The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-14
THE SHAME OF MEMPHIS
THE TUMBLE DOWN OLD CITY
HOSPITAL,
In Which the Death Rate Is Almost
Double That OF the Marine
Hospital.

Mississippi Valley Medical Monthly for
October: The picture we drew OF
this institu ion in an editorial last
month was dark one, but the gloom
is no greater than is warranted by
fac t.. Actuated by desire simply to
encourage the improvement Of tbis,
our only hospital chsrity, we thought
the object would be promoted by
pointing out this necessity, and our
imagination has supplied no coloring
TO the picture. IL our hospital then so
much inferior in accommodations,
conf 1T and service to similar institu'
tions elsewhere? CT course could we
isolate our hospital, reduce it from the
ranks Of the rapid progress taking
place in the conduct and construction
of such institutions and accept no
standard OF comparison, we might be
induced TO confess that there was alb
solutely nothing to make il perfect,
and that we have spoken what we
"wOt not Of" This, however, is i'm
possible, since we claim with pride u
position a. a rich, progressive aud
humane community. We cannot
evade a comparison between our
charities and those elsewhere,
and we are compelled 10 be measured
by the high standard set by a untyer-
cal progress upon every community.
Pari passu with the advance of every
city or people, in culture or enlighten-
ment, has been the advance in the
number and character of their elee-
mosynary institutions. So true is this
that a scale representing the amount
of public care bestowed upon their
sick would be almost identical with a
scale representing the relative advance
in all that pertains TO civilization. IL
requires no expert or scientist to tell
uB that comparison between our in-
congruous affair and the magnificent
institutions which science and liberia
ity have erected in other cities would
be invidious and humilisting to us.
ARE OUR CITIZENS LACKING IN HUI
MANITY2
Have they not kept apace with the
progress in sanitary science, or are
they less benevolent and liberal than
the people OF other cities2 Their ex-
cellent sewerage system, the ease with
which their sympathies are aroused
and the munificent way in which they
answer appeals OF distress from neigh
boring cities, as evidenced IN the past,
sprecludes such deduction. We can
only conclude, therefore, that the mat
ter has never been properly brought
before them, that they have never
been awakened TO the fact that we
have hospital OF antiquated construc-
ton, very poorly equipped, and with
scarcely enough money to sustain it in
its present miserable condition. Our
city authorities, ton. seem to be asleep
on their watch in this particular. They
have been 80 actively engaged in pilot
ing the ship Of state through the roll
ing waves OF prosperity, in widening
and strengthening the city's power
and fame, that they have overlooked
the institution which must always
serve as guide to the depth Of our
civilization. 1t is true that they have
no Immediate power OF action in the
premises, but 1t Is upon their recon-
mendation that we must look for the
correction OF this error OF omission.
OUR HOSPITAL
issustained by a special tax OF one mill
on the dollar, which yields an annual
sum OF 81 900, 1t costs TO collect this
about $232, leaving q net income oil
S11 1868, with which to pay officera'
aud attendants salaries and to meet
all the current expenses of the hos
pital. Taking the average yearly cost
for the past three years (lS83-84-85)
o be $1,000, and estimating the aver
age number Of patients in the hospital
each day during the time to DO eighty,
we find the daily per capita cost OF pa
tients only $40 cents. During the
same time in the City Hospital at s..
Loule the daily average per capita cost
was 1877 cents, while in the United
States Marine Hospital at this port II
was 50 80. But il Is not necessary to re-
sortlo comparative figures to show that
the sum annually provided Tor lis sup
port is notsutlicieht for the needs OF The
institution. Inspection will convinc,
anyone at all familiar with hospital
OF this fact, and we think il is alsC
evidenced by the results of the service
there. All the buildings, except on,
ward, erected a few years since, are IL
very poor repair, and the wards ar,
constructed after plan used durini
the civil war for the building of mill
tary HOSPITALS, cheaply and ouiokl,
for Temporary uss. Ii wss never In
tended AZ A plan nv which To buil,
permanent civil hospitals. They ar
provided with none Of the mSder,
conyeniences for ventilation or heat
ING and tie arrangement of the az,
vice rooms. layatoTies. water closet
and bath rooms are unsanitary an,
inconyeniept
To SECURE at all times a clean swes
smelling ward. II ia necessary that IN
wards shculd be built of dnTabl
materials nermanentlv constyuctet
snnnIipd with coed yentilaiing n,
Tspgements The wa,sr cloaets sborI
he indirectlv connected wifi The war
* -, ~"