Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-14
OUR CITY HOSPITAL.
The Way II is Governed and
How our INDECENT Sick
are Cared For.
Who is to BIamc9


we have an Institution in II city cGHe'
the city hospital. Whether that inustit
ton m up to the standard of a homI
for the poor and INDECENT sick under 1T
present management is a question. w
most unhesitatingly give IL a. a opln
ion that 1t does not. The question very
naturally arises In the minds of humane
and right thinking citizens SIS to wh5
this state Of things are allowed to exist
and who ia TO blame for whai
we propose to show Is B disgrace
and a stain upon the enlightened
and christian city of Memphis. In the
first place, the board OF mayor and alder
men are to blame for having passed that
outrageous ordinance on the third OF
January last, proposed by the self-styled
retrenchment committee, one section OF
which provides that the hospital trustees
shall have full control of all charitable
appropriations made by the board, anS
another seation which provides that me
| one shall be admitted TO the hospital as
| q patient who has not been a resident of
the city for six months" This ordi-
nance also provided for the appointment
Of a board Of hospital trustees, all on the
plea OF economy. The ordinance passed
a first reading, and, on motion
of Alderman Townsend, the rule was
suspended and it passed a second and
final reading, and became the city law
without a dissenting voice. Just think
Of it, tax payers, you who have any
spark Of humanity In your bosoms, one
drop of the milk of human kindness in
your breasts, or an atom of charity to-
ward your fellow-creatures; this board
of hospital trustees, after a good deal of
squirming and wriggling, succeeded in
eiecting the Sisters Of the Holy Gross
from the hospital, and supplying their
places with paid matrons and nurses.
They next refuse admission to all who
have not been in the city six months,
and even these unfortunates must 90 to
the prince and ruler of the institution,
President Carroll, with a recommends
ton from some person he knows.
No matter how sick or poor
they may be, nc entrance can be
gained without going through
this routine. He will not give them
shelter for a single night, but allow
them to pass it with only mother earth
for a bed, and the broad canopy of
heaven for a covering, and woe to the
poor stranger who is thrown upon his
charitable feelings. No charity fund to
be expended for him no, no, that would
be too liberal in this enlightened age.
Let them die or go elsewhere-whO cares.
A case in point. On Thursday morning
a working, laboring man found a poor
sick lad, of some ten years Of age, on
the pavement where he had passed the
night. He was a stranger, and had no
one to care for him. This good Samar
itan took him to his house, fed and cared
for his wants, but having q large family
Of his own to support, could not afford
to keep him, but went to the mayor, who
sent him to Mr.. Carroll. This gentleman
would do nothing. The man went TO
the sanitary police. They had no power.
Several gentlemen on Madison street
signed a joint letter to DR.. Keller, Of the
hospital, and sent the poor, sick
stranger boy there. To the credit of DR..
Keller, be it said, he took him in. This
is only one of thu many cases that have
fallen under our notice within q short
time. This is Memphis law. This the
that the stranger sick receive
the hands of this populous and veal
thy city. Do the board Of mayor and
aldermen ever think Of humanity or
charity? Have they children
Of their own, who may n dag be taken
sick in a strange land, with none 70 care
for them? DO those who hold the purse
strings of the charity fund feel so Sc
cure in their present fat offices
that they can afford to scorn
those who are in want =?
Their own dsy Of tribulation may yet
come. He who causes the sun to shine
anon the evil as well as the good will
rot let these things pass unpublished.
out upon snch laws. Out upon those
who allow them to disgrace our city
We can only hope land we confess we
have cut faint hopes of its being realized)
hat the board or mayor and aldermen
will. for their own credit sake, and for
The fair fame of our city, remedy this
at the earliest opportunity.
should they not do so they must take tie
consequences, for the people will, when
proper time comes, call them TO a
strict account.