REPORT

UPON

THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM.

FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL, Washington, October 13, 1877

SIR: I have the honor to transmit the annual report of the Freedmen's Hospital and Asylum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, as follows: The whole number of patients in hospital and asylum during the year was seven hundred and sixty-three, (763,) viz:

Remaining in hospital and asylum at date of last annual report...
Admitted to hospital during the year, viz: Males, colored...
Admitted to the hospital during the year, viz: Females, colored....
Born, males..

Born, females

Whole number of colored

Admitted to hospital during the year, viz: Males, white.
Admitted to hospital during the year, viz: Females....

Born, males

Born, females

Whole number of white...

Total number admitted to hospital.

Total number treated and supported in hospital and asylum.

Of the above patients there were discharged cured...

Discharged relieved..

Died....

Still-born

263

183

145

25

18

371

105

21

1

2

129

500

763

265

100

109

12

486

277

Remaining in hospital and asylum June 30, 1877.

The Colored Orphans' Home and Asylum, containing about 115, children and attendants, has been furnished with medicines and medical attendance during the year, and subsistence has been furnished to 25 of them, who are included in the aggregate number of this hospital.

Besides the above, over three thousand prescriptions have been dispensed to the poor who are constantly calling at this hospital for medical aid.

The large number of deaths in proportion to the number treated is accounted for by the character of the cases received. Some who are attacked by disease continue to labor as long as they are able, and then provide for themselves till their scanty means are exhausted, after which they come to the hospital to die; others, finding themselves affected with an incurable disease, give up all hope, cease all effort, and come to the hospital for medical aid and the comforts of a home till relieved by death.

Fifty cases of the 500 admitted to hospital were consumption, most of which necessarily prove fatal in this class of patients.

The twenty-eight and a half per cent. of still-births is readily accounted for by the fact that the mother in each case was badly diseased, or had tampered with herself in order to obtain premature relief from her offspring. Four of the 42 births were cases of twins.

The nativity of the patients admitted to hospital was as follows:

The diseases and conditions for which the patients were admitted were

The appropriation for the support of this hospital for the last fiscal year was $45,000, and the number of days of support afforded to patients was about 98,000, which shows the daily cost of each patient for subsistence, medical attendance, and clothing to a part of them, to be less than 46 cents per day.

The necessity for the continuance of this hospital is manifest from the constantly-increasing number of applications for the admission of persons suffering from accidents and wounds and from severe diseases. The location of the hospital is central and healthy. Many of the patients are non-residents, who must be provided for somewhere by the General Government when they fall sick within the District.

Agreeably to instructions from the honorable Secretary of the Interior, under date of August 17, 1877, I have prepared and submit herewith an estimate of the cost of establishing a bakery on the hospital grounds, to the end that the bread may be furnislied at a less price. (See inclosure marked "A.") And, as recommended in the same communication, I have asked for a "board of survey for the purpose of condemning such articles as may be of no further use."

The rent of the hospital building and grounds, which has been heretofore established at $4,000 per annum, is limited by the terms of appropriation for the support of this hospital for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1877, to $2,000, and the lessor, i. e., the trustees of Howard University, have, through their president, addressed a communication to the honorable Secretary of the Interior on the subject, which is herewith transmitted. (See inclosure marked "B.")

The bill making appropriation for the support of this hospital for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1877, itemizes the expenditures in such a way that the usefulness of the institution is very much impaired. It appropriates specific amounts for specified purposes, which in some instances is too much and in others not enough. The bill appropriates $2,500 for medicines and medical supplies, which is 50 per cent. above the amount ever used for that purpose; but it makes no provision for payment of laundresses, watchmen, steward, house physician, or clerk, without the employment of which the main object of the appropriation would be almost entirely defeated. It is impossible to determine in advance just what amount will be required for each separate object of expenditure.

It is respectfully recommended that the whole amount be appropriated so that it can be expended under the direction and according to the discretion of the honorable Secretary of the Interior, or under a board of visitors to be appointed by him.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. S. PALMER, M. D.,

Surgeon-in-Chief.

A.

Estimate of the cost of baking bread for this hospital on a basis of 350 barrels of flour per year and at the price of $7.50 per barrel.

A barrel of flour weighs 196 pounds. It will make, according to the estimate of bakers, 246 loaves of bread weighing one pound each. If a baker takes the barrel of flour and returns 196 pound-loaves, he receives $1.52 for baking one barrel of flour, and for baking 350 barrels he receives $532 per annum.

The cost of baking the same bread on the premises would be: for a good baker, for wages and board, $40 per month; for fuel and other expenses about $8 per month moге, or $48 per month; which for a year would be $576.

The cost of a bakery would be, as per estimate inclosed, about $340. Thus it appears that the present plan of baking the bread is more advantageous than baking it ourselves.

Respectfully submitted.

G. S. PALMER, M. D.,
Surgeon-in-Chief.

Dr. PALMER, in charge of Freedmen's Hospital:

WASHINGTON, D. C., October 7, 1877.

DEAR SIR: I have the honor to state that I have made an estimate for a bake-bouse to be erected at Freedmen's Hospital, viz: A one-story building, 14 by 18; height of ceiling from floor to be 9 feet in clear; to be built of bricks, with an oven inside, to be also built of bricks, 5 by 7 in clear inside, with an iron door in front 18 by 24 inches, opening; to be one door to front and four windows, say 9 by 12 = 12 lights, with outside blinds; to be a good floor; walls and ceiling to be plastered and hard finish; all woodwork to be inted 3 coats of good paint, paint, of any color; to be a tin roof, with gutters and spouts to rear of roof; to be a good box made, of good size, to mix bread, and a good strong table, made of good clear white pine; and will do all the above work and furnish all materials for the sum of three hundred and forty dollars, ($340.)

Very respectfully,

G. LACOMBE, Carpenter and Builder.

B.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY, Washington, D. C., October 5, 1877.

DEAR SIR: As president of Howard University and representative of the important pecuniary and educational interests connected with it, I would draw your attention to the fact that the amount appropriated by the last Congress for the rent of the buildings and grounds of the Freedmen's Hospital was but $2,000 per annum, whereas the rent has been $4,000 heretofore, which was a very low rate for the property, which, exclusive of the land, cost over $100,000. The continuance of the just rent is of great importance to the University, and our treasurer has receipted at the rate appropriated by Congress only under protest, as it were, and with the purpose to seek proper relief, which we would do through you as the head of the Department immediately concerned.

May I therefore be allowed respectfally to request that you will make such representation of the case to Congress as will secure the additional appropriation needed to make out the full rent?

With high respect, I have the honor to remain your obedient servant,

WM. W. PATTON,

President of Howard University.

HON. CARL SCHURZ,

Secretary of the Interior.

COLUMBIA HOSFITAL FOR WOMEN AND LYING-IN ASYLUM.

MEDICAL STAFF.

Resident Physician and Surgeon in Charge.

P. J. MURPHY, M. D.

ADVISORY AND CONSULTING BOARD OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.