Report on the state of the lying-in hospitals, in Europe : to the managers of the Preston Retreat, and to the Obstetrical Committee of the College of Physicians / by James Bryan.

  • Bryan, James, 1810-1881.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the state of the lying-in hospitals, in Europe : to the managers of the Preston Retreat, and to the Obstetrical Committee of the College of Physicians / by James Bryan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    demic puerperal fever but once. No other hospital that I have visit* ed, can boast of so long an exemption from spreading disease. I was, therefore, anxious to know the reasons of this exemption. The position of the house is elevated ; some distance from the river, and built on a sandy soil. It is not crowded with buildings in its neigh- bourhood, but has much open space around, and a free circulation of air. The number of beds is fifty; and the wards are like ordinary chambers of a comfortable dwelling. They are well furnished ; the floors are carpeted, and every means seems to be adopted to secure cleanliness, comfort, and perfect quiet. A resident matron of very superior intelligence, has control of all the domestic affairs, and attends to the patients; educates female pupils, who receive a diploma from her, signed by the physicians of the institution. She receives flfty guineas per annum salary from the subscribers, besides twelve guineas from each of her pupils, two of whom only she is permit- ted to have at one time. The usual number of cases is about 400 per annum, and are married women only. She has under her three day nurses, and two night nurses. And as servants, she has two laundry maids, one cook, one house maid, and a man to run errands ; all of whom receive good wages. During my stay in London, and for some time previous, one or two of the Lying-in Hospitals were closed on account of epidemic disease ; this one, however, remained open and in active operation. Having now gone over the greater part of the field of my ob- servations, and finding that my report is longer than I anticipated, I must here bring it to a close. The Board will at once see, by what has been said, that the Lying-in Hospitals of Europe, at the same time that they have many things which might be adopted with ad- vantage by ourselves, have also many others growing out of the state of society, and their political and religious institutions, which would not be appropriate to the state of society in the United States. It is well, however, to know both the good and the bad, that we may be able to judge and select for ourselves. I bus far, our public charities and other institutions have kept pace with the improve- ments of the age; and Europe has already condescended to examine and imitate some of our public buildings. I have no doubt indeed, but that the good sense, with that practical talent, which so eminently