. J. H. LARKIN, M. D. J. J. MORRISSEY, M. D. J. L. DINNING, M. D. A. H. TRAVIS, M. D. J. J. DUNLEAVY, M. D. E. L. CORBETT, M. D. T. H. CURTIN, M. D. H. D. GOETCHIUS, M. D. Visiting Surgeons : W. J. FURNESS, M. D. E. M. FOOTE, M. D. \ M. J. SCHWERD, M. D., Laryngologist. C. H. McTLWAINE, M. 1)., Ophthalmologist. C. M. FISHER, D. D. S., Dentist. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/locationarrangemOOstjo ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL. (Side.) AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE FROM THE SISTERS OF THE POOR OF ST. FRANCIS. OW, after St. Joseph’s Hospital has fulfilled its mis¬ sion for a quarter of a century, our hearts revert with gratitude to Almighty God for His wonderful intervention in our behalf. Its inception was a providential manifesta¬ tion of His goodness, because when every door was closed against the consumptive the Lord sent an honored bene¬ factor, the late Mr. Thomas Earl, who furnished means with which to found the institution. We thankfully recall the many friends He has raised up to aid the cause both by personal service and financial assistance. One figure on our Medical Staff looms up in memory as the ever faithful and efficient friend of the poor and of the Sisters. He has been Chief of the Staff for all these years, and has earned and receives our prayers and our heartfelt gratitude. To ALL the other members of the Staff—some of whom have gone to their reward—we are, indeed, thankful for their valued labors. Among those who passed away while still serving the hospital were Drs. John H. Ripley, James W. Dunphy, Ogden C. Ludlow and Arnot Spence, all of whom were un¬ tiring workers for the cause of the sick poor. We recall with warmest gratitude the Committee of gen¬ erous gentlemen whom God sent us when the hospital was in dire need of funds, and who helped us in formulating and carrying out plans for raising money. We remember with sincere appreciation the many kind and helpful acts of the various City Officials with whom our work has continually brought us in touch. To our patrons, and to ALL who during the past twenty- five years have in various ways aided St. Joseph’s Hospital, we feel most deeply grateful, and pray that the dear Lord will bless them in this life and lead them into happiness eternal in the life beyond the grave. THE EAST GARDEN. A DESCRIPTION OF ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL BY THE PHYSICIAN IN CHIEF. HISTORY. More than twenty-five years ago “The Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis” found it impossible to care for the large number of consumptive poor who con¬ stantly sought admission to their general hospital in East Fifth street. These sufferers greatly excited the pity of the kindhearted Sisters, and indeed they de¬ served most sincere sympathy, as they were passed from one institution to another, slowly dying and vainly seeking a shelter, a resting place, a home! For this reason early in 1882 “St. Joseph’s Hospital for Consumptives” was opened in temporary quarters at No. 328 East 109th street. On the first of January, 1889, the present hospital building was finished, and at once filled with patients. SITUATION. It occupies the block between St. Ann’s and Brook avenues and 143d and 144th streets. The entrance is upon 143d street, one and one-half blocks east of the 143d Street Station of the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad, and seven blocks from the 149th Street Subway Station. BUILDINGS. The main building is a four story brick structure facing south, with east and west wings. It is lighted by gas and heated by steam radiators. There are three ele¬ vators. The ground floor is divided into reception rooms, sit¬ ting rooms, offices, examining rooms, drug rooms, several small wards and a few single rooms. The upper stories are each divided into five large wards, five small wards, a sitting room and a few single rooms. The balconies open from the wings and from the rear of the main buildings. The chapel and Sis¬ ters’ dormitories occupy a separate extension. In the rear of the main building is a house containing kitchen, laundry, dining and sewing rooms, with small wards for a limited number of arrested cases of consumption. Farther in the rear are the power house, stable and workshop. In the extreme northwest corner of the block is the mortuary, with a small funeral chapel, having a separate entrance on 144th street. This whole group of buildings is surrounded by a garden in THE CHAPEL. FEMALE which patients enjoy the sun and air in favorable weather. The eastern outlook of the hospital is upon St. Mary’s Park. NUMBER OF FREE BEDS. The hospital contains 400 beds, MORE than 300 of which are entirely free of charge to consumptives, and constantly occupied by the sick poor, who are admitted irrespective of nationality, race or religion. ADMITTED IN ALL STAGES OF THE DISEASE. Patients in all stages of consumption are received. When, however, they are found