The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-25

ANOTHER ACT OF INHUMANITY-IHE NECESSITY
FOR SMALL Pox HosprTAL.-We frequently hear
of cases of sickness from small pox, attended with
circumstances which would disgrace the widest
Indians at the West, or the savage inhabitants of
Africa. The other day We heard of a patient being
actually thrown into the street, to live or die, as
the case might be, shelter and attendance having
been refused TO him and, were 1t not tor the PHI
lanhropy of one Of our citizens. the individual
probably would have died, from neglect and ex-
posure. A similar instance has come to our know
ledge, which reflects dshonor on our city, and
unutterable discredit on member of the medical
profession.
1t appears that a young man felt lndisposed tor
three or four days, and observing rash or erup-
ton on his arms, he was advised TO apply to ply
stefan at once, and inquire the nature of his all
ment The name of one of our doctors was men
toned and straightway he repaired to his office
After stating the symptoms, and exhibiting the
eruptions on his body, this hopeful disciple of
Esculaplus Immediately pronounced that it was
case of small pox and, instead OF prescribing for
him, or giving him any advice, he ordered him to
leave his establishment lnstanter. AS might be
eXpe cted, the young man was thunderstruck at the
manner of the doctor, and could not comprehend
it, or the order to depart He was soon, however,
relieved of all doubts by repetition of the order,
Finding that he would be obliged to leave, he
enquired if he could not get admission into
the hospital, and was informed tina. he could
not. He then sought the street, and wan
dered up and down, knowing not what to do
Finally, he reached the Battery, and whilst turn
ing over in his mind the treatment which he had
received from this doctor, whose name untortu-
nately we have not learned he concluded to drown
himself, rather than die in the streets of this moral
and Christian city, by disease and neglect. Hap
PLY, before he put his determination into effect
he observed benevolent looking colored man, to
whom he impaired full knowledge of his situation
and promised him that if he would take care of
him during his Sickness he would relilunerate
him. If he died, his friends, he said, who lived
at distance, would do so. The kind-heared
negro thereupon, acted the part of the Samaritan.
took the destitute and unfortunate young man to
his humble home, and attended him until he re.
covered.
Comment on the outrageous conduct of this
medical man is scarcely necessary. We regret
exceedingly that his name has not been furnished
to us; we would publish 1t in full, so that he might
receive his deserts from an indignant public Our
principal object, however, in recting the details of
this case is direct the attention of the public to
the necessity of making some provision for the
attendance and comfort of small pox patients other
than we have. Our city Is filled with boarding
houses and hotels. Instances of this kind are
likely to occur at any time, and If the unfortunate
patient Is in the house of some persons. no mercy
is shown to him. Measures tor his immediate,
removal, 10 the Streets If where else, are taken,
and he is packed off as expediuously as possible,
TO die of neglect. This certainly should not be.
We boast a good deal of our lberalty and
humanity. We have societies for the suppression
of dram drinking-for the conversion of the
heather IN foreign lands; we have various be-
nevolent institutions, which are partly supported
by Individual contributions, and why should we
not have an hospital where due care and attention
would be bestowed on patients sick with small
poX! We do not believe there Is a city in the
world but this, where sick people are turned out
OF doors, and left to die IN the streets, because
they are affected with that loathsome disease,
small pox.