p. 20 | The Washington Sanitarium by H. W. Miller, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 18, 1915

The Washington Sanitarium

By H. W. Miller, M. D.

For some time the Washington Sanitarium has enjoyed an unusually good patronage; and judging from the reasons given us for so many coming to our institution, it is because of the good name that the Sanitarium is receiving here in the East through its former patients. Since the Sanitarium has discontinued taking mental patients, the number of well-to-do persons coming to the Sanitarium for recuperation and health is increasing. The best rooms in the institution have all been occupied, and our nurses have been heavily taxed in caring for our large number of guests.

The training school is now operating a full three-year course, having fourteen nurses in the freshman class, ten in the junior class, and six in the senior class, making a total of thirty nurses in training. In addition we are employing some graduate nurses in conjunction with our city treatment rooms and city hospital. The number of nurses that are being used in private homes here in Washington and the surrounding vicinity is gradually growing, and it looks as if we should be compelled to do more in the training of nurses than heretofore, as our work begins to come more prominently before the people in this populous section of our country.

The sanitarium-trained nurse is coming to be recognized as one whose training is superior to that of the hospital nurse.

and our nurses have before them great possibilities in creating an influence favorable to our denominational and medical work. We have been greatly encouraged by the work that our graduate nurses have been doing in homes and in the communities in which they have been nursing. It is greatly to be hoped that the nurses of this denomination shall in some way be connected with our several medical institutions, if not working directly under their employment, at least be working in sympathy and in cooperation with them.

The recent reports of the progress of our work during the interval between our Sanitarium annual constituency meeting held last May and the one held in February this year, show that the patronage of the institution had made a little increase during this period over that of the last few years, and that there was an increasing amount of surgical work coming to the Sanitarium. During the past nine months ninety-four persons were operated on at the Sanitarium, all of whom made good recovery. The Sanitarium has installed a new anesthesia outfit, using nitrous oxide at the beginning of the operation, which cuts short the period of unconsciousness in every operation from fifteen minutes to one-half hour.

The Washington Sanitarium, in an attempt to broaden its field as an educator in health and temperance, has undertaken the publication of an eight-page journal, called The Sanitarium Exponent. This paper is well illustrated. It deals especially with health problems and health reform in language that is readily understood by the laity, and we believe members of our church will find its pages not only interesting, but well worth their time to read. The subscription price is but 25 cents a year. Sample copies of this paper will be gladly sent to any one sending a request for the same.

Each day from fifteen to twenty persons receive treatment, examination, and consultation at our city treatment room, which, though in operation but a few months, is showing remarkable signs of prosperity.

Our city hospital has been doing a splendid work. A daily average of from fifteen to twenty of the poorest people of Washington receive care and treatment there at the nominal rate of ten cents a treatment. This little institution, which is very neatly kept, has several private rooms and three large wards. where patients are received who cannot afford the prices required to maintain them at a sanitarium. The rates are within the reach of nearly every one, being but a dollar a day. Some of our people are taking advantage of this institution, which we have established for the purpose of giving to all classes the very best care possible.

H. W. MILLER, M. D.