The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-16

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Much will certainly be done to improve the
condition of our public hospitals if the ladies
who have formed visiting committees under
the auspices of the State Charities Aid
Association persist in their philanthropic
| and praiseworthy labors. ALI our public
charities, as the people perhaps scarcely
need to be told, were at one time affected by
the same system of jobbery that contaminated
every other part of the municipal administra-
ton. Appropriations were made, and made
perhaps all the more freely and literally,
because it was never intended that the money
should be spent for hospital stores or services,
and while it went to enrich rogues in Office
the wretched occupants OF the hospital wards
were the sufferers. Not only was it often,
and even commonly the case, that meals
were provided for only two-thirds or
half the number of occupants, but in many
instances what was furnished was of such a
quality as to be. absolutely unfit for use. And
in every other department as well as the
kitchen there were the same defects-defects
of quantity and quality. In these respects
there have been great improvements; but that
the administration is still far from what it
should be is evident from some facts pre-
sented In the last report of the ladies' COM
mittee, as, for instance that in Bellevue
this winter three persons have often slept on
two beds and many on the floor, without even
sheets or blankets, while at one period the
whole hospital was two entire weeks without
soap. Details Of this sort simply indicate an
inexcusably bad management or q mistaken
economy pr actised at the expense of life.
Against evils of this nature the ladies' COM
mittees will prove an adequate remedy, for
what is needed in such cases is to have the
light let in on the subject by re-
ports that will reach the public-the
real root of the evil being o
fancy on the part of those responsible that
nobody knows or cares what happens to pau
per patients. No doubt there is great indif-
ference, and there is likely less known by the
people at large of the condition Of such estab-
lishments as Bellevue and the island hospitals
than of almost any other conceivable thing;
but the people assent to large appropriations
for the care of the sick poor and that gives
them, if not humane. at least financial in
terest in that class, and if their attention is
properly called to the subject they will see
that the poor get the benefit of what the State
gives, and the ladies' services will attract to the
subject the degree of attention necessary to
secure this end. Already what has been done
in this way has provoked once more the very
natural reflection in regard to the made
quacy Of hospital accommodation for the
lated a movement directly aimed to
remove the reproach that in this great city
there is not single large first class hospital
open to the general public. Since the great
public wrong was committed of tearing down
the New York Hospital there has been no
hospital whatever in the lower part of the
city and only Bellevue for the upper part.
In Roosevelt Hospital there is an uncommon
amount of ornamental masonry and very little
else. st. Luke's is admirably managed and
excellent in every respect. 1t owes this
character, of course, to the personal super
vision of its benevolent founder, DR.. Mullen.
berg; and such supervision is an advantage
that few institutions have. It is, however,
like the German and some other hospitals,
rather special charity than the general resort
of the public poor. Bellevue, which the mass
of the poor recognize as their place, is not SC
much hospital as an antechamber to the
trenches of Potter Field. At least one great,
well constructed and we'll administered public
hospital is an urgent necessity for this city,
and, if there is not PUBLIC money enough to
build it, it should be done by private contribu.
tons.