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CTitle] Regulations for Interior Political and

Economic Government of Hospitals in the

Island of Cuba.
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[Historical Datal This document was compiled by Senor Don Nicolas Joes

Raspun at Havana, Cuba and is dted August 30, 1775. It was approved by

the king of Spain, at San Ildefonso, August 2, 1776. Four Hundred Copies

were ordered printed and it was ordered distributed throughout Spanish

American Colonies for government of all Royal Hospitals. A copy was
brought to St. Augustine, in 1783, where it was in force in the Royal

Hospital until 1821. The document consists in 157 numbered rules as

follow
Controller 1-22. Commissioner of Admissions 23

Steward 26-30 Chaplain 31-39 Medical Doctor 41-48

Surgeon 49-57 Chief Phqraoaist*qi Principal Interne 68-70
2nd Phariaoist 71-72 Internes 73 Wardrobe Keeper 74-81

Head of Ward 82-97 Morning Vistit of Medical Dootor 02

Morning Visit of Chief Surgeon 104-106 Afternoon Visit of

Medical Doctor 103 Afternoon Visti of Surgeon 108-109

Necessary Utensils 110-123. The remaining rules are for various

diets and rations and their preparation and service.
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IExamplesJ
1. The Controller, or he who exercises his functions, must be found

instructed in everything provided in these regulations, in order to

cause complete compliance, with the greatest exactitude, with all and

each one included. It is his duty to be jealous that each individual

pr:otice in his class, in the understanding that he rthe controller]

will be responsible. He must not dissimulfte in anything whatever, and

must promote whatever may be suitable to the better care and assistance






Hospital


of4the patients, as likewise to the greatest eoonom to the Royal Treasury.
15. He will cause the patients to be punished when they get drunk,
because of the detriment they are, now disturbing the patients, now
falling asleep and now disturbing the good routine and order which must
be had in the service of the Hospital.

22. He will give order to all the Internee that no one of then nay
out the hair of a soldier, who may be ill in the hospital, without
express positive orders from the Medical Doctor or Principal Surgeon, and
they will only authorize it to be done in necessary cases, beoouse of the
disfiguration which remains, notwithstanding that many usually request it,
sometimes with the object of not having to comb themselves, to which end
they pretend to have pains in their heads. Others, who have good hair,
are solicited by the servants, for their private ends, to remove it [on the
plea] that by cutting it the relief they desire will follow.
33. [ChaplainJ ... as soon as the patients enter the Hospital, and they
are assigned to the ward and beds in which they are to be located, the
Father Chaplain will visit then and exort them to confess themselves, for,
though the infirmity may not be grave,it may increase from one instant
to another, rebdering the senses torpid.
41. The Medical Doctor must visit the patients twice each day; it
being summer the first at five in the morning, the other at three in the
afternoon; and in winter, the first at six in the morning and the second
at two in the afternoon...."
58.[Principal PharmacistJ The hippy suooess of the Medical Doctor and
Surgeon subsists in the Pharmaouetioal Faculty, for with good selection and


ninate the illness...."
60. He will not let the time pass in which simple medicaments of thE
country, such as vegetables, flowers, fruite, h'bes,




Hospital


gtPs and stalks, and those in animals, are to be gathered, when they are
sopt healthy and nutritious.
77. [Wardrobe Keeperj He will take very special oare that the sheets
from consumptive, oancerous and scorbutio patients are not mixed with those
of other patients, arranging, without exception, that these, as well as
the shirts from these individuals, be washed separately to prevent con-
tagion. He will move the clothing in his charge, from time to time,
so that dampness, moth and rate do not damage it, arranging to have rat
traps with which to exterminate the latter.
96 CHead of WardJ He will be watchful, in proper manner, that from time
to time the beds are cleaned and washed to remove the bed bugs and other
insects that usually breed in them.
98 IMorning Visit] ... as soon as the Medical Doctor arrives at the
Hospital three strokes will be given on the bell and there will gather
in the Medical Ward a Pharmacist, an Interne in Surgery, a Head of Ward
and a nurse with a light. These, following the Medical Doctor, will do
that which he commands them.
125. Ordinary Rations This is composed of a pound of fresh beef, an
ounce of bacon, another of grbanzso (chiok peas), fourteen of bread and
half an ounoe of pork lard. The distribution will be carried out in the
following manner. With two ounces of brad and half an ounce of lard
the soup for breakfast will be made. Eight ounces of beef, half an ounce
of bacon, half an ounce of gqrbanzos and six ounces of bread will be set
aside for the mid-day meal and an equal quantity for supper.


An English translation of the document will run to about 10,000
words.

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