The Placer herald., 1872-12-28
COUNTY HOSPITAL.

Since our article of two weeks ago on this in
..stu.ion. various plans have been suggested as
- uhat should be the course of action by the
Supervisors. One suggests that the better course
.vonld be to contract with Sacramento or some
otber county for the care and maintenance of the
pdicent sick provided for by the law This
MIGHT and probably would be the cheapest mode
lint would it be the most humane creditable to
the county? We think not; though as it stands,
strictly construed, we think the law would per-
NIT it. Another sugge stion is that an additional
,bniding be constructed on the Hospital grounds
divided into a sufficient number of wards for fe
male and pay patients, and also for family rooms
for the Steward and Stewardess, who should be
man and wife with no children. 1t is argued
that by this plan there would be pay patients
enough to go far towards paying, at ten dollars a
week, the expenses of the Hospital. Friends, it
is said of diseased persons, excluded from the
Hospital by law, would bring such persons here
and gladly pay ten dollars a week to have care
and medical attendance in such an institution as
then would be here. These would be private pa
tients and free from the taint of demanding pub
lie charity This all sounds WELL and We believe
il would work well if under private and prudent
management, but this is public institution,
paid for by the tax payers of Placer county and
conducted under the direction of public officials
Here is the rub. If officials are slack and negli
gent when in charge of public duties, it is, per-
haps, better not to set them to work speculatng
for the county in keeping private, pay hospital
Our experience teaches us that it is the rarest
thing in the world to find official that will
his own private affairs. Our Supervisors
vii, average with the best in the State, but nn-
fortunately they all live at distant points from
the hospital and can give its management little
PERSONAL attention. One thing of two should
now be done: either the law Of admitting and
discharging patients should be strictly complied
with or the hospital should be converted into an
INDECENT sick farm for the poor, where those who
ae actually indig, ut and sick could be cared for,
au where those who are poor could have some
tbng to do that would partially compensate the
eolAy for furnishing them a good home. We
feed confident that if the present County Physi-
eian had sole charge of the Hospital that i'm
Ir0Semelts woalld be made that would be actual
H. ouCy and repni&tioa TO tie county. Weinclne
10 H., BEET hat orr County Hospital must soon
be a Count, Poor House and farm such as exist
in all the counties Of the C,dor States, and that
our Supervisors should keep this fact steadily IN
yjf,y in ali their actions with reference to it.
This being the fact. we adhere to our Original
idea that the best thing is to commence planting
ornamental and fruit trees, lay out, fence, and
commence cultivatins the soil, prepare for irri-
eating, and, ii necessary, add to the buildings
the required improvements. The tile 20 the
land and spring outside the towns,c shonld be
secured as soon as possible All this can be
with only few dollars extra Tor tools, seeds,
tees, plants and lumber.