Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-12
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
Inhumanity-Bad Food--No Deli
caoies-False Economy.

All civilized countries have fine hos
pitfalls where the sick and afflicted are
we'll taken care. of. Human life is re-
garded as valuable, and it matters not
whether person is rich or poor, if they
are sick they are taken in, attended to
by skillful physicians, waited upon by
careful and attentive nurses and nour-
ished with what will increase their COM
fort and promote the speedy restoration
Of their health. The leading cities of
the Old World are famous for their hos
pitfalls, which are often models of archi-
tectural beauty, built expressly fer the
purpose, and conducted on general hu-
manitarian principles. New York has
her hospitals, so has ST. Louis and New
Orleans, and so has Memphis. Wishing
to see how our City Hospital is man
aged, we visited it yesterday, and was
pleased with the general air of neatness
and cleanliness on every hand. DR.. Joe
Z. Lynch, very skillful surgeon, has
charge of the hospital, while those min
istering angels on earth, the Sisters of
the Holy Cross, look after the nursing
and other attention necessary for the
patients, their only pay being the knowl-
edge of the good they are doing for suf-
iering humanity There are about one
hundred and seventyiive patients in the
hospital at the present time, who appear
to be as cheerful as possible under the
circumstances, but complain of the quail
ity of the food given to them We visited
the kitchen, and found the same neat,
good order existing as elsewhere in the
building, the different culinary utensils
looking bright from the care taken Of
them. Preparations were being made
for dinner, and we observed basket full
Of dirty.looking bones, with little meat
on them, that contrasted strangely with
the clearly air around. 1t looked like
the refuse of butcher shop, and we
were astenished to learn that it had been
sent to the hospital as food for the pa
tents. Why the commonest beggar that
asks charity from door TO door would
hardly accept it; many well-fed dogs
would refuse it, and yet it was
furnished as food for sick people, deli
cate men and women who are in need of
nourishment to snatch them from deaths
door. We blushed for shame to think
that such thing could be in the proud
city of Memphis. Seeing the miserable
quality Of meat furnished the hospital,
we took a look at the other eatables
around. The bread was sweet and good;
the same may be said of the crackers,
etc. There was no tea in the hospital;
had been none there since Friday last
Most of the other things were Of com
mon quality, while the little delieacies
that are supposed to be necessary for the
sick we're not to be seen. Some OF the
patients wore the same clothing they
entered the hospital with, moving
around with their heavy boots. Many
Of them have not got change of cloth
ing. An application was made for some
three months since, one-fourth the
amount required being furnished after
short delay. In the wash-roon we
saw some clothing covered so thiekly
with vermiu that il should have bee=
burned, and yet it was being sealded and
washed and would again be worn BY the
patients because there was no other for
them 10 wear. The only reason given
for this niggardly action is economy.
Mayor PARK and the Hospital COMMITTEES
Ct the old Board allowed the Sisters 70
select the meats and purchase what was
necessary for the patients, the bills al