Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-04-15
Caring for the Sick.

The following is the report Of DR..
Hannah M. Thompson, of the workings
nf the Associated Charities "sick diet
Kitchen" eiA
ave have nothing Of espscial inter-
eat or importance TO offer 10 the month.
II report Of our Dies Kitchen. In thel
two months Of our work we have hnd
sufficient evidence 10 satisfy us that itl
meets demand which could NOT bel
provided for except by regular sys-
tematic arrangement of this kind. Dur.
ing the month OF March We have had
swelve new applicants. making thirty
six In all since our opening. The ma
jority Of these have come regularly
while their ticket was good. Several
have had their tickets renewed once or
more, while OF those who came but once
or twice, 1t was generally on account of
the distance, or because they had no
one to send. During the first half OF
March We averaged ten daily on our
open days; the latter part Of the month
six daily.
Supplies given out during March
soup, SO quarts, milk, 109 quartz; beef
tea, 10 piuts; 1 can meat extract: far
ina, % pints; corn starch pudding, 8
pints; oatmeal Cruel, % pinn; stewed
peaches, 38 pints; prunes, 16 pints; total
expenses during the month, including
wages, $22.72. Our kitchen is open re-
gularly on ruesd ays Thursdays and Sat-
urdays, but we are prepared to furnish
milk and beef tea every day, II requir.
cd, in special cases, as we have already
doLe In one or two instances, II the APP
plicatlon is made during our open
hours, between IL q. m. and Q p. m. As
sickness ia not confined to any season,
1t Is the intention to keep the kitchen
open throughout the year. 1t is hoped
that physicians will take advantage of
our prepared food In all cases of neces-
sity among the INDECENT, IS 1t is not re-
stricted TO the applicants of the Asso
ciated Charities, as seems to be the
general impression.
The difficulties connected with this
work, thus far, are those unfavorable
with all new enterprises, especially
when 1t is required that they should be
conducted on the most economical, as
we'll as the most generous basis. That
| IL, we feel Obliged, with the object we
have In view, TO furnish first class pro
| visions ut all times, econ0mizing In
other particulars. BY our present ar
rapgement, the employ ment Of womer
| without any experience In such work
to do the cooking and dispensing In hel
own kitchen, our expenses are consid
erably lessened. But, at the same time
We cannot reasonably expect to get 81
good results in the preparing OF food
and In the general arrsn 2ement and
appearance Of our kitchen, as we woult
likely secure by an experienced cook
and In room fitted up specially forth
parpose
We may say, however, that the worl
is performed with general satisfaction
to the committee, and as 30 much de
Ipends upon the person In charge "
think tha selection fortunate one II
lmsny respects. We acknowledge, witt
Thanks, In addition to previous dona
tlons, the receipt Of 1880, proceeds fron
the lecture given by Elizabeth W
Smith, for the benefit of our kitchen
This kindly assistance was appreciates
and noted ct the time Of the lecture, bu
was not acknowledged In our last re
port, because We had not received In
formation OF the sum realized. W
have alse received q generous contribu
tiOn Of $40 and gift Of several pound
of oatmeal from interested friendI
These donations, as well as the man
ex pressions OF interest In our worl
show q gratifying appreciation Of tn
needs Of our indigent sick, and o grow
|, II ing sentiment In favor Of the importanC
: not only of nourishing diet but of goo
, nursing and hygiene surroundings /
, the treatment Of the sick.
This encourages us in our hope an
J stimulates us In our purpose to wor
toward the establishment OF . geners
City Hospital and Medical Dlspensa-y
In connection with or apart from ou
, diet kitchen. There is no question {
: the need of such an institution In ou
city, and We think the agitation Of thi
subject will not he much longer de
/, ferred. A well-conducted hospits
l would concentrate, economize and reI
der more efficient large part Of th
chsritable works Of our physicians
T we'll as that OF our association. Besides
, liz would contribute to the independents
8 and importance of our city, and woul
be another worthy expression OF tf
, Humanitarian sentiment of our peopl
g While this matter is no doubt soms
8 what without the limits of the work I
lour conference, 1t bears so close q reli
f, | ton to the subject of our report that "
Icould not neglect the opportunity
urging its Importance.