Medicine, with many rare treatises on Botany, and other branches of Natural History. Students have the privilege of using this splendid collection, while attending the Hospital practice; and a right to its use during life is granted for the sum of twenty-five dollars. This library fund amounts annually to 3 or 400 dollars; last year $576 62, were paid for books and binding. The Clerk is also Librarian. The six physicians and surgeons having charge of the medical and surgical departments, divide the year into three equal periods, one physician and one surgeon attending at the same time, and continuing in charge of their respective wards four months. The two physicians having charge of the lying-in department, continue in office six months each. In extraordinary cases, and before the performance of surgical operations, it is usual for the gentleman in attendance to hold consultation with his colleagues. A physician to the Hospital must be 27 years of age before he can be elected. An extensive Anatomical Museum formerly belonged to the Hospital, which was a few years since presented to the Medical department of the University. The following is a list of the Physicians and Surgeons from the commencement of the institution. Lloyd Zachary Thomas Cadwallader Elected. 1751 Res'gd. Duration. 45 up'd. Phineas Bond Thomas Græme 1753 2 1777 26 Saml. Preston Moore John Redman Wm. Shippen Cadwallader Evans John Morgan Charles Moore 1759 8 1780 29 1753. 1778 25 1759 1774. 15 1774 1777 3 1774 1775 1 6 1 Thomas Parke 1777 1823 1. MODE OF OBTAINING ADMISSION. The usual mode of obtaining admission into the Hospital is, by first applying to one of the physicians in attendance; who, after examining the patient, gives a certificate of the nature of the disease, and the propriety of its admission into the Hospital; this is addressed to the attending managers, who settle the terms of admission, and grant their order, directing the Steward of the Hospital to receive the patient. This course is only departed from in two cases-that of seamen, who, by a special agreement, after receiving a certificate from the physician, have only to obtain the order of the Collector of the Port,-and in cases of accident, it being a rule to receive, by day or night, every person who meets with an accident requiring surgical aid, without requiring any security of the parties who bring the patient to the Hospital;-provided the accident occurs in Pennsylvania, and the sufferer is brought immediately or within twenty-four hours. Overseers of the poor from the country, who bring a patient, must have a certificate signed by two magistrates, denoting that they are in office, and the pauper proposed for admission resides in their district, or their application will be rejected. Persons with infectious diseases are not to be re-ceived. The charter of this institution provides, that no part of its income shall be appropriated to any other purpose, than to the support of the sick and diseased poor, and providing the necessary buildings for their accommodation; and that those whose diseases render them proper objects of the charity, shall be received from any part of Pennsylvania, without partiality or preference. After the accommodation of as many poor patients as the state of their funds will justify, the Managers have authority to receive pay patients; any profit derived from this source being devoted to increase the fund for the maintenance of the poor. The rates usually charged are from three to six dollars per week, according to the circumstances of the patient. The amount received last year for the board of patients was $21,328 62. Pay patients are not admitted on a deposit of money, or on the responsibility of strangers, the only security accepted, is that of some respectable resident in Philadelphia. At their own desire, patients may be attended, exclusively, by either of the Hospital physicians they prefer, but in such cases it is expected that the affluent will pay Resident Physicians at this time-James A. Washing- the physicians as though attended elsewhere. ton, and George Fox. Apothecary-Newberry Smith, Jr. PERSONS EMPLOYED ABOUT THE HOUSE. The overseers of the poor of Pennnsylvania, and religious societies therein, who support the poor by their own voluntary subscriptions, pay but three dollars a The officers and servants residing in this institution, week, which is about the first cost of one person's main cept those afflicted with insanity; and it is imperative upon them to discharge all patients, who after a reasonable time of trial, may be deemed incurable. The number at present received at one time on the charity, is one hundred, of whom thirty-three may be insane. It has been found necessary to limit the proportion of insane poor, on account of the length of time they frequently remain in the house. The whole number of patients admitted into the Hospital, from its opening, February 11, 1752, to April 26, 1828, was twenty-five thousand and seventy, of whom 12,752 were poor, and 12,318 pay patients. Of these have been discharged 150 Removed by friends, or at their request Eloped and discharged for misconduct, Pregnant women delivered safely Infants taken out in health Cynanche Tonsilaris Deafness Debility Diabetes Diarrhea Diseased Bladder Glands Rectum 12 Ophthalmia of bladder 4 Pectoral and pulmo nary affections 293 24 Pneumonia Spine Spleen Testicles 32 Polypus Uterus 10 Prolapsus Ani Joints 314 Uteri Heart Ears Eyes 238 Rheumatism Gutta Serena Dislocations Dropsy Dysentery Dyspepsia Dysury Epilepsy 109 Spasms Eruptions Erysipelas Exostosis Febris Biliosa 12 Sprains 143 Strangury 26 Sore throat 781 Splenitis 233 Tetanus 10 Tinea Capitis 529 477 1962 23 THE LYING-IN DEPARTMENT. 