The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-05-25
GIVE publish the following communica-

GIVE publish the following communica-
ton by request of the author and several
other citizens of Cairo. 1t is a subject of
considerable importance to them at least,
although we do not see the necessity of pre-
senting it tothe public at this particular time.
We are most decidedly of the opinion that a
Marine Hospital is more needed at Cairo
that at any other point on either of the rivers
which have their confluence there:
From the Jonesboro Gazette.I
CAROL H.. April IL, 1853.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-Every person at all ac-
/ quaintrd with Cairo, and Who krow the pro-
miscuous character of the Immense number
of transient persons who are daily, from
some cause or other-5y accident necessity,
or misfortune-landed here, must be forcbly
struck with the conviction of the great neces-
sitv that exists for Marine Hospital at this
point. In fact the geography o: the country
and the locality of Cairo in its centre, i. OF
itself sufficient to convince all who will give
the subject moments reflection that there
is no point either on the Ohio, Mississippi,
or Mis- .ouri, from the head of either stream,
down to the disemh ougement of their united
waters, where such an institution is SO impe-
riously demanded; or where one would be
more extensively useful. The vast number
OF steamboats, which ply the western aters,
al OF which touch az i;s point, are continu-
ally landing passengers here--some 10 await
passage up the Ohio, Mississippi, or Ten
nessee, or to New Orleans--some for the
purpose of passing into the interior, or of en-
gaging on the different works of improve
ment now in progress. Many are sick when
landed, and others, during the sickly season,
frequently become SO before they can get
away. A great proportion of these who land
here are foreigners mostly Irish-who come
in state of ntire pecunary destitution--
depending upon their daily labor for support
they are strangers in strange land, far
from the land of their nativity aud from their
friends, cut off from that sympathy and hos
| pitality which form the essential characteris-
tics of their Irish character From the uni
ted causes of change of climate, exposure
and convivial social constitution, they are
peculiarly liabl, to become sick, and from n
noble but impulsive nature are liable to acct
dent and personal injury. The citizens of
Cairo are kind and and hosptable, proven
bally so, to the extent of their means,--but
il is out of their power to extend much aid 10
the many cases of suffering around them
they have not more house-room than is abso-
lutely necessary to the comfort of their own
lamiles-the public houses are generally
crowded to overlooking, not capable of Ia
king in half the number OF those seeking
admission, and at time too, frequently, when
they most need succor. Deplurable enough
is the situation of the SICK under any the
must favorable circumstances, ut home, in
the midst of friends, ready 70 minister every
comfort of good nursing, and kind attention,
but hunGred-fold more deplorabe must be
the situat ton of him who is so unfortunate as
to become sick in u strange land-far from
The endearments Of home-pennyless AID
friendless, without the money to procure
either nursing, susteannce, or medical aid
without even a shelter from the peltings of
the ptiless storm of the ruthless elements
or slowed away in some miserable shanty,
unfit for a human habitation even in health
the poor stranger is doomed TO perish,
without the soothing hand of friendship 10
smooth his rugged pillow, or furnish him with
he minister OF the alter, to offer sJace TO his
departing spirit in the consolation of religion,
or even to perform the last sad duties of de-
cent interment. Frequently persons are
landed here wounded or manned, by accident
occurring on boats-especia,iy those acci-
dents of fire, and from blowing up, which is
an additional reason why Hospital should
be erected here for their relief-and last,
though not least-should that awful scourge
the cholera, again ravage our shores-it is in
dispensibIe that such an institution should be
here established. Boats passing up general
" bring the disease from New Orleans
Were there hospital here, cholera patients
could be landed from the boats and placed i'm
it without danger of the injection spreading
amongst our citizens; at the same time the
danger to the other passengers on the boats
would be lessened, and thus the epidemic
might be prevented from being spread
through the county above. Ihave thus given
my views of the Importance of a measure,
the propriety of which has often been
forc.by suggested to my mind, during
several years pr ctice as physician at this
place, from witnessing cases of individual
suffering which it was out of my power to re-
lieve, partly from the want of comfortable
nursing and attention so necessary as aids to
their recovery. So necessary is institu-
ton Of the kind, at this place, that esteem
1t a matter of Ieproach to the State and the
community that one has not been erected
here long since. fhe unfortunate stranger,
from whatever part of the globe he may have
come-is yet our brother-our felowmortal
lis he not entitled to our sympathy and our
philanthropy! Ought he not to be cared for
and provided for, and not left to perish Ike
the brute! If otherwise, what the
better of our boosted civilization! 1t is but
the pollution of the name. Have we no bow
els of compositions! l hope the community
will wake up to the importance Of this
measure, and that, acting from the impulse
OF an enlightened humanity, speedy meas
ures may be taken to have or ected in the
city of Cairo Marine Hospital where
the poor sick stranger may find u home, and
experience such ate ntions as are calculated