The New York herald., 1876-09-02
THE SICK CH1LDREN's FUND.

Among the various reliefs extended to the poor In
this city, through the insrumcntaty OF tho Chidrens
Aid Society perhaps more benencent, GER
tainly mono charitable than that known as the
Sick Childrens Fund This charity is carried on ex-
cusivey by funds donated by the public for that pur-
pose and under the excellent management Of Superin-
tendent Calder wisely expended to promote the best
good among the destitute poor OF New York In spite
Of the socaed hard times the funds have
come In moro literally tnaneve before Perhaps tho
excessive mortality among the chldroI-whieh, during
thfee weeks OF July, covered 900 week-excitod tho
sympathies OF tho charitable to greater activity Be
that as 1t may 81 600 have thus far
and fully that amount has been expended tho bene-
ut OF the sick and nosdy During the past two
months 768 different families have been helped
and not infrcquent that two or
three OF tho children In each family require medical
attendance. This special contingency provided for
by corps Of nine physicians who arc employed to
visit the sick and prescribe for them their
may require. Those physicians have made an aggrc-
gale OF $50 professional visits the sick children
their homes and by their returns only six per
cent OF every hundred have died. Nourishing food
during sickness or cOnvalescence - also furnished.
The following table will give idea OF what articles OF
food have been needed and supped:-75O beef
extract l. 800 condensed milk, 800 packages of
iarina 500 pounds Of hominy, 90 bags OF oatmeal SO
bags OF crushed wheat 800 pounds corn starch, 100
boxes of imperial granun, $50 pounds Of barley, 900
NV
tea, coffee, sugar, soup, jellics, &c.
As there less sickness among children In winter
this work is carried extensively .hen as In
summer. This depends largely, however upon the
amount OF funds remaining after the summers work.
Last year the work was carried or" though on much
smaller SCALE up to the LIST oil April 1t may be ques
toned the poor acquainted with this source OF
help. Al the commencement OF every season the Ala
Society sends about 900 cards stating that medi
cal attendance medicine and nourishing food can DO
had by applying at the Relief Bureau No 325 ivlng-
ton street. and, in addition to tins, thirty five
a
cAnvassing the tenement houses searching
for cases OF destitution and sickness among
has found It reported to the bureau and
within an hour physician is with the patient. The
promptness with which food and medical aid are DC.
spatched to tho needy and suffering the chief great
work OF this charity II is sometimes asked. 'Wnat
ssiy is there for this work when there are SO
many dispensaries provided ior such cssesy' The
answer is this:-rhe dispensaries are already
Overrun with work, and, in tho next place,
hours-nonc Sundays. In such cases as
cholera intantum, intestinal catarrh, &c, when the
patient requires immediate relief and where an hours
delay may prove fatal TO the child is 1t not then
mercy aid be furnished from another source
Perhaps is the mothers OF these suffering children
that can best answer this query. Physicians often ind
that nourshng food Is essential to the recovery OF
the child medicine and tnis necessary is not fur
nishedby the dispensaricx
Floral gifts another feature OF this worthy charity
BY means OF a conservatory or hothouse many rare
aud beautiful plants are propaaated. These are gwen
to the sick children IN summer, and IN winter pre-
sented prizes to the industrial schools with the un
Outstanding that they are TO cultivate them and bring
them back at tho annual floral festivals, where the
number OF prizes gwen to those who produce the
best specimen plants. After that they returned to
the little horticultursta This summer large guam
tity of flowers have been donated from ladies in the
country In fact the income OF flowers since the 18th
OF June average over 200 bouquets daily. Five hun
dred plants in pots have been donated the sick this
season, besides s, ,0J0 bouquets of flowers.
The flowers in the conservatory and garden cover
nearly all species There bcgonias betias bouvar
dius cobas. cssus vines, cypropedas, caradcndrons
Reraniums ponceitea &C. besides large quantity OF
the more common specimens
No better, nobler can flowers be put 70 than to
brighten aud to gladden. the dingy homes OF the poor
that might otherwise be checrless and nowhere does
flower look beautiful and appropriate than in tho
hands OF poor sick child whose weary heart is CON-
fortcd by It's sweet presence.
II Is be hoped that charity needed will receive
the prompt and continued support OF those who have
In their power to lestow.