3 A part of the third story is appropriated to this use. Ordinarily there are in it 50 per anm. During the last year 28-children were born in the house. None but married women, of respectable character, are admitted 87 here; other classes being referred to the alms-house.This ward is an extremely neat and beautiful set of rooms, 222 with a fine exposure; and is a situation much sought af314 ter by women of that description when in difficult cir11 cumstances. It owes its origin to a donation from the 10 First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry. The history 7 of this donation is highly curious, and honorable to the 12 donors. After the termination of the war of the revolution, in which this body acted, as is well known, as a life-guard to Washington, and after many delays, they received a sum of money as the amount of their pay from the government for military services; this they first resolved to appropriate to the establishment of a found212 ling hospital. After some time, it was proposed to de61 posit it in the charge of the managers of the Pennsyl79 vania Hospital for the same use. This body were, how64 ever, disinclined to such a foundation, in consequence 2 of the distressing accounts which were then transmitted 8 from Europe, of the mortality which took place in such 4 institutions there. A law had been obtained authorising 38 the managers to institute a "Lying-in and Foundling 5 Hospital," but after several conferences between them 8 and the representatives of the First Troop, it was finally 4 concluded to omit the foundling establishment, and the 14 lying-in rooms were opened as at present. 89 Flava 18 304 The late Thomas Leiper, Esq. of this city, contem plated, in 1790, a canal along his estate in Delaware county, in order to complete an easy communication between his quarries on Crum creek, and the DelaHis views were not perfectly comprehended by the legislature at that time, and he found himself foiled in his attempt. In 1807 he caused a rail road—the first in this country-to be constructed from his quarries to Ridley creek. In 1825, since the death of Mr. Leiper, his son Geo. G. Leiper, Esq. revived the idea proposed by his father-and on Saturday the 16th inst. the corner stone of the canal was laid, by Wm. Strickland, Esq. with an appropriate address from Professor Patterson, of this city. A large concourse of citizens, as we gather from the Upland Union, attended the ceremony, among whom was Mrs. Elizabeth C. Leiper, the aged widow of the gentleman who had proposed the canal.-U. S. Gaz. Printed every Saturday morning by William F. Geddes, No. 59 Locust street, Philadelphia; where, and at the Editor's residence, No. 51 Filbert street, subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price five dollars per annum-payable in six months after the commencement of publication-and annually, thereafter, by subscribers resident in or near the city-or where there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance. REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD, NO. 51, FILBERT STREET. 48 42 1822 33 32 1823 48 38 1824 43 33 2 1 3632 22 19 4 44 43 4152 31 32 35 32 37 41 27 25 1825 41 43 3 1826 30 27 1 1 1827 38 35 1 1828 48 42 4 1 37 32 4 42 2 1 1 3 2 35 Remaining in the Hospital April 26th, 1828. The greater part of the patients sleep in separate cells-many of the men, however, pass the night in large rooms, in company with each other, and with at1 tendants. At an early hour, they are taken to a common breakfast, and they then repair, if the weather be suitable, to their court-yard, if otherwise, to the dayroom, where they continue, with the exception of meals, till sun set, when they are reconducted to their sleeping rooms. The sexes, throughout the whole day, are kept separate. We here speak only of the ordinary patients. Some are permitted the liberty of the whole Of the above women 5 had twins-4 were discharged portion of the house, devoted to patients of this class— with their children in health, but in the other instance and of a separate yard, denominated the convalescent both the children died.-C. M. was delivered on the 10th yard-a small number of others, being selected from of April 1819 of 3 children, 2 of whom were still born among those who are supposed the most to regard and and the other died shortly afterwards-the same woman be benefitted by such an indulgence, have a separate was again admitted in the early part of the year 1821 table, at which the female superintendant of this departand was delivered of one child, which was discharged ment preides. This is found to be both highly gratiin health. It is impossible to ascertain the exact num-fying to their feelings, and beneficial in reducing their ber of still-born children, as these cases have not been minds to a more tranquil state. recorded (except occassionally,) I have only found notices of 11. W. G. M. OUT PATIENTS. Much pains have been taken at different times, to obtain suitable and sufficient employment for the pa tients of this description-but the situation of the hos pital prevents this being done to the same extent that it We have said on page 91 that out patients were sup- might if the establishment were in the country. Conplied with medicines and attended by the Hospital phy-veniences in this respect are among the most important sicians gratuitously. This continued to be the case un-advantages of a country situation. Some of the men til May 1817, when the practice was discontinued in consequence of the establishment of the northern and southern dispensaries. The following table shows the number of patients attended from 1798 to that period. The accounts kept of them previously are irregular. VOL. II. 14 are employed, however, about the business of the house, thus all the ordinary carpenter's work which is no inconsiderable