Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-05

remaining December 3lsi. 10. Expenses,
$435 so.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The department was called out to fires OF |
material losses, z; other alarms, 4. Total /
loss to owners. $l240; total insurance of |
owners, S37, 400; total loas Of occupants, |
1855. Total insurance of occupants, $32,- |
300; grand total insurance, 5000; grand |
total less, $1S25; insurance over loss, $67, s75.
REGISTERS REPORT.
Amount of Licences issued, 1904 so; num- |
Der of licenses issued, So; new numbers |
furnished, 6; number OF transfers, /; fees, |
$25 so; total, $3.50 Is.
REPORT OF HOSPITAL PHYSICIAN.
The following is the report of DIR. Lau-
renee:
CITY HOSPITAL, MEMPHIS January 8, 1883.
Hon. D. P MADDEN, President Taxing District.
DEAR SIR-In submitting the foregoing
bill for the maintenance and treatment OF
Shelby county paupers, merely embrace
this as fitting opportunity for bringing TO
the notice of the Legislative Council, and
through them, i hope, to the notice of the
county oficiA1s, q matter OF very great in
Justice which the city of Memphis has long
suffered at the hands of Shelby county.
As an offset to the county's claim against
us for $l39, or, counting in the collins, for
1854, money collected by US in our marine
account from the United States government
for the care of few smallpox cases at the
pesthouse, you will find, in my bill against
the county, 154 patients treated for various
diseases during the last fourteen months, ag-
gregating 3012 days, which, at 81 per day
the same as charged by the county-reaches
the nice little cum of 1902. And, were it
worth while to do SO, we could reckon up a
similar, perhaps larger, bill for each of the
four years that have had charge of the
hospital, as many of the names that appear
on the hospital records as residents of Mem
phis really come from the suburbs-iust out
side the city limits-whers nothing is paid
in taxes toward the support of the hospital.
Now, we of the Tabing- District are ex-
pected TO pay our pro rata portion
of the county taxes the same as The rest of
the county, and it ia certainly no insig-
ni6cant portion. Such being the case,
have we not right to expect that our sick
paupers, at least those resident among us,
would be cared for at the expense Of the
county at large, the same as those from other
portions OF the county? But, on the con-
trary, we, of the city, are not only debarred
from all such privilege-being forced to
take care of our sick at our own individual
expense-but are actually expected and re-
quired TO receive and treat at our own ex-
pense, and out of money raised BY taxation
within our city limits proper, all the sick
paupers within the length and breadth OF
Shelby county. Now, this regard as cry
ing shame, especially when we consider that
the financial status Of the county is good,
and that the city, from yellow-fever and
other causes, is almost bankrupt.
do not insist, however, that our gates
should be shut against the sick paupers of
al In - h.f s. . bof,
already have an organized hospital, GEN.
trally located, with buildings, physician,
druggist, steward, nurses, the necessary medi-
cal and culinary appliances, and suficiency
of beds for all reasonable demands upon
us, both from the town and the country,
| am satisfied that we can care for these
poor unfortunates more economically and
satisfactorily than by any other arrange
ment that the county could make. But / do
insist that Shelby county should be re-
quired to bear her just proportion of this
onerous burden, either by remitting q por-
ton of our county taxes or by sharing in
common the expenses OF our hospital-she
paying SO much per diem-(say fifty cents, or
even twenty. five cents) on each patient ad-
mitted; such admissions TO be regulated by
herself, either through the courteous and
competent official whe now manages the ad
missions TO the poorhouse, or in any other
| manner that she may direct. We must not,
however, forget small compensation which
the county renders Us in return for this very
great service to her. She buries our pau
per dead. This is, OF course, a neces-
sary. an indispensable service, and
all l can say is, it costs too much; we can
not afford the price; we had better do il our
selves. Without meaning to encroach upon
| the rights Of my friend, the county under
al
| cost to the city, through the aid of the hos
| pital carpenter shop, the hospital team and
the hospital convslefcents, the full share of
this sad work which may legitim ately fall
| TO our part. This is done at the hospital in
| St. Louis and is perfectly practicable here.
| As to the Yagualy prevalsnt idea that, at
Some remote period, the State Of Tennessee
| donated to the city o. Memphis the present
site of the City Hospital, imposing there
with certain impossible conditions, as that
the gales Of the hospital should always be
| open to all strangers that might choose to
| enter from the length and breadth of the
State. This, at all events does not apply
to Shelby county. If the State of
| Tennessee did give US the ground
on which to build our hospital wards, that
is no reason why the county of Shelby should
/ expect a joint occupancy of the same with
| out paying her share eff the expenses.
In this connection / will take the liberty
| of merely calling your attention to q subject,
| in comparison with which the one Just dis
| cussed IL q mere trife, though / do so with
some trepidation, as have 30 often obtruded
| it upon your notice before. 1 allude to the
| indiscrimiuate admission Of non-residents to
the City Hospital. Perhaps no mere words
could be 90 eloquent on the subject
as the following figures, the yearly
4 e a. g.
the year 1892: Taxing District, pa; Ten
nessee, 347; Arkansas, 346; Mississippi, 173;
other States, $40; total admissions for 1882,
1859. have copious notes concerning many
| Of the individual cases that 60 TO make up
the above fetal of nonresident patients; but,
| though l may use them In more extended
| report hereafter, at present | will trespass
| no longer upon your patience. / have the
honor to be, respectfully, your obedient ser
| yaai, A. A. LAURENCE,
| Hospital Physician.
/ PETITION
/, wss received from several citizens on Adams
street stating that the street between Orleans
and Manassas is in a wretched condition,
| and ssking for repairs. Referred 10 the en-
gineer TO carry out tine previous instructions
Of the Council.
THE HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS REPORT.
The following resolution was offered by
Maj. Burke:
Resolved. That the president appoint a
committee of three to take into consideration
| the subject of DR.. Laurence's hospital ply
sician) report, and to take such action look
ing TO relief from the care of State and
county patients, and to memorialize the
General Assembly of the State and take such
further action as they may deem proper for
the relief of the Taxing District. Carried.
Messrs. Burke, Lee and the attorney we're
appointed.
On motion, the passage Of the dray num-
Der ordinance on its second and 6nal reading
was reconsidsred. Adjourned.