Texas on the Eve of the 111exican Revoltttion
First lzospital in Texas. Mission Valero, the first to be founded and the first to be secularized, was also the first to have a hospital in Texas. When Cordero brought the first large contingent of soldiers to protect the remote province from the threatened invasion of the land-hungry frontiersmen, he was obliged to establish a military hospital. A part of the abandoned mission was reconditioned at a cost of 352.50 pesos, and on January 1, 1806, the first patients were admitted. 9 It was the estab- lishment of the hospital that brought the young Doctor Frederick Zerban from New Orleans to San Antonio. The staff consisted of Francisco Amangual, superintendent, and Doctor Frederick Zerban, physician and surgeon. An orderly was detailed to act as hospital steward, and a cook and one servant were hired. A weekly allowance of two reales (25 cents) was made for each patient. 10 Amangual found the position of superin- tendent incompatible with his military duties and resigned shortly after his appointment. Timothy Nemesio, a citizen of San Antonio, took his place. Orders were immediately issued to the commandants on the eastern frontier to send all serious and chronic cases to the hospital for treat- ment.11 It will be remembered that malaria had almost decimated the Nacogdoches troops. Unfortunately we do not have the complete records on the nature of the cases or the number of patients treated during the first seven months. But the requisition sent by Francisco Amangual for expenses incurred in hospitalizing the soldiers during the first nine months may give some idea of the number of patients treated. Their bill came to 516.37 pesos. We do know, however, that there were forty- two patients in the hospital in September, 1806, and that the physician had reported a shortage of essential drugs. Steward Lazaro Orranti com- plained that he was unable to take care of the patients without assistance and demanded either the appointment of additional help or a salary increase. His pay was insignificant enough--only eight pesos a month, and room and board. He was given a two-peso raise, which was charged to the food account. Whether or not this action affected the quantity or quality of food served we do not know. The services of others had been secured in the meantime, another soldier to help the orderly, and two 9 Report on expenditures for hospital, December 16, 1806. Be:rar ArcJiiv11. The blll was paid out of the Mesteiia Fund. 1 ocordero to N. Salcedo, January 11 1 1806. Bexar ArcJih,1s. llSebastian Rodriguez to Cordero, January 13, 1806. Bixar ArcJiiv11.
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