Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-22
EVE. EAR. And THROAT.

What Has Been Done AZ the Infrnary-i in
Institution that Deserves to he Sustained.
On Fourth street between Nam and
Franklin is the Richmond Eye. Ear. and
Throat lnfirmary, an institution gov
erned by Board Of Lady Managers,
who certainly deserve great praise for
the good work that they are carry
ing on.
On the first floor of the building is
the Office and Operating-rooms, fitted up
with apparatus for operating on the eye.
ear. nose. and throat. A movable cur
tain swings on circular rod. and Is
used for making the office light or dark
at will. On the same floor are the rooms
in which the white patients are lodged
who desire to board at the imiirlnary.
Comfort and health are both consulted
in the furnishing Of these rooms. which
have hOme-like appearance. The third
story of the house is fitted up like the
second, and for similar purpose. a
feature Of the intirmary is that part of
the building which is used for colored
people. The rooms are neatly and com
fortably fitted up. and patients are
treated free Of cost.
An old cOlored man who was brought
to the infrmary Stone-blind, yesterday
was able TO distinguish the color Of
paper and identify a person at dis
lance.
An old colorcd woman. also blind
when brought to the infirmary. is able
now to see very well.
Mrs. A. \. E. Price, secretary of the
Board Of Lady Managers. says in her
annual report:
During the past year eur nirmary
has had the same struggle for existence
that has characterized the preceding
years. We had hoped that as time
went on and the public became better
acquainted with the institution and the
scope OF its charity, we would have
more pecuniary assistance, thereby en-
abling MS to enlarge its sphere of use
fitness. In this, however, we have
been disappointed, our contributions
during the past year being less than
heretofore, which necessarily restricted
lis in our work. This we are inclined
to attribute to misunderstanding
among the charity disposed Of our popu-
lation as TO the nature and extent Of
the good accomplished by the infrmary
and dispensary.
The dispenssry, or outdoor depart
ment, is the main feature of the insti-
tuition, and it is daily open from | to 3
o'clock for the gratuitous treatment Of
all those in the city, whether white or
colored, suffering from diseases Of the
eye, ear, throat. or nose, and whose cir
cumstances are such that they are I'M
able to pay for this special treatment.
The rooms are always heated in cold
weather, servant in charge, and the
attending surgeons always on hand,
whatever the weather may be. The Sc
nior surgeon is there every day, and the
other surgeons each three times week.
Such free service to the poor suffering
from these diseases enables them to
apply for treatment in the earliest
stage of their troubles, and have
them arrested or cured before they
have advanced Ear enough to throw them
out Of work, thus obviating the neces-
sity of their being confined in hos
pital. The hours are arranged to epa-
bic patients TO attend the dispenSary
without losing time from work. In
many eases medicines are given them,
but our means do not permit MS to dis
pense medicines to all the patients.
This outdoor department, therefore. Is
n labor Of love and charity that enables
many . laboring man to 20 on with hl'
work and support his family while nn-
der ntatmen.. Aboat 1000 visits