amount, was, till lately performed by a patient. It is in the female department, however, that this design is most completely fulfilled, nearly all who are capable of it being employed, during a portion of the day, at needle-work. ence for support has ever been upon the generous be nevolence of private citizens. The use of metallic chains is forbidden-the substitute for them, employed when necessary, being compo-est of the capital stock loaned to various individuals on sed of links of strong bend-leather, with Sellers and Pennock's patent hose rivets, an extremely well contrived apparatus-the large strait-jacket is almost universally replaced by several ingenious substitutes-and visiters are, excluded, except those of a suitable class, and these accompanied by proper conductors. Personal confinement, in the Pennsylvania Hospital, when necessary, is generally by means of straps, buckling over the arms, of sleeves inclosing the whole hand, and loosely fastened at the end to a waistband, so as in both instances to admit of as great freedom of motion as possible; and of the improved leather chains, mentioned above. The comfort of the individual confir.ed is greatly increased by these simple contrivances, espe cially by the last, which prevents the distressing sound of iron chains. The only punishment, as such, is sube jection to a shower-bath. The number who require confinement by chains, or on whom clothes cannot be kept, is extremely small indeed; frequently only one or two being in the former, and none in the latter predica ment. A carriage and pair of horses are kept for the use of the patients; money for their purchase and support having been bequeathed by Dr. Samuel Cooper, formerly a resident physician in the Hospital. Another horse is kept for the marketing and other necessary uses of the establishment; and twelve cows for a supply of milk to the patients: these derive the principal part of their support from the adjacent lots, the property of the institution. The provisions furnished to the inmates of the Hospital are of the best quality; the common diet is plain but nutritious, and in necessary cases, delicacies and wines are freely administered, on their prescription by the physicians. It being a recognized maxim that, while nothing may be administered merely to pamper the appetite, nothing shall be spared which can contribute to the recovery of health. a Every patient on the first and the upper floor has drawer, in a bureau, for his clothes, the use of a rug by the bed side, and a comfortable bed and bedding. Curtains are not employed, from a fear of their impeding the circulation of air and harbouring dirt and insects.The custom of the country being also against it, it is a Juxury which few or none of the patients have ever previously possessed in the course of their lives. The floors of these rooms, as of the whole house, are covered with white sand; and when this is done, as is often the casa in ornamental figures, it produces a peculiarly neat effect. Machine beds, with improvements, have been, for many years, in constant employment for all the patients with fractures of lower extremities, sometimes to the number of five or six at a time. There are also other conveniences for the patients, on which we shall not enlarge. The only fixed revenue of the institution is the interbonds and mortgages, and invested in ground rents. This amounts to about ten thousand dollars per annum. The following statement derived from the published ac counts for 1827, will exhibit the different sources of its receipts, although from various circumstances these must differ every year: Balance on hand 1826, Board of pay patients, Clothing, Funeral expenses, Sundries 21,328,62 222,17 158,05 66,88 222,00 39,85 23,563,86 655,42 West's painting visitors 822, pamphlets 31,96, A sum to be returned if called for 2000,00 $43,509,09 Hospital is sufficiently wealthy; but these should reflect By some it may be supposed that the Pennsylvania that the buildings would yet accommodate many poor patients and that this is their primary destination-add to this that the managers of the institution have long had in view, the necessity of providing funds for the erection of a separate asylum for the insane. While this important object remains unaccomplished, it is hoped that the wealthy and charitable will not, in the disposition of their estates, pass by the Pennsylvania Hospital; or, considering it as already independent, leave it but a testimonial of their respect. The want of an asylum for the insane, founded upon a liberal scale, with the advantage of the increased light which modern science has shed on the history of the human intellect, is more urgent than any one who has not deeply investi gated the subject, can imagine. And those who shall lay its foundation under the benign auspices of the char ter of this noble charity, will rank deservedly high, not merely among the contributors to the Pennsylvania Hos. pital, but on the roll of distinguished benefactors to their countrymen and species. corporate name, viz. to "The Contributors to the PennIt is necessary that legacies should be given in the An amputation of a limb is not to be performed, unless the patient consents to it; nor then, unless the phy-sylvania Hospital.” sicians agree to it, after a consultation on the case. The sick, especially the stranger, finds it his interest to prefer the hospital to any tavern, or boarding-house, for many reasons: First, because the physicians are of the most eminent. Secondly, the nurses, are the most experienced. Thirdly, the apartments are the most convenient. Fourthly, the price of board is lower than any individual can take; and Lastly, the patient has the satisfaction to know, if there is any profit it is given to the poor. |