, 1873-01-17

To the Edfhr ef The Chicago Tribune:
81n: The writer Of this communication has
had, during tho past four years, excellent op-
portunjties Of observing tile practical working
Of the public charities Of Cook County; espe-
cially those by which the sick poor are bene-
fitted.
Two fnstitutions-the County Hospital, on
Arnold street, with capacity for $50 patients,
for, the reception OF acute cases OF dis
ease and accidents; end the Cook County
Poorhouse, located at Jeffcrson, whero all af-
hiosed with chronic diseases, the recovery from
which is hopeless, and all capabilities, are sent
are the only hospitals which are provided by the
authorities of Cook County.
It is known to NIL conyersant with these mat
tors that these institutions are totally inadequate
for the accommodation OF the respectable peer.
Especially is this the case OF tho County Hos
pital, where the worthy poor, for want OF room.
owing to tho constant press Of applicants, are
often dismissed in 3 weak and debilitated c on
ditio9; whero. furthermore, owing to over
crowding,-despite the sklful attention Of
the excellent medical aud surgical staff,-
the mortality is excessive; wbere patients
afflicted with surgical diseases, and those poor
mothers who have suffered the agonies Of child
birth, arc constantly threatened with malignant
diseases, owing to oVer-crowding and want OF
room, which prevents segregation.
The County Hospital on Sixteenth street pos
eesscs abundantly every fault which good hos
pita1s should not have, md ia denied every
advantage which enlightened sanitariaus claim
for hospitals endowed With modern improve
ments:
First-There is want Of accommodation con-
sequently, overcrowding, and liability to pesti-
lential diseases and death.
Second-Want OF light aud ventilation, which
1otnrtls recovery.
paved, unsewcred streets, where trains Of cars
pass constantly, aud where factories emit nau-
geous vapOrB, which poison tho air consequent
II, everything conspires to render the best med
ical ekiu nugatory, to make the patient unhappy,
and to waste the means OF the Taxpayers.
Are the hardy mechanic and lnborer, tho
stranger without family. ties, the servant who
ministers to our comfort, and the poor amongst
us, entitled to- decent and adequate attentions
when they are Mck2
Must tie worthy Door. who are afflicted with
chronic diseases, herd with ths improyident, tho
abandoned, tho yagabond,- and tho harlot; in
tho Cook County Mmshouso2
Must the poor mother, Whilst embracing her
newborn child be asaailed, in tho house prorid-
cd for her comfort, by pestilence aud death7
Shall the pains-taking physician, who lovingly
tenders his services to his felloW-man without
money and without price, be rewarded by nom
success, and tho few moments OF rest which he
snatches from his an-absorbing vocation be en-
solely to unenlightened economy and parsimoni-
GUS extragance2
Must Tour sick brother" be neglected, that
imposing cdit1ces, such as tho Court House and
Jail, may first DO erected? ..
These questions must be met By the taxpay-
ing citizens Of Cook County, and their rerresen-
tatiyes, the Honorable Board Of Supervisors.
The remedy consists: ..
IirSl-In building cheap hospital, Of one or
two storics III height, Of sufficient capacity.
Second-1n building this ndiice III a healthy 10
caity, centrally located, surrounded with mod
erntely-ampie grounds. pHHn+.
CHICAGO, Jan. 1G, 1873.