Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-10
ABOUT HOSPITALS.
Mrs. Amelia Teney, OF st. Vineenfs,
Gives some InfeTestinz Facts and

mrs. Amelia Acncys - - =
Gives some Interesting Facts and
Figures;
10 the Union and American:
Much has been said of late about the ex-
pediency Of building a CITY nosp,.-.,: - p'0-
posed by the lessees of the college proper
IL; and, as an argument In Its favor. II was
stated in an article which appeared in the
UNION AND AMERICAN Of the "a t.,st.
that: 9Under the present system Cor rather
lack of system) the city expends annually
between S12, 600 and $4,000 for the care
and treatment of charity patients" etc.
have taken care Of, at St. Vincent's
Hospital, the city charity patients since the
winter of 1867 s; and for the information
of the public, desire to make the following
statement relative to the amount expended
in their behalf, as believe the people have
been generally misinfor1ned on the sub
Jet;
For the first two years the city agreed to
pay me one dollar day for each patient
STINT to the Hospital, III compensation for
subsistence, nursing and medical treatttierit.
and lily books show the following amounts
due me: For 1868 (including December,
IS6T $9,717.20; for 1869, S9,373.22. Oi
these amounts there still remains due me,
and unpaid by the city, nearly $4,000
Since the commencement of 1870 the city
has been giving me only sevepty-hve cents
day, and my books show the following
amounts: For 1870, S3.167.20; for 1871.
1859. 20; for 1872, S4.SS1.75; for 1873, 81
565.50, for four months of 1874, 81, 755.5O
This shows an average expense to the city,
'sfor the care and treatment of charity pa
tients' annually of S4,943.53, during the
past four years, instead of from s12,00 10
$l5, 200, as claimed in the article above
quoted, leaving difference of from $1,000
to $4,000 annually to be accounted for il
some other way.
But thele still remains due me, and un-
paid by the city, my accounts for three
months services in 1873, (when l wasoyer-
run with patients, and suffered heavy losses
in bedding from chOlera,) and also for two
months of the present year, making in all
near $4,000, due and unpaid.
This, though a small amount to the city
Of Nashville, amounts to considerable to
one who has earned it by hard labor in the
scare and treatment of charity patients, y
and surely might be paiG while providing
so literally for the future.
While on this subject wish to disabuse
the public mind on another point. The
impression has been made in certain
quarters, that have hsen making fortune
out of the city charity, while the sick have
been unprovided for by ''the lack ofsystem''
pursued, when in fact the very reverse is
true; except in so far as the city patronage
has given my hospital some little prestige
towards securing outside patients.
The Medical Faculty of Nashville Uni
versity kindly paid my rent for 1865; then
half the rents till the summer of 1872,
since which time l have paid it all myself.
Till recent date / furnished barge pro-
portion Of the medicines used, which at re-
tail prices cost me large sums each year.
have had to furnish each year large amounts
of clothing for patients; the city never hay-
ing furnished but four dozen coarse draw
ers and shirts, during six years. / have re-
peatediy had sent to the hospital mothers
with from one to three or four children,
that humanity required me TO support
without any compensation whatever; also
lyiug-in women and cholera patients, etc,
requiring much extra care and expense for
nursing, cleaning, damaged bedding, etc.,
for which no allowance was made by the
CITY. i nave nuTScu anu lItdltu lOT MIOlc
month patients sent me by the Mayor, for
which have never got a cent, because OF
some technical objection TO the papers by
the City Council.
l have constantly kept in the house from
one to three resident physicians, for the
benefit Of charity patients; and the hospital
has been constantly open to the entire pro
feSsion, and the inspection of the city
officials, and subject to the direction of the
faculty Of the Nashville University. Ex-
cept ten dollars each, kindly given by Pro
fessors Briggs and Michel TO aid in the
purchase of clothing last year, 1 have had
no outside assistance whatever, save the
rents above named.
In conclusion, the above explanations are
made that the people may be correctly in
formed of what has already been done, and
not to injure any project for the future; for
am very anxious that a good hospital
should be provided, under a system" by
which the city may be able to care for and
treat its charity patients for less than
seventy-fve cents day.
Mrs. AMELIA ToNEY.