Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-27

Discharged.
lFrom the New York SUM-
tsWhere can find free hospital? I am 6
mighty sick man. but, without being va
grant, haven't q cent. I want to be taks1
care OF In some hospital whore they charge
nothing and will yet treat me dscently."
This inquiry was addressed to a policeman
at the New York slip of the Cortlandt street
ferry the other day by well dressed but wan
looking man, who was looking about him In
panied, bewiIdered way. He was directed
to Mr.. w. Blake, Superintendent of Charities
and Correction, &c Third avenue, after which
the policeman said: Hardly day passes
but some such inquiry is made of me. To be
sure, the inquirers might get from the City
Directory nearly as much information IS I
can give them. They could find there a list
of the hospitals, of which there are twenty
eight on or in direct communication with
Manhattan Island; but the trouble is, there is
no information as to which Of the institutions
afford gratuitous treatment. However, if
that man whom I directed to the superin-
tenaent's Office just now is resident of New
Jersey, az might be inferred from his tackling
me at this spot, of course he'Il get no satis-
grAtuitous patients of her own, without
sending out of the city for them"
There are only ak altogether free hospitals
These are the Wards Island Emiarant hospi-
tai, under the control of the Commissioners
of Emigration; and those in the Department
Of Public Charities and Correcsion-Bsilsvas
hospital, Emergency hospital Reception
hospital. Blackwelrs Island Charity hospital,
and Wards Island Homeopathic hospital
Tia hospitals in the charitable and reforma-
tory Institutions on BlackweN's, Wards,
Randall's and Hart's Islands are also under
the control of the commissioners.
There is never any charge made for
treatment in any of the excellent hospitals
uader the control of this department" said
Mr.. Blake. sOf course compensation would
not be refosed if insisted on by such as were
able and anxious to pay for care and treat
Aent, but it is never exaeted nor expected.
These hospitals are essentially charitable in
stitutions There are no private rooms, no
special treatment, and no exclusive privileges
to be obtained by money payments, as is the
case with most other hospitals All sufferers
are treated alike, rich or poor, we'll to~do or
penniless, occupying wards in common, and
receiving the same food, treatment, and &C.
commodstions.
Gratuitous treatment AID care are, indeed,
afforded by many of the other hospitals, but
solely favor or privilege. The benefits
of these institutions are, however, being con
etantly and largely extended to charity through
the system of endowments. AS for instance,
In ST. Luke's, which is an admirably con-
Quoted institution, numbers of beds are owned
by physicians and wealthy people, in censid-
Grafton OF gifts or stated payments from
them, which 1t is their privilege to utilize for
the bsaeft of such patients as they may Sc
leet This system is maintained in MAJORS
ty of the hospitals, and it is needless to say
that occupants are seldom wanting for these
free OF endowed beds. Where pay is exacted,
the amount varies In proportion to tbs treat
ment and accommodations demanded, all the
way up from five dollars to fifty dollars per
week, and rising from general but intelligent
treatment in a crowded ward up to the most
sumptuous private apartments, with appro-
pirate surroundings and accommodations.
However, it is the ordinary boast Of the
authorities Of those hospitals where such dis
tinctions are most prevalent that no differ
ence whatever is made in the purely medical
and surgical service extended to all. The
most insignificant endowed patient" receives
as thorough and intelligent treatment es that
accorded to the patient receiving and paying
for luxurious and exclusive accommodations
'But whether that's true or not,' said q
sad-lookipg, pillow-propped endowed pa
tient" in one OF the oldest established hospi.
tails, in response to general inquiries, 1.-The
public are not likely to know. Whyf Be-
canse If one of us poor gratuitous devils, like
myself, should venture to complain of mat
tention on the part of the muses., or of any
thing else, he would be bounced out on to
the side walk yonder, sick or well. SO quick
that his head would swim. There's one
thing that they won't put up with, and that
is complaint of any sort whatever. mean
complaints from the likes of ne, of course.
The htgh-prieed patients In the gilt-eds ed
apartments up stairs can growf and kick from
morning till night, if they choose. No fault
Is ever found with them. However, just un-
dsrssand that am not complaining -
Nevertheless, the special charities extended
by all the hospitals are numerous and far
reaching; while in case of street accidents
and similar emergencies the demand of the
is seldom or never responded to with
other than the iveiest and moat humane
service.
So far as the free hospitals ere concerned,
non-fesldents should understand distinctly
that they are not intended for them. A clear
in this regard will save from
many who make useless
Journeys to New York under false impress
sion. The free hospitals are lke1i sub
jected to much imposition on the part of
patients and others suffering with
Eriaing complaints who seek to make a home
Of the accommodations accorded, and who,
indeed, would never go away at all unless
summarily elected. Indeed, the cheaper or
endowed wards of nearly all the hospitals are
more or less afflicted In this way.
ssOh, yes, we've got our usual complement
,f regular boarders," said the head nurse in |
,ne Of these endowed wards to the reporter,
tand they won't begin to thin out until mild |
,pring weather sets in. while some will have
@ be fairly fired cut. Either through infau- |
,ncs or ON the strength of piteous stories, |
hey get in here regularly at the beginning Of /
.very winter. Some are real sufferers, some /
lave imsginary complaints, and others have |
ust nothing the matter with them ct all. But |
,noe here they stick to the last moment. |
weak or hearty, cured or not, aiEing or un-
liIing, and they can only be got rid of by
measures. There's vigorous
nan yoDder helping those nurses with that
,ed frame. Patient? OF course he Is, or
vas. He came here with sore finger last
November, and has been living on the fat of
be ward ever since. He's got influence.
Then that chipper little fellow over yonder.
eading novel; Mumps, believe, was his
icket of entrance. But they're too numer-
,us to particularize. Yon see, suit of
iothes viii last 'em a long time in these
garm quarters, and even il il were otherwise 1