New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-25
Tho Charity Hospital.

yielding to me even for such brief time.
| Tho Charity Hospital.
With the compliments Of Mr.. j. D. Lich
tenberger, the secretary and treasurer O
the institution, the annual report of tn.
Charity Hospital to the General Assembly
has been received. 1t comprises the report
OF the administrators, the report of Alfred
Shaw, ESQ, attorney of the board, his
tory of the hospital by DR.. James Burns
and numerous tables showing the name.
OF deceased patients, diagnoses of the pa
tients remaining and others of statistical i'm.
pOrtance.
The documents show an alarming financial
condition. "Never," says Mr.. Bonzano, the
vice president, "since the death of Mr.. Ju.
lien Poydras, have the financial troubles OF
the institution approached the present en-.
barrassment." The Legislature has made
sufficient appropriations to cover the past
Indebtedness of eS9534 %, and further
appropriation of SIS, 900 for the year 1874.
From the latter not $4,000 has been re-.
ceived, for it required the repeated efforts
OF Governor Kellogg and D. C. McCan,
Esq. to induce the Auditor to issue warrants
for the last quarter as late as December Is.
For these, only a pitiful forty per cent
could be obtained. By pledging many of
the warrants little over $500 worth of
supplies have been obtained, and the total
value of the appropriation OF SIS 900, in.
tended by the Legislature to be paid in
cash to the institution, has been $29, 482 g..
From Mr.. McCan, has been received the
advance of $l5.l64 20; from licenses, $EO3;
pay patients, $2472; gate fees. Sl335 O5; and
other small amounts from different sources
sufficient to make total of cash receipts of
$54, 809 80.
With this inadequate sum the hospital
has been compelled to support, care for and
supply with medicines during the year,
STA patients, more than 500 being daily
attended to within its walls. The admins
tration of affairs has been governed by the
strictest rules of economy and the average
expense, thirty-nine cents, is less than that
of any other city.
The appropriation made in 1874 to cover
the amount Of back debt being still with
held by the injunction obtained by the
Attorney General, the liabilities of the
hospital have increased to $ll5,5S4 81. and
to meet this there is cash of the general
creditors fund 1920 6S, which leaves a
liabilsty of SIP 1913 80 without dollar to
meet it.
The creditors have been very lenient in the
hope of relief either through the dissolution
of the injunction or aid from the Legisla
ture. But there is limit to indulgence of
this kind, and the administration is today
without credit. Soon it will be unable to
procure either medicine, food, clothing or
attendance for the unfortunates in their
charge. 1t lie serious matter for them to
be turned ont on the world and the gates
of the asylum closed. But unless the in
stitution is at once provided with funds,
not merely a pittance Of forty or fifty per
cent Of the actual expense, but sufficient in
cash to supply its wants, this is the only
Some means mus: be provided for GER
e.
From the date of the Territorial govern
ment acts have been annually passed, i'm
posing penalties for violation which were
to accrue to the benefit of the hosp tal
Few OF them have been Incorporated in the
Revised Statutes, and by these the only
revenue produced is from licenses. All
others are mere utilities so far as the hos
oital is concerned. The emigrant and lot.
cry taxes have been diverted and nothing
given to supply their place.
In relation to the management of the re.
,eipts and expenses the Sisters of Charity, |
who not only have that matter in charge |
tut attend to all housekeeping affairs, are |
complimented in the report of the |
PRESIDENT. The history of the hospital also re-
ers to their long continued connection with |
he institution, extending through genera
ions. The devotion, ability and success of
Dr.. A. w. Smyth, the competent house sur
,eon, are noted and especially commended
ogether with those of Dr. G. w. Lawis. the
assistant surgeon.
The expenses Of the year have been ST.,
on oOs o UCSAOooO VI vlo,JOf w CQO5o
# 1878, an average of $644O 50 per month.
There have been admitted since January |,
S74, 523l patients, 1850 have been dis
harged and $50 have died during the year
eaving 554 in the hospital December 81,
ga. Of these 3Ol3 were foreigners, 22Ol
atives of the United States and seventeen
Unknown.
Reference is made to the entries on and af-
sr the fourteenth of September, when friend
nd foe laid side by side and were cared
,r alike, and to the frequency of patients
utfering from gunshot wounds or stabs,
h0wing brutal instinct still existing
mong the people. Among the victims Of
1ch outrages, and the latest was Fabias
[cKenim Dunn, man of gentle man
ers, kind heart, without q known enemy
! the world and an administrator of the
lstituti0n.