The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-12
Concerning Medical Charities tn the
City Of Richmond.
L., III

EuttOTS " He DLSpGtCH:
During q short but active life, in which |
the writer has had occasion to mingle with |
all classes Of people in the city Of Rich
mond, it has often occurred to him, espe-
cialIy in recent days, that this our beloved
city, so prosperous in other things, is yet
exceedingly poor in medical charities. OF
our almshouse, with its excellent appoint
ments, we are, and may be, justly proud;
and so also OF the accident ambulance at
tached thereto. The so-called City Hospital
(more properly, in this instance, called
"peste house,, intended only for smallpox
patients and those suffering with contagious
diseases, is only opened occasionally, and
is, like all temporary expedients, OF little
value. It is impossible to suddenly lmpro-
wise hospital and procure good nurses and
other necessary equipments unless they are
held by retaining fees, which system Is not
practiced here. The Medical College with its
corps OF professors, all Of them men OF
reputation and benevolence, does what 1t
can with the small sym OF money (S250)
furnished it by the city to attend to the des-
titute who may there apply, the applicants
being generally those people who live Id ITS
immediate vicinity. In addition TO the
above, there are four drugstores located in
different parts Of the city, where, II pa
tient brings a..prescription marked I'm.
digent" Tor with some other similar Word)
it Is put up for ten cents. We have now
completed the list Of medical charities OF a
corporation whose estimated population is
72,0OO-a population mixed, White ana
black-the former only exceeding the latter
bv few thousands. Remembering that
many Of the whites were impoverished by
the recent war, and that vast majority OF
the blacks are notoriously IMPROVE
dent, and unable to take care OF themselves.
should we be surprised at the distress which
ensues when disease stalks amongst us Ihe
above statement OF the condition OF our
medical charities must cause all good citi-
zens who read it to be thoughtful. Promi-
nently conspicuous is the fact that there Is
no physician or druggist in this city to
whom the poor can go and demand, rs
matter of right, medical attendance and
medicine without charge, except the limit
ed charity before mentioned ut the Medical
College. In this respect the city OF Rlcll-
mond is much behind the times, and far IN
the rear of others Of much less pretensloni
and imnortance. Nor can the scarcity OF
money and impoverished condition OF the
people be pleaded as an excuse for this state
OF affairs, for those considerations are ull
arguments produced to prove the necessity
for liberal care of the sick who are un-
able to take care of themselves. In the
South, other cities in worse condition, and
compared with whom we are in the height
OF prosperity, do better. For instance, the
city OF Charleston, S. c., whose population
is only little more than one half OF ours.
Its health ordinances provide that the city
shall be divided into six (6) parts, physl-
clan assigned to each OF these districts, or
parts, to attend the poor at their homes
when sent for. For his services he IS allow
ed six hundred dollars $4,000 per annum; I;
he is further allowed two hundred dollars
(s20O) for furnishing medicines, which ne Is
reouired to carry with him; making total
salary OF eight hundred dollars (Ss0o)
ner anpum. Besides the above, there
is "a well-organized dispensary, Tbe :
moor in Richmond are the victims OF
the whims and humors Of the individual
doctors and druggists OF the city. The
writer does not mean to disparage these
classes of our citizens, to one OF which ne
has the honor to belong. They are quite as
good and charitable as are others, and Ger
tain 1t is they have more to endure. 10
show up this system, we will see how It
works with the doctors. Those who have
much to do, when asked to visit the poor
generally say land Justly, tool that they have
not time. Thus the destitute grayitate to
the Young doctors, who in turn, as they at
tain importance in the profession. kindly
hand them over to those who are coming on
behind them; and 80 it goes on, ana then
II ia that q life may be lost whilst messen-
GER is searching for a physician. The medi-
cai profession are not to blame Tor this state
os affairs. They are heavily taxed IN
obtaining licenses to practice, and
have had to bear this burden ever
since the city was founded. They nave
their liyings to make and necessarily attend
best to those who pay them best, and every
case of neglect and distress Of this descrip-
ton reyerts back upon and falls heaviest on
those officers of the Government 70 whom
the care OF these people Is entrusted. The
public mind is being rapidly fixed upon these
things, and public sentiment demands tnat
this want shall be supplied; ) and the first
step looking to this end is the estab blishment
of one or more dispensaries. The WORD
.dispensary is defined bys w ebster as e q
house, place, or shop in which medicines
are dispensed to the poor and medical adj
vice given gratis It's medical definition
is substantially the same. 70 60
O little more into detail wels.
regulated institution OF this KIND
would be after tho following order !.
1T would be sitnated In that portion o. sas
CITY where It would be accessible 70 sne8
greatest number OF its eitlzera who would
neaii its services, and should be open from;
II Al III. 20 4 r. III. on week and from
5IgM. tot n. III. ON Sundays Ihero would
he required for ita working s7fo Ioonsa--ona