The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-22 00:00:00

PROPOSED INSTITUTION FOR

INCURABLES.

On Saturday, at 2 o'clock, a very numerous and
influential meeting of gentlemen was held at the
Mansion-house, with the view to found in the neigh-
bourhood of the metropolis an institution for the
suitable reception and care of the numerous and un-
happy class of persons afflicted with incurable ma-
ladies. The Lord Mayor acted as chairman. There
were present, among others, the Marquis Towns-
hend, Lord Raynham, the Hon, Col. Cust, Mr. G.
Moore, Mr. R. C. L. Bevan, &c. From an autho-
rised statement laid before the meeting it appears
that in England and Wales 270 hospitals and other
institutions exist at the present time for the cure of
disease, by whose agency an incalculable amount
of suffering and misery is from time to time re-
lieved. In England, of three only out of the many
forms of incurable disease, 80,000 persons die an-
nually; 5,500 of cancer, 9,800 of dropsy, and 64,000
of tubercular diseases; and of these it is estimated
that 50,000 are absolutely destitute. If to these
be added the victims of other forms of incurable
disease the number becomes appalling. For a
large proportion of these most afflicted of the hu-
man race there is no hope and no aid. The hospitals
established for general relief discharge those
found to le incurable, in order to make room for
others whose cases afford hope of cure. No one,
it was further stated, can really ' estimate,
and few can realise, even in a faint degree, the vast
amount of suffering and misery almost withdrawn
from public notice. Without hope—frequently
without the power of performing the most ordinary
offices for themselves—amid days of wretchedness,
and nights of agonizing pain, these sad sufferers
are in truth a burden to their friends, who, fre-
quently, are almost as helpless and poor as them-
selves. To meet this great and crying want there
exists but one hospital in England, and that of re-
cent date.' It requires no argument, it was said, to
prove that no single establishment can possibly
meet such urgent need; and it is therefore intended
to establish another Home for the reception of In-
curables, but not for such as are fit objects for paro-
chial relief. For this class provision is, in come
measure, made by the parish rates ; 'and a society
has recently been formed whieh purposes to provide
such further aid for Workhouse incurables as their
cases may admit of. The plan proposed is—first,
to establish a Home for the reception of those who
are absolutely destitute and apparently incurable,
in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis, and
within the reach of that amiable and estimable class
of the community whose time and energies are de-
voted to the consolation of the afflicted ; and, se-
condly, to grant pecuniary assistance and medical
aid to those who are incurable, but not wholly
destitute, in order that the latter may continue to
reside with their friends or relations who would
further assist them. The Lord Mayor having, in a
few introductory remarks, earnestly recommended
23. e objects in view to the meeting, called upon Mr.
Bevan, who moved a resolution to the effect that the
great deficiency of institutions for aiding persons
suffering from incurable diseases
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energy and of known reputation for benevolence
and integrity. Mr. George Moore,
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merchant, of Cheapside, read to the meeting some
statistics relating to the Royal HOspital for Incur-
ables, near Croydon, which he with Dr. Reid and
other gentlemen took an active part in establishing
about seven (care 5.8•3, to show the utter incapacity
of a single institution to cope with the continually
increasing pressure for admission by this unhappy
class of the community. Of 30 candidates at the
first election seven years ago 6 were elected ; of 44
at the second, 6 were elected ; of 52 at the third, 8.;
of 87 at the fourth, 10; and so on, At each of the