to be in the first stage an effort is made to place them in suitable surround¬ ings, out of town, at as early a date as possible. The great majority of the patients do not apply until the disease is advanced. In a certain proportion of these cases the progress of the malady becomes arrested during their stay in the hospital, and they are able to return home and resume work. Nevertheless, it is always necessary to reserve a number of wards for those in whom the disease is so far advanced that improvement is entirely out of the question, and only religious consolation can be given, and relief from suffering administered during their last days. NUMBER OF PATIENTS TREATED. As will be seen by the following table about 1,700 patients are now cared for each year. Of this num¬ ber more than one-third are received in the final stage of the disease. Table showing number of patients treated each year since the opening of the institution. Year. No. Treated. Year. No. Treated 1882 . . 161 1895 . .1,888 1883 . . 191 1896 . .1,383 1884 . . 255 1897 . .1,588 1885 . . 331 1898 . .. 1,556 1886 . . 304 1899 . .1,704 1887 . . 300 1900 . ... 1,606 1888 . . 261 1901 . .1,699 1889 . .1,054 1902 . .1,683 1890 . .1,085 1903 . .1,680 1891 . .1,158 1904 . .1,707 1892 . .1,190 1905 . .1,699 1893 . .1,596 1906 . .1,794 1894 . .1.675 Patients are referred to the institution by various dis¬ pensaries, private hospitals, sanitoria, charitable or¬ ganizations, the Departments of Health and Out-Door MALE WARD. THE CHILDREN’S WARD. Poor, and also by physicians, clergymen, settlement workers, trained nurses and ex-patients. NATIONALITY. Of the patients admitted, nearly one-half are native born, one-quarter Irish and one-eighth German. The remainder are natives of England, Italy, Russia, France, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, etc. RELIGION. Religious belief among the patients is divided in the following proportions: Three-fourths are Catholics, one-fifth Protestants and one-twentieth Elebrews. SEX. Of the patients treated two-thirds are male and one- third female. AGE. As is not unusual in institutions for consumptives the large majority of the patients are between twenty and forty years of age. CIVIL CONDITION. About four-sevenths of the patients are single, two- sevenths married, and one-seventh widowed. OCCUPATION. The following occupations are most frequently rep¬ resented in the order mentioned: Domestics, labor- ers, housewives, seamstresses, clerks, drivers, car¬ penters, painters, waiters, tailors, shoemakers, cooks, stone cutters, bakers, butchers and nurses. SUPPORT OF THE HOSPITAL. St. Joseph’s Hospital has no endowment fund, and is, with the exception of the appropriation from the City, entirely dependent for its support upon the gen¬ erosity of its benefactors and the voluntary offerings of a charitable public. SPREAD OF CONSUMPTION PREVENTED. Apart from the individual good which the consump¬ tives derive from hospital care and instruction in the proper mode of living, the disposal of sputa, etc., an incalculable benefit is conferred upon the public at large, as well as on the families and associates of these invalids, by removing them to a place where they cease to scatter the germs of their disease— cease to be “centres of infection”—and where they no longer hamper the wage-earning members of their families. By many familiar with the subject, this is considered the most important work accomplished by such institutions as St. Joseph’s Hospital. RELATIVES INSTRUCTED. An attempt is made to inform the relatives, as well as the patients, as to the proper means of prevent- SMALL WARD. ing the spread of consumption. The admirable cir¬ culars of the Department of Health are systemat¬ ically distributed with this end in view. PATIENTS DIRECTED TO SPECIAL DISPENSARIES. In order that improvement may continue, patients who have sufficiently recovered to return to their homes are referred for further advice and treatment to one of the several dispensaries conducting special departments for consumptives. PRIVATE ACCOMMODATIONS. * As has been stated, the hospital is conducted for the benefit of the consumptive poor, and only a very few beds are reserved for private patients. VISITING DAYS. The patients’ friends may visit them on Sundays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 4:30 in the after¬ noon. ADMISSION. Application for admission should be made to the Sis¬ ter Superior either personally or through a friend. It must be accompanied by a note from the patient’s physician, stating the nature of the disease. As there is usually a waiting list, application must always be made BEFORE the patient is sent to the hospital. SINGLE ROOM. form of Bequest. I give and bequeath the sum of.dollars to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in charge of “The Sisters of the Poor of Saint Francis,” and located on One Hundred and Forty- third Street between St. Ann’s Avenue and Brook Avenue in the City of New York.