The New York herald., 1874-07-18
Great Need for It's Establishment
Opinions Of the Doctors.
VISITS TO THE SICK CHILDREN.
Contributions in Reply to the
Herald's Call

the little sufferers perishng hour by hour during
this hot weather in the confined air OF the tene-
ments
Public opinion Ia as nearly unanimous in favor
OF this project as 1t ever is upon even the most
popular issues. The fact Is that all our business
men, who are compelled daily to pass through
the crowded. districts where the poor
have their homes see enough OF what
children are compelled to endure, and inhale
enough of the gas they are compelled to breathe,
to satisfy them OF the reality OF the tOrtures in
store for those who become too sick to remain In
the streets. 1t is, doubtless, owing to this fact
that the first generous response to the appeal for
aid comes almost wholly from the well known
merchants whose names appear below.
WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY.
Visits made to the Demilt and Northeastern dis.
pensarles and interviews held with leading ply
sicians throughout the city elicit the unanimous
opinion OF the medical ia Guilty that the floating
hospital Is a much needed measure for the san
tary safety OF the city and the prevention and cure
OF contagious and epidemic diseases, just now
prevalent among children.
Dr. Darkln, the House Physician at Demilt Dis.
pensary, states that children are now brought
there daily TO whom medicines would be OF no use,
but who are dying by inches from want OF pure
air. This is also the statement Of the entire medi-
cal staff of the institution. Similar opinions are
expressed at the Northeastern Dispensary and
at the dispensary in Waverley place. DR.. Kreitzer,
who treats large numbers Of charity cases, is eO-
quent in behalf Of the proposed plan and has
rendered his services on the medical stan now
organizing. DR.. Ellington, who has devoted
great deal Of time to the consideration Of this and
tenement house sick have to encounter, gives a
most unqualified Endorsement to the system OF
excursions upon the water
THE SICK AT DEMILT DISPENsARY
numbered yesterday something over thirty among
the children alone. The cases were treated by DR..
KreiZer, and among them were three where no
local disease had manifested Itself, but where there
was gradual wasting away or all the vital forces.
They needed pure. air-invigorating breezes-and
probably three or four days upon the waters OF the
bay and rivers would completely restore them,
giving them vlgor and new lease Of lie. Without
per cent of the other cases were arrangements Of
the bowels and debiitated systems, resulting from
the inferior quality OF food taken into the system
and lack OF proper air. In one case the mother
explained that She took her little one in her arms
oui upon the streets at five O'Clock IN the morning
and walked about with 1t sill she was forced 10
return to begin her daily labor. She asked the
Doctor, IN shy, nervous way II he thought 1t
would "Deneat the baby II she carried IT. out late Late
Doctor promptly replied that babes were best In
bed alter sundown. Tone and health might be
given to all these viJated little systems by one or
TWO days. sail In pure atmosphere.
CHILDHOOD AND AGE SHARING MISFORTUNE
In tenement house in Sixtieth street visitor
Of the Guild found q sad picture OF sickness and
destitutlon. There were in the household TWO SIS.
ters, aged respectively eighty-nine and SEVENTY
one years. The son-in-aw OF the youngest OF these
two was out searching for work. On the bare
floor, their heads pnlowed on their arms, were
the chare1 6 oran d9s
one. They were both SICK with lever. There was
another member OF the family, so the old lady said,
her son, who was also out searching for employ
ment. The room was. destitute OF furniture; the
cupboard was empty of food. There was not SO
much as q crust Of bread In the place From time
to time the children drank eagerly from an old tin
basin. half filled with water.
"Can you send any one to the Guild onice for
food9, asked the visitor.
.Yesn said the youngest OF these aged women; I;
"Iu send my boy when he comes home He'll be
work, and downhearted at being always refused; !;
but he's had nothing 20 eat and-neither have We,
strand he'll be glad TO go, II only
FOR HIS POOR OLD MOTHERS SAKE.
I'd 20 TO save him. sir, but it's long way and
I'm very feeble; It's CROWN on me, SIT, OF late.
Ssore N ID ded and both INV sou and nav
At this moment the old woman Of eighty nine
came tOtterlng to the side OF the visitor. She bent
forward slightly looked at her sister then at the
visitor, whose arm she clutched. Her eyes were
look ES IN and
about her lips Suddenly she whispered ~ would
be so much Obliged to you, kind sir-l would like
It's only an old woman's notion, Sir. You won't
think hard OF my asking it, but thought I'd like
The visitor matters himself that many journeys
among the poor by night and day have rendered
his nervous system proof against sudden shocks
and uncomfortable twitchinRs, but some way his
hand went suddenly to his pOcketbOOk and his
face 10 the door, while he became aware that meat
markets possessed for him an hitherto unsus-
As he reached the door there was knock loud
and authoritative. He opened the door and police
old women came forward and the olficer said,
"Your son was found drowned in the East River
..My son |" said the old woman, staggering back
from the door, and the two wrlnkled and feeble
sisters who had clung to each other through
nearly three-quarters Of a century OF light and
M eepng sa N each Ss5 81
mother and even the police Offlcer fell back soft
ened and abashed by the terrible woe he had
thought of food no more thought OF the morrow,
came to the minds OF these two. locked in each
others arms ms, ana .b crying . on SO bitterly
should be made OF the body. Tne answer In the end,
came full OF bitter agony. There was not even
clean shirt in the house in which the corpse
There was no room IN the house in which 1t could
lie. Reluctantly the reply was forced through
the thin fn tire p sHe Se
first pangs OF grief had passed and their simple
story had been told. Every article OF apparel,
even to the Children's shoes and undercl0thng,
had been pawned TO buy food. There are now I'm
the possession of the Rev. Alvah Wlswall, Master
OF the Guld, some twenty-five pawn ucRets, Delng
hall the number In possession of the old women,
which represent the most needml articles OF their
Scanty wardrobes
This family will be taken on the first excursion
Of the hospital barge.
DESTITUTE SICK oHILDRES's RELIEF FUND.
Below we publish the first generous reponsc OF
the public to the appeal OF the Guid:-
Through Howland Cash. .................... 10
Aspinwali- . Wi son q. Hunt......... 10
w. II. Aspinwall. 500 j. Il, Beale. 10
Through David Salo- Cash. -. ................ 5
mon taHn .....sssssssssts D
Gosser Co........... Is J. NJ. Fuller. 5
NJ N. h................ Is /. Holbrook 8
d. Ds.".:....:....;a...: 10 NJ B........:......... 5
Through Wm Wood Mrs. 7. +. Eddy..u..... 5
Co. Isaac c. Ogden. S
H. NJ bIoWne"s... IU Cash .....................
Sent TO Rev Alvah w. X. II. johnson. o
Wiswa Guild Office Mrs. s. c. Bishop ......, 6
Mills Uotiin.... 25 Arch. Iron WORKS.. D
HaddOck Lanedon.-. 70 Mrs Duryce North
Chester Lamb. 2J ampton, Mass. 5
H. I. Rldred ........... rs Mrs Fuller Greenwich
Bradley Co rs Conn. .................
J. II. Draper ,....... Is r. Fober. .............
X NJ. Galloway ........ rs j. j. y. CoDeott.. ..,...,
Beadeston, Price NJ VI. White 4 Co. ......
WOerz.............,... Is Cash .............,...
Martin Kabheisch. ....,. Is E. w. Trlsow 8