The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-21
The state General Hesui,nl.

The State General Hospital.
There is considerable curiosity evinced in
regard to the exact provisions of the resolve
in favor of the Maine General Hospital which
has just passed the Legislature. The grants
Of both land and money are conditional. The
grant of the Arsenal lot on Bramhall's hill is
not to take effect till the Governor certifes
that the sum of s25, 900 has been raised by
private subscription. OF the $4,000 in mon
ey appropriated by the State $4,000 is to be
paid when $4,000 raised by private subscrip-
ton, has been expended on the hospital build
ing, and the remaining $4,000 when an addi-
tional sum Of 10000 has been raised and ex-
pended.
1t will be seen that the State has treated
this benevolent enterprise with considerable
generosity. lis prospects for the immediate
future now depend largely on the favorable
disposition manifested toward it by private
individuals, though no doubt the city of Port
land in Its corporate capacity will be willing
70 emulate the example of the State and ap-
proprate reasonable sum for its benefit.
We are glad to know that thus far the appeals
to private generosity have met an encouraging
response. The work of soliciting subscrip-
tons has just begun, and the sum of $4,000
(more than enough 10 sntitle the Hospital to
the Arsenal LOTT has already been obtained.
Hon. John B. Brown and Andrew Spring,
Esq, have each given 5000, and other dena-
lions Of as large sums are anticipated. Sew
efai gentlemen have subscribed $1,000 each.
From the interest manifested in the matter
IN all parts of the State, there is little doubt
that the Hospital will not only be endowed.
with the $SO,OOO which the executive COM
mittee think it necessary to obtain before the
enterprise can be initiated, but that the whole
amount of public and private subscriptions
will reach 100000.
We are convinced that all that is necessary
to cause gentlemen of means to regard the
enterprise with the utmost favor is a thorough
comprehension of the purposes and practical
workings of General Hospital. Appended
to the report of the joint special committee of
the Legislature on the subject of the General
Hospital we find statement of the practical
workings of such institutions by DR.. l. 7. Da-
ma, of this city, who is personally familiar
with the subject from observation both in
this country and in Europe. The following
extracts will prove interesting:
General control of it-This would natural
ly be, as in this case provided by charter, in
the hands of board of directors, majority
chosen by the corporation, the others by the
oord vic fore fhr,c ob
would be sure to be eminent citizens enjoy-
ing the confidence of the entire community
All the other officers OF the institution would
be chosen by them.
Glasses Of Patients Admitted.-1. The
poor, affected with medical or surgical dis
eases, who have no resources at home, and
who can pay nothing at the hospital.
2. Persons in limited circumstances, who
have no homes, or whose homes are too dis
tant to be reached by them, or who cannot
command at their homes the care. comforts
and attendance which they need, but who
can pay, or whose friends can pay for them, a
moderate sum per week at the hospital.
3. Wealthy individuals who, living in no.
tells and boarding houses, avail themselves of
private apartments at the hospital for greater
comfort and safety in sickness, and who there
pay literally for the accommodations and SER
vices received.
4. Wealthy individuals from distant towns
affected with obscure and diffcnlt chronic
diseases, or needing critical surgical opera.
tons, who leave their homes and place them
selves IN the hospital on account of the great
er advantages there afforded.
Admission of Pdtients.-Suitable Subjects
are admitted on application by letter or 9TH
erwise to the admitting physician. who gives
written permit, but in all cases of sudden
accidental injury of a serious character i'm
mediate entrance is given without this for
mality. A broken limb or a severe wound is
its own permit. ts
Means Of support The income of a gen.
eral hospital is derived in part from the pa
tlents, many of whom pay such specified
sums per week as defray wholly or partially
Of hospital Ch.:.4;.,. -ol.sritT Is S- It,
Jree oeds, where the poor and the stranger
are received without money and without
price, These free beds can only be establish
ed by means OF subscriptions, donations, be-
quests and grants to the institution. Rnt
nospltaiS once established and well managed
always live and grow and their funds RAPIDLY
accumulate. The MASSACHUSETTS, General
Hospital, established by charter of the Legis-
lature, and grant of one hundred thousand
dollars on condition of the raising of a like
sum by private contributions, received notice
of its first bequest lover twenty-four thou-
sand dollars the day before its corner stone
was laid, July 4, 1918, and so fully has it
commanded the confidence and support of
the citizens of our sister commonwealth that
money has poured in upon it till its aggre-
gate funds have already nearly or fully reach
ca the magnificent sum of two millions of
dollars. y
General advantages to the Citizens of the |
oeote..A state General Hospital must of |
necessity be located in some city or town. Int
IN true and large sense it is useful to all.
~ In cases Of accidents on railroads ~
along the line of railroads. patients cav, b
readily transported to the hospstal. whose
doors, as above stated, are always open 70
Them. 'pei "
VI Iumors and other chronic affections
often occur, which require critical surn;caI
operations, and consequently such surSicai
sklll as is in general only acquired in laroer
sn and in hospital experience, and
~ sucn resources of mechanical appliance.
sncb .a as constant care of trained attendants
.s IiahIe ~ hospitals afford. These cases are
Inc largest city Of the State and ' "o as ~
distance. SAFETY any necessary
49, Obscure and difficult c,so.
Enually occurring in which there VII, a,o con
sreat auvantage IN such thorough and COZ, "
'tant observation and investigation as COY 1oh-
made in hospital, and also in the consult. oe
ion together of such men as comprise tho
medical and surgical stats of general hospite
Is. Such cases can often be removed with
ntire safety. Multitudes of such cases as
lasses and are continually leaving their
wn State to find needed relief at the Mass
chusetts General Hospital 1t should be a
aatter OF just pride with us that Maine should
rovlde Tor the needs of her own citizens in