Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-22
Daily krnnebre Juurnal.
Remarks OF Mr.. Dana OF Portland,
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Feb 10th, on the
Resolve in favor Of the Maine Ge Ieral Hospital

II is hardly necessary for me TO say the
yearJustpast has been one OF marked financial
depression, requiring in the varied condition
of society the practice of rigid economy to
meet the ordinary expenses of life; conse-
quently an unusual number of applications.
have have been made to the Maine General
Hospital for free beds. Forty-six applicants
without means and residing in different parts
of the State, have been received and treated
on the score of humanity.
This kind of patients cannot be treated at
home, most of them requiring some surgical
operation that they could not have but for
the superior professional advantages which a
well regulated hospital can always provide,
and they would have remained at home
great sufferers and cripples for life if it were
not for the free beds the State provides bv
its annual appropriation to this institution,
and those persons would have become the
unwilling subjects of town or city support.
With the requisite means for their niainte-
nance the hospital could be filled with this
class Of unfortunate patients have referred
to, and in n large majority of the cases they
would be saved from becoming paupcrs to
our cities and towns.
. Many of you are familiar with its workrgs
and know Of the good it has done and is do
ing by receiving patients from all parts of
the State and giving its medical and surgical
attendance free to all who may come. To
patients who are able to pay, board only is
charged.
This hospital has not yet been running
long enough to have obtained the entire sup
port of the people of this State. Could the
citizens of our State witness the great
amount of good which the Maine General
Hospital has done and is constantly doing,
their sympathes would be secured and mani
tnl tu Iore Il S.
Until period comparatively recent, many
of the diseases and operations were deemed
incurable, which are now treated success
fully
The hospital has taken from the railroads,
the streets and by ways of our State, many a
man who could not possibly have had the
proper treatment at hope, after meeting with
an accident. and has had degree of comfort
and care, and been given back in health to
his family and society at the small expense of
one dollar day for his board: no charge
whatever for medical attendance and if he
was too poor to pay this small sum, he was
treated all the same without pay, as long as
the hospital had dollar.
The age demands, the wants of the COM
mon people demand this appropriation lit
tie longer. The treatment Of patients in hos
pitals has shown a larger per cent. of recovery
than in the homes Of the common people
This cheering fact is established beyond
doubt by series of experiments instituted
from holier motives and crowned with happi-
cr results than any ever recorded i'm the annals
of science. A few men in our State are Justly
entitled to q conspicuous station among the
benefactors of their race, and can mention
none more entitled to the honor than Dr.
John 7. Gilman, President of the board of
directors, the visiting physicians and surgeons
tl., Mai, H.. II 4 l..
known for many years. They have exploded
many of the old theories of practice in hos
pitals, and have discovered that skill, mild
ness and self devotion to the welfare of their
patients, are the proper means for their res
toraton. Their labors have been hallowed
by the spirit of humanity that inspired them
Reviving health and restoring happiness has
been their only reward.
Many man will advise friend to 90 to
the hospital for treatment, who will doubt
and hesitate in the case of one of his own
family. He is not able to account for the
misgivings he feels but they are in truth the
result of early prejudice, and this early pre-
judice 10 always to be distrusted. Another
reason is that the petty scandal that has from
time to time been circulated in regard to all
hospitals, has no doubt had its effect on the
Maine General Hospital and it does not re-
ceive the support of paying patients that it
should, as it will in time. after the pre-
judce has worn away and the people know
more of its benefits. There is a cause which
more than all others at this time prevents our
people from availing themselves of the bene-
hts of the Maine General Hospiia,-that is,
want of means.
Although the services of the medical and
surgical staff are free to all who may go
there, vet the fund and contributions are not
vet sufficient to pay the board and other ex-
penses necessary to the proper conducting of
an institution of this character, to only a
limited number.
The day is not far distant when this hos
pital, like the Insane Hospital in this city,
will be self-sustaining. 1t needs our care but
a little longer
This hospital is intended for all classes;
not specially for the rich, nor entirely for the
poor, but is open to all needing such services
as is its object to give.
Every institution of a charitable nature
must have large bequests, generous contribu-
tions, and constant aid to accomplish the
good at which it aims, and establishing free
beds is one step toward making hospital
what is most desirable 1t should bc--a refuge
for the penniless sick, place where those
without means TO procure medical treatment
and nursing can be cared for most faithfully,
and enjoy every comfort.
The people of Maine know that 18th the
advancement of science and civilization have
come more enlightened methods of treating
patients in hospitals, very many patients
receiving much better care and treatment
than they possibly could have at their homes.
1t is not only ''noble charity" rs our Gov
ernor stated in his message last year, "but
duty we owe the unfortunate sick to care for
them in their extremity" and should be gen.
erously performed. The Maine General
Hospital embraces among its contributors
some of the first men in the State; they have
done and will do all in their power to con-
tinue to aid this institution with their money
and their unceasing care. ALI new institu-
tions of this character have in their first years
of exstance to struggle against prejudice
calumny and abuse of every sort, until they
shall have gained the confidence of the peo-
pie. fH
But do know, gentlemen of this House.
from my own knowledge that the profes essiona
gentlemen connected with the Maine General
Hospital, have felt the weight of the respon-
sibility resting upon them and have not proved
unworthy of the trust committed them.
They have every incentive which can in
spire human thought or effort to make all
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