The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-06-13
THE MISSION HOSPITAL.
What it Has Done; What it is Doing,
and What it Will Do.

A brief resume of the labors, diffl-
culties and benefits of this most
charitable and necessary institution
is presented in this article, to which
we invite the attention of the cha l.
tablY inclined residents of our city.
A visit to the hospital Yesterday
morning, in company with staff
physician J. A. Watson, NJ. D., inn
pressed upon US the fact that the
people of Ashe vile We're rot doing
all they should, so far as aiding in
the support of this institution is
concerned, or as they will upon
knowing the situation.
The hospital was first established
in very small and uncomfortable
house on South Main street, and the
ward rooms only contained one or
two beds. The institution was or
ganized by few noble women of
the city, who banded themselves to-
gether, under the organic name of
The Flower Mission," and from
that day until the present, their zeal
and labers have been devoted to al.
leviating the ailments of the abiect
poor of the city. Finding that the
house on South Main street was to.
tally inadequate to meet the ends
intended, the present property on
Charlotte street was purchased
through tie efforts of Messrs. Pat
ton, Pulliam and Gwyn, and since
that change the hospital has been
under the management of a new
board of lady managers, of which
Miss F. l.. Patton is secretary and
treasurer. The hospit Il medical
staff consists offs Westry Battle, NJ.
D., U. S. N; John A. Watson, NJ. D.,
and Wardlaw McGill, NJ. D., of this
city. These gentlemen tender their
professional services free of charge,
and visit the hospital each day as
often as circumstances may require.
The charitable work of the hospital
has been carried on under serious
difficulties. The people did not
recognize the great good that the in
stItution was daily doing, and pubs
lie confidence was slow to ripen.
Neither town or county offered any
assistance until very recently. when
the county commissioners granted
pittance of $50 per month for its
support AS yet, the municipal au~
thorities have failed to allow one
penny for the maintenance of the
hospital, Notwithstanding the fact
that those who have been treated,
nursed and cared for, have
been the poverty-stricken, homeless
sick of the city. All Of the assls-
tance received (save the
month"; has been through
| fatigable labors of'the baI
! tian women who are in cl
institution. A great mani
have been overcome, and tn
tai has been kept up, and the IN
fortunates who have been cared for
here, were mainly supported by the
charity of few benevolent people.
The first year, twenty-five patients
were received at the hospital; second
year fifty-one, and the third and
lat year, at the present rate, one
hundred aad fifty will be taken care
of. The institution is rapidly grow
ing, and consequently expenses are
enlarging; yet the means for supply
ing food, medicines, hire of nurses,
cooks, labor, etc, are but little, i:
any larger, than during the second
year of the hospitals existence.
This is not as it should be, and does
not speak we'll for the citizens of
Asheville, who are amply able to
support this charity magnifcently,
and never feel the loss Of a penny.
Other cities point with pride to their
hospitals, and funds are never lack
ing for their support. Why should
Asheville not keep pace with her
smaller and less wealthy sisters, in
this respect2
A word about the present build
ing. Located in one of tie quietest
and most secluded spots in the city,
the Hospital on Charlotte street. is
all that could be desired. Large,
airy, comfortable and cosy rooms,
plainly though neatly furnished;
splendidIy ventilated, and scrupu-
lously clean, the patient here finds
all the comforts of a well~regulated
home. Competent and active nurses
attend to every want, and every
beck and call of the unfortunate
sufferer is answered. The nurses
are professionals, and have had long
experience. Every convenience and
delicacy possible to obtain. is proe
vided for the patients, of which
there are twelve at present confined
in the wards. The grounds sur
rounding the Hospital building are
large and amply shaded, and afford
a pleasant spot Ior eonvalescents to
t.ke short premenades and regain
muscular strength, The Flower
Mission" appoints two OF its mem
hers each week, who compose a vis-
iting board of managers, and they
have complete supervision Of the
entire Hospital that week. Nothing
can go wrong and escape detection,
so vigilant are these supervisors in
their rounds. The matron, Miss L.
e, Walton, is an expert, and under
her management everything moves
along without the slightest friction.
The board of managers and medi-
cal staff pay glowing tributes to her
efficiency and skill. Mrs. Fletcher,
the headsnurse, is well suited for
the position which she holds in the
institution, and has the unlimited
confidence of all the officials engaged
in the work. In addition to all the
work the hospital has done, several
competent nurses have been educa-
ted at this institution. Notably
among these is Miss Julia Palmer,
who is we'll known in this citv. It