The Opelousas courier., 1884-08-16

The grand total or Cne WoIk VI Uho
institution from 1882, when the pres,
ent buildings began to be used, for 90
wear down to 1884, will be found In
the following figures
Grand total of discharges -5S9' o94
WWr ortsl;tv per cent.
In half a century sick persons num-
bering
DOUBLE THE POPULATION OF NEW Or
LEANS
to- day have passed in through
the portals of the Charity Hospital and
have been treated in it's wards.
The demands of charity grew with
the progress of human society. Inc
march of civilization is not able TO
Danish from the world poverty, disease
and suffering, hence the Charity Hos
pital must continue to expand and de-
velop to meet the constant demands
that are made aupon it for the
relief of human misery, and Its
wise and generous managers, studying
always the public welfare and the ad-
vancement of this grand charity In ex-
cellence and ability to do good, find
themselves to-day
EMBARRASSED WITH THE CRIPPLED
RESOURCES
of the institution. It is not because
the Legislature has not sought to pro-
vide for the wants of the hospital,
but for the reason that the State war
rants in which the legislative appro-
priation comes to the hospital cannot
be paid promptly, and cal only be ne
gotiated at a heavy discount, that the
finances of the hospital are deficient.
With State warrants marketable at
about 60 cents on the dollar, the instl-
tuition is crippled to the extent of say
40 per cent of its resources, and not
many weeks ago the hospital nan
ayers were compelled to pledge $32,OOO
of their State warrants for about
$4,000. If their funds were at par
and available when needed, in cash,
there would be ample means to place
the Charity Hospital i'll the condition
of excellence it already so nearly APP
proaches, but does not nevertheless
realize.
WHAT IS FURTHER NEEDED
is in brief: First, the means to fur
nish the new building with suitable
beds, furniture and other necessary be-
longings. Second, a duplicate pump
for the sewer system. Third, a GOV
cred gateway by which carriages bear
ing the sick and wounded can be driv-
en- into the hospital area and received
under cover and free from the ebserva-
tions aud criticisms of the curious
crowds that assemble in front of the
institution when patients are brought
here. Fourth, the establishment of a
service of one or ambulances,
furnished with every needed appliance
and attended by a medical student,
and ready at all times of day and
night at the call of the telephone to
hurry to any part of the city to bring
patients to the hospital. At present
the sick and wounded are roughly
carted in any wagon that may be
available to the hospital, and some
times it happens that the luck
less wretch dies from the shock or
from the need of attention that an in
telligent assistant in Il comfortable am
bulance, well provided with restora-
tive remedies, could give.
If all these needed improvements
were accomplished and completed the
Charity Hospital would be
AS NEAR PERFECT
as the present generation of men
could hope for, and all this a be done
~r;th fho ,pasant posnlPnac pf fha InStI-
tuition if the State warrants a only
be made available in cash. AS these
amount to but $4,000 a year the State
authorities should be able to make
some provision for SO pressing a ne.
cessity. 1t would be %ungrateful to the
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATORS
of the hospital. who have worked sc
faithfully, necessarily and unselfshly
for this great institution, not to men,
ton their names. They are bushes;
men of large private interests and will
constant claims on their time, but they
have always, without pay OR fee of any
kind. given the most careful attention
to the affairs of the hospital.
The following compose the present
Board of Administrators His Excel
lency, Samuel d. McEnery. ex-oficie
President; DR.. Thos. Layton, Vice
President; II. w. Fairchild. Chas. La
ftte, r. Sinnott, J. T. Gibbons, Dr.
C. j. Bickham, Samuel Boyd, Henri,
= Baldwin.
, At the time when the great improve
ments that have been so successful!
i. carried out were projected and com
menced, Messrs. NJ. D. Lagan and Phil
> Buchanan were able and efficient mem
bers of the board. The resident off
!, GERS of the Institution are j: DR.. A
B. Miles, House Surgeon DR.. d. Jami
son. Assistant House Surgeon !; EdwiI
. Marks, Secretary and Treasurer DR.
Fl. D. Schmidt, Pathologist JohI
johnson, Chemist and Druggist (; j. c
McMahy, Clerk; John Ponder, Engi
h neer.
;. The ability and fidelity of all thes'
gentlemen in their several department
> are acknowledged, and to them mucl
5 efficiency of the internal administra
: ton is due. Hon. S. S. Carlisle is tn
1 attorney of the board.
q THE HOUSEKEEPING
t and domestic economy of so great a
establishment is a work of vast impor
r lance, as it involves the care, lodgin
g and feeding, of something like a thou
b sand persons the year round. 1t
like keeping a great hotel, and de
mands much administrative and ez
ecutive ability and knowledge G
!. oHra;rs This wniohtv responsihilit-