The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-12
Another PIea For Removal.

AS the question OF removing the cit
hospital is now pending before the cid
government, and as the few who opposo
this step have entered their protest and
given their reasons for protesting, and a
you have kindly brought their views be-
fore the public, will you not, with your
usual spirit OF fairness, allow those OF us'
who think differently TO give our views|
through your columns. We think the hos
pitai should be removed from its present
location, and the following are some OF our
reasons for thinking so.
/. The old, cheap box buildings now
used are not only unfit for their presenf
use, but they are absolutely disgrace y
our growing city.
2. The land now occupied by thee
shanties has become so valuable that il cau|
now be sold for enough cash 10 purchase.
an eligible site and build handsome mod
ern buildings, suited for their purpose and
credit to our city, and all this without s.
cost to the city.
g. II the hospital is removed beyond the
corporate limits il will reduce our death
rate about 10 per cent. Now as il Is
fact that about thrce-iourths OF the death
occurring in the hospital are nonresident
OF the city, and more than half OF them
non-residents OF the State OF Tennessee, II
ask, Is II fair that they be counted in our
death rate?
4. As IL will be many years before the
city can afford, by direct tax, TO build a.
suitable hospital. would il not he well ior
us t, embrace this opportunity to build
one free OF cost?
D. BY removing these unsightly shantics
from their present location, the streets now
INSTRUCTED by them may be opened, and
this portion OF the city beautihed, and
over 500, 900 OF tax.paying property will
be added to the city.
Now, what arc the objections urged
against the removal? The only one ~ far
is, that the interests Of the medical coll
lege will suffer. This is an unfortunate
fact, but can We afford to sacrifice this ops
portunity OF securing u handsome hospital
with the many other benefits mentioned
above, for the sole purpose OF protecting
the interests OF the medical college Id
other words, the removal of the hospital
from close proximity 10 their building
will, IL is supposed, lesson somewhat the
number OF students attending this instItu-
ton, and may perchance necessitatc the
expense OF removing their building with
the hospital. Where should the hospital
go? This IL an important question. The
proposition 10 locate II in the heart OF the
city, and suggesting that ian acre" OF
land was an abundance, is too absurd
10 argue. Think OF locating a hospital for
n city Of the size and with the prospects
OF Memphis upon lot a little over 200
feet square. All OF the best modern hos.
pitals are constructed upon the pavilion
plan, and ono aim never lost sight OF, Is
TO give each patient M many cubic feet Of
air (space) as possible. II you want TO
buy lot OF sufficient capacity in the city,
keep the one you have and do without
hospital.
II has been said that humanity for the
suffering poor demands that the hospital
bc not removed or II Il is that Il should be
more centrally located. That tho re-
moval OF the III or injured from Chelsea 10
beyond the southern limit would be in
human; would call forth the just indigna-
ton OF the public and the decisive action
OF the grand jury.
The day has long since passed when the
means OF transfer for the seycrcs. cascs-
surgical or medical-was attended with
great pain or danger. Ambulances Of
modern make give ease and security TO
the disabled
OF course the necessity for relief In
emergency cascs often occurs in large
towns and the needed aid Is supplied by
the board Of health which offers It's service
ut oil hours in such cases.
In the event Of great disasters by river
or rail the sufferers could be more easily,
safely and quickly carried 90 the landing
ON Walker street by boat or by a switch
from the Kansas City railroad 10 n hospital
on Division street than 10 the present To-
cation.
The necessity for adopting the pavilion
plan Is admitted by the intelligent Of all
classes, being the only means by which
the spread OF contagious or infectious dis
cases can be prevented or checked, also
Tor being 10 much safer In case Of fire.
We deny Il 10 be fair 10 say that our|
city's efforts 10 relieve itself OF excessive
death rate Is open 10 the designation OF q"
trick which would call forth the ridiculs
OF our sister cities. The injustice Of charg-
ing any city with the death Of iis transient
population Is apparent 10 the fair minded. F
And We fail 10 see tho improperly in any
individual or community making every
honorable effort 10 let the public know the
truth, by which we do not think Memphis F
would suffer abroad.
Ifby removing the hospital the city can
accommodate foui times the number in an
infinitely more comfortable and more sani-
tary condition without expense 10 the pub
lie, can such change be deemed unad-
yisable or unchistianlike7 On the othor
hand, Is II not only the best public policy
as we'll as the most humane act the city
can do for lis destitute and suffering poor
sick.
II II IL inhuman 10 put general hospital 4
three miles from one extremity al the city,
woe be TO the cities Of New York, Phila.
delpbia, Baltimore, Chicago and New Or
leans In the final day Of reckoning.
A. 10 the danger aud inhumanity of
moving under the influence Of shock"
this Il recognized rs much now as curing
the war; and the frst effort Of medical aid
h 20 counteract II by the immediate use Of
proper means. They do not wait until tho
sufferer Is moved 10 hospital.
II the shock Is 10 great that he cannot
be safely moved 10 hospital the patient d
made M comfortable as possible al the
nearest relief station.
Let us sell the rookery and build Z
handsome hospital without cost to the
city. CrTIzrs.