Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/165

Rh devotion to the sick under his care. On April 19, 1848, Dr. E. Greene was appointed his successor. The largely increased hospital service, however, soon demanded the exclusive attention of a physician-in-chief, devoted solely to that duty. The former office of Superintendent and Physician was therefore divided. Dr. Theodore A. Tellkampf, in May, 1849, was appointed to the chief medical office, while Dr. Greene remained Superintendent of the Refuge Department, subordinate to the Physician-in-Chief in all matters respecting the sanitary and hygienic condition of the institution, as well as the economical affairs of the Hospital Department.

The institution was in a very bad condition, when, on June 6, 1849, Dr. Tellkampf took charge of the Hospital Department. He organized it with the efficient aid of the Ward's Island Committee, within a comparatively short time. Competent physicians, the majority of whom had been already assistant physicians or surgeons in other hospitals, were appointed. The places of incompetent orderlies and nurses were filled as speedily as possible by others, selected carefully from among the inmates of the hospital who had recovered. In order to secure an efficient corps of orderlies and nurses, they received monthly pay, after having been trained for their various duties. A head orderly and a matron were appointed.

The so-called contract system was abolished with great difficulty, but since its abolition all articles requisite for the Hospital, for instance, medicines, meat, milk, vegetables, etc., have been of the best quality. The wards were newly furnished, and iron bedsteads introduced. A hospital kitchen was arranged; though deficient in some respects, an experienced cook with two or three assistants managed to supply all the patients—gradually increasing from 600 to about 1000—with the best diet, in full, half, and quarter rations, as ordered.

The Croton water was introduced, and a wash-house built and furnished with all the modern improvements.

The various departments of the Hospital, namely, the Medical, Surgical, the Lying-in Department, and the Department for Diseases of Children, were meanwhile organized, each divided and subdivided; and all sick immigrants—curable as well as