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 be 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amount of suffering and misery almost withdrawn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.7--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- I
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 some
ineasurei made
by
seusscehsfnmrtahyeradmit f
the parish rates ; and a society
has recently
been formed which purposes to provide
or workhouse incurables as their
to establish a Rome for
ar© absolutely destitutre and plan proposed is—first,
the reception of those who
( apparently incurable,
in the immediate vicinityioaf
amiable
metropolis, and
within the reach of that ani
of the community whose time leanadnd estimable class
e.nergioets awrheoll
a
de-
voted to the consolation of the afflicted ; and, se-
condly, to grant pecuniary assistance and medical
aid to those who are incurable, bet n
destitute, in order that the latter may continue toy
reside with their friends or relations who would
further assist them. The Lord Mayor having, in a
few introductory remarks, earnestly recommended
forg persons
e ffort s
the objects in view to the meeting, calledcupon thMre.
Bevan, who moved a resolution to the effect that
greatsuffeirdnegfi
fromcie deficiency y
incurableof
diinstitutionsseas e s for
calleda aiding
to establish others, and with a view to supply
the want to some extent, an institution, to
denominated the British 'Toms for Incurables,
be now founded. Admitting the general prin-
ciple that it was desirable to relieve the poor
in their own homes, he was nevertheless convinced
that effectual aid could not be rendered in their own
uncomfortable abodes to unfortunate persons in
humble'life afflicted with incurable maladies. Hence
the necessity for an institution of the kind contem-
plated ; and he urged upon the meeting the import-
ance of its management being confided to men of
energy and of known reputation for benevolence
and integrity. Mr. George Moore, the eminent
merchant, of Cheapside, road to the meeting some
statistics relating to the Royal liospitfa for Incur-
ables, near Croydon, which he with Dr. Reid and
other gentlemen took an active part in establishing
about seven years ago, 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