Evidences of Progress Among Colored PeopleRichings, G. F.
History
Evidences of Progress Among Colored People
Richings, G. F.
African Americans
Within the past eighteen months, Freedmen's Hospital, Washington, D.C.,
has been entirely reorganized. In the fall of 1894 the reorganization
began by instituting a training school for nurses. A competent
superintendent was had, and reorganization, reform and improvement went
hand in hand until the present time. Now, there is a training school
of forty nurses, all colored, selected from hundreds of applicants
and from every State in the Union. The work of the training school is
commended by everyone who takes the trouble to study it. Marked change
in every department of the institution was manifested by the advent
of these intelligent women, who brought new life and a new future to
the hospital. Instead of remaining a political institution, it was
converted, at once, into a scientific institution for the education and
upbuilding of the more progressive members who have selected this as
their life-work. You cannot overestimate the good that will come from
the education of the young men and women in this institution.
In connection with other features, a corps of internes has been added.
These are young graduates of medical colleges who are giving a service
of twelve months of practical work in the several departments of the
hospital. At the expiration of this service, they receive certificates
which commend them at once to the people in the communities in which
they are to reside.
In keeping with other lines of progress, an ambulance, with all the
modern improvements, has been added to the service within the last
year. This ambulance is complete in all its appointments, with the
quickest emergency service to any part of the city. This feature of
hospital work is one that has been neglected by colored people in this
country, and one which they are particularly adapted to succeed in.
It is a marvel to the observer of human affairs that this institution
has existed, for over twenty years, receiving an annual appropriation
of over fifty thousand dollars, without an ambulance in its service,
in a city like Washington, where a great many of the people are poor
and depend upon charity in cases of sickness and distress. This
ambulance makes as many as sixty or seventy-five emergency calls per
month, furnishing a rich field of surgical study to the internes and
nurses in the institution.
I have given in this sketch but a brief outline of the noble work of
Dr. Williams. I can testify to his ability as a physician, and I take
great pleasure in so doing. He is one of the cultured and polished
gentlemen who reflect credit on the race.
HOME FOR AGED AND INFIRM COLORED PERSONS.
The Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons, in West Philadelphia,
Pa., is one of the best institutions of the character in the United
States. The society, under whose auspices the home was founded, was
organized September 28, 1864, in a private dwelling on South Front
street.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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