The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-26
Concerning Medical Charities HI the
CITY, of RfcIrfnomsf. 'fa.ts "a ~


some Of the many reasons why the Council
should undertake the work: 4I.sa 81
ri Although it is quite true that In the
North we. find these institutions generally
in the, hands of wealthy individuals and So
cieties, it cannot be done here; and to prove
this it is only necessary to appeal to the eX-
perience. OF those; who are now, or have
been /, recently. engaged ~ in begging
money for charitable objects. The time was
when we could boast as much wealth rs any
other people; but that was in the past. We
know not what is in store for US in the. fu-i
ture. Our present condition makes it. OBJ
vious to all that at this time the question as to
whether this: charity is, or is not, to be
established, turns simply and only on the re-
sponse Of the Council to petition That is
before them., Competent medical service is
offered gratis; the only money required is
what will be necessary to meet what are
called running expenses and small expen.
dture incidental to fitting up. The petition
referred to, however, has afeature engrafted
in it where it. is provided that company
shall be formed, composed Of life and annual
members, to give moneyed assistance to the
Councilso soon as people can be found who
will and can pay the stipulated dues.
II. The fact has been asserted that
I" there IS no physician or druggist in this
city to whom the poor eau 20 and demand,
as matter ofright, medical attendance and
medicine without charge" except limited
charity at the Medical College. It is true
that this institution does all it can to relieve
the necessities OF the poor. The relief it af-
fords, however, is, as before stated, limited,
because: 1st. The small amount Of money
at its command whereWith to purchase
medicines renders it impossible to have at
hand the various remedies suitable for a
wide range OF disease, especially il these
remedies; are expensive ones. I'd. 1t is
only open for two hours on week days and
never on Sundays. Sd. There are certain
classes Of the poor who, either from super
stition or prejudice, will not go to q medi.
cal college. The superstiious fear OF evil
spirits and violence to their persons THAT
they will be dissected, &C.,, and the preiu-
dice that they will bethe victims OF experi-
ments on the part Of the faculty and the
resident physician, who is generally stu
dent or recent graduate. It may be argued
that these reasons are not good ones, and
that the superstition of the one and the
prejudice Of the other is not founded on
fact, and is therefore absurd and foolish.
Nevertheless, as such is the case, and we
are impotents to correct it, 1T becomes the
part of wisdom to consider this condition
Of affairs and make allowance for it. Z 4th.
Those who 60 there are liable land Justly
SOY to be exhibited to medical classes, their
diseases and intirmities serving as illustra-
tions to the lectures. This, however, is not
compulsory, and is indeed nothing more
than proper return on the part OF the pa
tient for the benefit he receives; the intrin-
sic value OF which benefit may be perhaps
hundreds of dollars. 9TH. 1t has its hands
full in attending to the few in its immediate
vicinity. Ill. E. t.,s~'a., .@.a .ii.,
III. The only other refuge for the
sick poor that they can claim Is pauperism !;
otherwise they are thrown upon the cold
charities OF individuals, to whom they can
only appeal on the score rof humanity. Be-
coming an inmate Of the almshouse, a'stamp
of shame is placed upon the poor mans
name, which, whether rightly or no, stigma
ties him; with his associates. No one
knows save the man thus branded how hard
il is to outliye this curse. And this is not
the worst of it. Many unfortunates, either
despair or through association
with the abandoned, become them
selves worthless, and crime, if the
dockets of the courts are searched,
win be found to have thus originated.
I cannot better close this article than
by quoting portion of an appeal OF
the managers Of a dispensary that is doing
much good in sister city. It says:
q Workingmen and their families when in
health and under the blessings OF
regular employment support themselves
in comparative luxury; probably more
comfortably and independently as whole
than any similar population in the world.
Neither vice nor extravaganza detracts from
the happiness OF their lot. But II hard
times or sickness comes-especially the lat
ter-and disturb the regularity Of his scanty
income, want and suffering ensues. More
old persons and more children are to be
found in districts of working population
than in any other. The number OF depend
ents on the Workingman is certainly larger
on an average than upon the professional,
or even agricultural population.
Nowhere are there more grandfathers and
and more children. The
father, dead, out OF work for months, SICK
ness OF long duration OF old or OF young,
or the savings OF the family ABSORBED
till real want followed, was what the
mission found and sought to alleviate: Be-
sides this, thrift is not in all households OF
any condition and station Of life and often
liberal expenditure, when money comes
freely, has not permitted any accumulation
for evil days; and further, vice may have
or laziness neglected to earn
any store for illness, while the one may
have occasioned or the other have caused
the ,cunt of scork, which prevented the earn-
lng Of any such store. The destitute, from
v whateyer cause. are and muse be the objects
Of charity, Does not this sad picture,
drawn from real Life, appeal to all
rhe fsanfanuiar---Iet .Everybody Go,