The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-23
THE CITY DlsPEnsARlEs.
How the Poor Sick are Treated and Not
Treated.


How the Poor Sick are Treated and NOT
Treated.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
There are probably no charitable institutions IN
this city Of such general benefit as the various ds-
pensares for the relief of the sick and the injured;
and there are probably but few OF which SO little ID
known, 80 unostentatiOus are they In their wen
doing so private In their relief. They are all ar
ranged upon nearly the same plan. Each mas
building OF more or less convenience, mainly divided
into two large receiving rooms for patients ana an
ap0thecary's apartment, which IL copiousy nied
with every drug contained in the best retail pharmacy
in the city, no matter how costly or rare or new;
whatever medicine is needed is supplied. Those en-
gagged in dispensing the medicines are capable ana
well skilled this branch, far as have any Know
ledge and nave endeavored to be posted. me re-
ceiving rooms divide the sexes Opening from these
rooms are smaller Ones answering for oces for the
private examinations Of patients and IN the nam
are suitably supplied with instruments and surgical
appliances.
The professional attendance IL performed by the
gratuitous attendance Of some dozen physicians IN
each dispensary, who have each certain classes OF
diseases to attend to; from nine to ten A. NJ, dis
eases OF the skin; from ten to eleven all surgical
troubles; eleven to twelve diseases OF females, DC
Any person applying out OF the proper hour Is pre-
time at the specia hour when his class OF diseases
Is treated.
The physicians are not paid for these services.
They are mainly young men with plenty OF leisure,
and the opportunity thus obtained to study classes
Of affections for prolonged period Is Justly con-
sdered well worth the time devoted to the institu-
ti0n and Its actual value is To be recognized by
noting that almost all OF the distinguished special
lists OF New York have been through this curriculum.
But there are many persons SO seriously Iii that
they cannot come to the Dispensary. These are
visited by another set Of physicians who are called
district visiting physicians, and they are paid
Small salary OF about $500 per annum.
the attending physicians cali upon them be-
tween eleven A. NJ. and three 7. NJ. usually.
This service is generally, ! think, conscientiously
requiring the ascent Of many stairs, the diving into
cellars, rear buildings, into and through ftl han.
ding the most oathsome, dirty, drunken, abandoned
OF every class OF society. exposed to attacks OF
animals, Of drunken and lnfurated men and women,
OF pestiicnce that waketh at MONDAY and vermin
tnat walk at all times and all over everything ana
vcrybOdy The love OF science carries It's devotees
where religion ami humanity shrink back. No hired
nurse for less than $40 to $40 per day, would wait
upon one sick with such diseases as these heroic
physicians daily attend to; and these lfesavers, after
lance OF s. per day Il is no wonder thai the title
OF dispensary physician is title OF honor 1t is well
deserved. Another charity attends to women IN
confinement.
From this statement the fact may be inferred that
curing any time Of the day must wait I'LL eleven
A. NJ. for relief 1t is a fact well recognized that
most diseases manifest their first symptoms after
dark. Ii you are rich you send for your medical adj
wiser, and the result is that your mind ~ released,
for the responsibility is thrown upon another's
shoulders. Often the body Is relieved or pain and
anguish by prompt medication, and sometimes a
threatening disease OF magnitude IS avcrted. But
il you are poor, lie still and groan let your wife
hang over your pillow ana your children, all Sleep
ing in one room, let them awake by your groans
aud sympathizingly .deplore your sulferlngs but
No ftal frnfn m Y1a lnr
eleven A. Nj. Tie DispeDsary is closed; there is
no use pulling at the bell or knocking at the smut
ters physician IL there. Charity has It's linita-
ton--it is limited to The hours between eleven A. M.
and three z. M.
Now Tor the application. The New York City Dis.
pensary, located corner OF White Centre streets,
Is the largest OF the city dspensaries located In the
midst Of the poorest part OF the city, 1t Is applying
to the state for donation Of $4,000. 1t ought to
have it. know IL. | was physician to it, serving
both the building and III the district from 1874 to
$780, or thercabout. The amoant OF good 1t does is
incalcuable and the State should not refuse mo-
ment to grant The required amount: but II should
make { conditional that the poor should be
are obtanablc. Add $500 20 the salaries Of each Of
the present district physicians; require that they
should live IN the district; make their residences
well known 10 the poor as the Dispensary, and the
thing is accomplished Or appoint nighr physician
In some way make Christian charity not only daily
but nightly virtue. Boston and other cities attend
to s n aay or s Is a
able neglect OF the sick and suffering Is from igno
rance OF It's actual eXiSencef The medical men
often do look after the sick and the charity Of the
profession is well known to be without
stint Let the state now evince the fact
that all that Is wanted IL to know
where charity Is needed to stretch out the helping
hand. Let the annual subscribers double their Eve
dollars or ten dollars per annum and demand that
suffering be alleviated day and night and especially
by night, wlca stiffness and darkness seem to az
gravae every ILL.,; when the bell striking the lonely
hours, dragging slowly till eleven o'clock In
the morning, sounds like the knoll OF departed life.
Remember the collie or the sudden plcuritic pain or
the fearful chill which took you IN the small hours
about midnight; think Of the relief which your ply
scian afforded; contrast your sllken couch with the
misery surrounding the poor, and think or the for
l0rn without the soothing comforting voice OF an
educated helper, and II you can make this contrast
IN your own mind and then do nothing FOR your
poorer fellow creatures, then God help yOu for In
this world or The next you VIII need help.
a. X. GARDNER M. ID.