St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-04-21
THE CHARITY HOSPITAL.

On the 1st of May the people of Ope-
lousas and vicinity propose giving a
grand concert, fair, supper and other
entertainments for the benefit of the
Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The
history of this noble institution is So
well known to all Louisianians that ii
is not necessary to recapitulate its first
establishment, struggles and final sue
cess to the present day. 1t is only
sufficient to say that until now there
has been no need for an appeal to the
public for help. A year or two ago,
however, it was found that the wards
of the hospital were insufficient to ac-
|commodate the numerous patients who
presented themselves. In the case of
children for whose special diseases
there is no ward, this was considered
very unfortunate. The visiting COM
mittee last winter reported 661 patients
under treatment, mostly from the coun-
try, and many OF them incurable, thus
making the hospital a kind of aims
house. The committee awarded un-
qualified praise to the cleanliness of the
wards, and their freedom from obnox-
ious oders, but they were overcrowd-
ed. This state of affairs is deprecated
by the officers, for pallets have been
laid on the. floor, and the close contact
of diseased patients often neutralized
the effects of medicine, and care. Dur
ing an epidemic, it would be difficult to
gain fair estimate of the number of
patients admitted. But in 1880 admis-
sions were 4s84-discharges, 4140. In
1881, admissions discharges, 1851.
From that date the application for adj
missions have gone on steadily increas-
ing, and the administrators deplore the
necessity for turning SO many from the
door for want of necessary space, and
that want hampers the institution at
every point. tits the wish of the officers
to enlarge it by opening one or two
wards for the special treatment of chill
dren diseases, a separate one for those of
women, also an enlarged provision for
colored patients. In order to carry out
these necessary Improvements the pub
lie of Louisiana is appealed to for as
sistance, and do not think the Parish
Of St Landry will be slow to respond.
This noble Charity is the pride Of the
State. In it the poorest patient is as
much the object of the sedulous care of
the most skillful physicians of New Or
leans, as if he was millionaire, and no
comfort, or even luxury is lacking for
bis cure, or the alienation OF his suffer
ings. Some contend that the help Of
the institution should be confined to
Louisianians, but in that case it would
cease to be the: great Charity Hospital
of the world, / may say, for the pa
tients in its wards come from every
quarter of the habitable globe. All ma
all creeds, all conditions of
life are found under its roof.
A distinguished stranger who visited
New Orleans last winter during the car
nival was asked what he thought of the
Gras pageant, and answered
ct is as fine as any spectacular pageant
could be, hut if belonged to your city,
my pride would be in your Charity
Hospital. Idon't think / have ever
seen nobler charity, or one larger in
its views and more perfect in its
minutest details. Why, if the space
Of whole city was appropriated to it, it
would not be too much for the good it
could accomplish in lessening the count
Of suffering among the helpless poor"
For this institution help is asked
to-day from the people of Louisiana.
Surely no one will refuse their mite.
To ignore its claims, is to ignore the
cause of humanity, which knows neith-
er creed, nor nation, nor social distinc-
ton between man and man, but simply
his need Of help from his fellow man.
NJ. B. WILLIAMS.
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