The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-05-03

ocaIn 1tScu. lucy arc Aot IKE tne majority
Of the inmates of our alms-houses, and their
finer feelings are shocked by the thought Of
sssoeiating with wretched creatures who
have been brought to their low condition by
improvidence and idleuess and crime. To
care for such cases as these and to help them
preserve their feelings of selt-respect, is not
emily the plain duty but the blessed privilege
efthe more fortunate.
But the worthiness of the individual does
not constitute his only claim to the kind Off
ees of the community. The mere fact of his
inArmity is sufficient reason for extending
him succor, even if his faults have been the
main instruments in producing his want.
II no one had right TO the sympathy of his
fellows except when his misfortune was
wholly due to the misdeeds of others, there
would not be , tenth part Of the call for
Christian charity that there now is, and
most of US would be obliged to endure our
ea!amities unhelped.
But the question is asked by some, could
not the sick poor be treated more eco
nonically and better at their homes than in a
hospital? If this be regarded as matter of
the immediate payment Of dollars and cents,
it might receive an affirmative answer; but
looked at in any other light, it must be de-
c.ded most enphatically in the negative.
The propriety of this reply must be apparent
to an who are familiar with the habitatiens
and mode of life Of the INDECENT. If their
houses are not positively filthy, they are gen.
araIJu ,frootod nbaorloec aud CT;
physicians directions either cannot be carried
out, owing to the lack of proper appliances, or
the plenitude of stupidity on the part of the
attendants; or are wilfuly disobeyed by advice
OF meddlesome neighbors. And even if they
are followed as we'll as the circumstances of the
case will admit, their good effects are likely to
be annulled by the uniavorable hygienic sur
roundings. In hospital, however, every
patient has an abundance of sunlight, fresh
air, pure water and proper food, and trained
nurses to carry out the orders of skillful ply
sicians. Ia short everything is done for his
comfort and welfare that SCIENCE can suggest
and wealth provide.
The very poor are not the only ones who
are Immediately benefited by hospitals. When
servants in private families are taken sick, it
is rarely possible for them to have suitable at
tention, however kindly disposed their en-
ployers may be. The mistress is generally
obliged to perform the work of the maid, and
has little time in the midst of these ex4raordi-
nary duties to bestow sui able care upon the
patient. In many cases, the employers would
cheerfully pay the expenses of the servant at
hospital; in the rest, the patient will be
fit recipient of noble charity.
There are multtudes of clerks and artisans
who have no permanent homes OR family ties.
They live comfortably enough in lodgings
while they are we'll; but when sickness comes
upon them, the boarding-house is found to be
anything but an appropriate place for the
recovery of health. 1t is true they do not
starve or perish with cold; but their friends
and companions are away nearly all the time,
che keepers of the house are already over
worked, and the sufferers are left without the
assiduous attentions which are always so es-
sential to comfort and often necessary for a
cure. These classes, and many others which
we could mention, are able and willing in
most instances to pay for hospital attendance,
in whole or part. In the Massachusetts, Gen.
eral Hospital, more than a quarter of the pa
tlents in 1872 paid their expenses in full.
The rich, even, need the Hospital; for
there are many diseases, especially those of
surgical character, which can be treated to
much better advantage in such an institu-
ton than in any private house. Hitherto
these cases have been obliged to 60 to other
States for treatment; ifthere were a proper
hospital at home, they could be relieved of
this troublesome and very expensive neces-
sity.
But aside from the very manifest ad-
yautsges of hospitals to individuals, they are
of immense value to the State. Political econ
omists reckon an unskilled adult man to be
worth one thousand dollars to the State.
Add the skill that comes with years of expe-
rience and the intellect that is developed by
studious training, and the value of = mans
life becomes far too great to be estimated in
money. Now good hospital will annually
sase the lives of great number Of patients
Who would have but slender chance if left
IN the unfavorable circumstances which us
ually surround the majority of applicants for
hospital aid. And by prolonging these lives,
it contributes to the State every year what is
worth in money many times the cost of
maintaining the establishment. Thus hos
pital is a strictly money saving institution,
and Is economical in the highest sense of the
word.
Anere is another consideration which is
usually assigned secondary place in review
ihs'ne advantages of hospitals, but which
many .housn1iui people hold to be of prime
linporVauee' II Is that hospitals furnish Cd
PertuhiIies lot investigation and instruction
that can oe gained IN no other wav If is
quite right that one should bo pn,,;,,;x ~
trust his health and life to a. poa;oa, "
who has derived his knowledge from boots
only. Experience and observation at the bod
side are absolutely necessary to qualify a mar,
for the duties of physician or surgeon. and
these can seldom be had to any great extent
by astudent except in the wards of hospi-
tai. But there hemay acquire good knowl-
edge of disease and its treatment, and be fit
ted to go out at once into active practice. Il
this way, every member Of the community
derives advantage from the hospital, which
becomes atrairing school for physicians. 1t:
greatest Immediate good, doubtless, is to the
lowest classes; but, indirectly, its benefceni
influences extend all over the State, and
reach those in the higher walks of society.
Our Maine General Hospital has been well
begun; but its progress is now arrested fol