The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-16
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
EFOr Additional 0ty intelligence see F1fh page. J

MCREAsED ENDOWMENT DEMANDED FOR THE
PENFsYLvANIA HosPIrAL.-In obedience to the
special invitations of the Committee OF Contri-
butors of the Pennsylvania Hospital, a number
Of The leading citizens OF this city assembled
at p. M. yesterday, at the Hospital build
1ngs at Eighth and Spruce streets. The
OBJECT was to confer with the Managers and
the Medical Faculty in the effort TO maintain,
and, If possible, to increase its charitable work
On motion OF William Welsh. Esq, Samuel
v. Merrick, Esq, was called to the Chair. Ben
jamin H. Shoemaker, Esq, was appointed Sc
eretary.
Mr.. Merricl1 stated the meeting convened
at the request of the managers Of the institu-
tion to consider how it may be supported. Since
its creation, one hundred years ago. its active
works OF beneVolence. with the great increase of
the population ofthis city, have outgrown its in
come to the amount of about $4,000 per year.
Either the citizens must support its operations
or the managers must contract its usefulness,
by closing some Of its wards.
Mr.. William Welsh presented the following
resolutions .....
Whereas, The Contributors to the Pennsylya-
MIA Hospital at their last annual meeting, ex-
pressed the earnest desire that the Board OF
Managers should neither allow the usefulness
of the charitable institution to decrease, nor to
use the vested fund for current expenses, as its
present expenditure is far beyond the regular
income of the hospital; therefore,
procure subscriptions to the extent OF S25 900 a
year payable annually for I'VE years also, to
by donations and legacies.
Resolved That each member of this meeting
and the friends Of the hospital be requested to
aid in carrying into effect the foregoing resolu-
tion.
gers, stated that the income received from the
vested endowments is $4,000 annually, while
$4,000 are annually expended. Thus, yearly
the Board has had TO make appeals TO the pc
nevolence OF, the citizens with no prospect of
an Improvement in its finances. For one hun
dred years IL has stood alone in its work, un-
supported by the city or Commonwealth.
Although the strictest economy is used in all
the expenditures yet, with the doubled and
tTebled increase in fuel, medicines, food, &C., it
is impossible to discharge its good work without
afforded, then the institution will be compelled
TO close its doors to the manned and mangled
persons who are constantly received WITHIN It's
may be stated that on Monday hve persons,
scaided in the late boiler accident were re-
Dr. Addrett Hewson, Surgeon at the Hos
pital, stated the great necessity for present aid
was to contrast the work of the Hospital in the
past with its present operations and the de-
mands which will come up in the future. Fifty
years ago the speakers father was elected Sur
geon in the Hospital. Then surgical cases were
OF rare occurrence, and attracted numbers OF
medical men to observe the operations. Within
that space steam power has been developed, fac
tories erected, railroads built, population has in
creased in an enormous ratio, and thus acci-
dents have been occurring beyond our means at
present of caring for them. The institution re-
ceives all who come within twenty-four hours
ofthe accidents occurring, without charge. Two
cases occur a day now, being four times as great
as IN lSi5.
Last wear the Hospital treated more of these
cases than the great charity hospitals OF Boston
and New York combined. Furthermore. the
number of moor patients has increased with the
ratio of the growth OF the city. Last year. of
these people, the Hospital has treated over 1900
cases, while the Massachusetts Hospital had $50
cases. They spent $500 more than the Pennsyl-
yania Hospital, and the New York Hospital
$4,000 more In salaries, our Hospital pays out
dicines has been only doubled within the last
twenty years, owing to the strctest economy
Twenty years ago, over two hundred pounds OF
patent lint was used; last year. only twenty
bounds, the balance being oaSum at fifteen
cents per pound, lint being five dollars. Band
AGES were also used to a less amount than
twenty years ago. by using the bandages seye-
raj times over, after being washed aud dlsln-
The increase IN funds during the last twenty
years has been merely nominal the increase
being used to pay the higher salaries in the In
sane Hospital. The present generation seems
to believe that this Hospital is rich beyond its
needs, evidenced by the iberality SHOWN TO
other charities, and the want thereof to this.
Five hundred thousand dollars in the future
Will not be sufficient TO meet the demande upon
the Hospital by an increase of population.
DIR, Charles ID. MeigS would nave preferred not
to have appeared before the present gathering
of leading citizens; but having been long con-
uected with the Hospital, he felt II his duty To
eNnress some of his thoughts on its operations
The subject was most serious one, in which
was concerned the dignity OF the whole nunl-
cipality and the liberal christianity OF ouI
whole community. He was deeply panied tC
hear that some OF the few beds now in use
might have to be closed by the great increase
through no fault Of the administrators OF the
tnnds but by the great addition to all eXpendt'
lures caused by the war. BY The laws OF the
United States, the payment OF ~ annually ena,
bles seaman coming into port to be received
In lsS8' SOD people lived in our city. I'm 6
wears 1852 there were $4,000 people in 2OOC
houses. In this year, 1867, 10000 souls living IN
above so 900 houses. From 1900 TO $50 the popu
lation doubled from 1920 to 1910 again doubled
from 1910 to 1860 trebled In 80 years, by the
year 1900 it may undoubtedly be 25OOOOO anc
perhaps 100000. Thus means must be takeI
to provide for these inevitable needs OF oul
In i755 some of our large-h hearted citizens
headed by Benjamin Franklin, laid the corner
broad and wide and strong, not for their ag
merely but for their descendants. Forty-hV
beds are here for the poor SICK new 1 Qrk, WIZ WiCi
40 600 houses, has beds for 5000 poor; Ph1ladel
phia with $4,000 houses, has only 40. IL is
shame to her standard OF religious morals AM
charity. .-,,..,, .,
this city They are valuable auxiliaries bu
they cannot for many years to come take II
nlace The proud stand of Philadelphia aDoV
other cities in medical instruction is large!
owing to the facilities Of clinical instruction a.
forded by such institutions. This is the retug
OF the better class of the necessitous poor, tn
abiect classes fockinR TO the AlmshOuse for aic
They come voluntarily; it is no disgrace t
come, for they cannot be disgraced thereby.
The late war has largely restricted the fund
of the Hospital and its means of doing gooC
Many call it Penn's Hospital, believing tina
William Penn founded IL and richly endowe
il for all times, This belief that IL is rich IN
stitution has prevented many from bestowin
upon il the donations they award TO Others
Never has any manager been elected save b
had first paid his contribution fee Of thirty do
lars: no doctor has been engaged unless first h
has paid thirty dollars, and then freely give
his services TO neal lhe poor victims Wlthou
thus served for many years, and had though
himselfwel repaid on his resignation by bein
told the managers were well satisfied with hi