Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-03
RrCgMoND's GREATEST NEED.
Tho want OF q General Hospital
Clearly and Rercfbiy SHOWN.
n. A.. RItlo. a. tha nfsnafah

To the Editor OF the DltpatcD
There is an enterprise which just now IL
engaging the attention Of many Of our ear
nest energetic, aud Influential citizens, the
object OF which Is the establishment OF a
general hospital IN our city.
The mead Of such an institution has long
been felt. The wonder is that 1t does not
already exist IN . CITY which has SHOWN such
recupsratIvs power since the late war, and
whose resources, as manifested by our re-
cent Exposition, are varied and wonderful.
Most cities Of the United States OF the SIZE
OF Richmond have one free hospital, ~ least,
larger cities having more IN proportion to
their population.
New York has seventeen hospitals. tTeo
which are general; Philadelphia has eleven,
four Of them general; Boston has eight, hve
OF which are general; Brooklyn has i've,
TWO are general; Baltimore has three, two
OF them are general; Charleston has TIVE
hospltals; Norislk two, naval and cItY
institution; Cincinnati has three. a CONNER
cial hospital, q hotel for invslids, and
widow and female ssyum and hospital; st.
Louis has four, two general.
New Orleans and Mobile are more amply
provided with hospitals In proportion to
their population than most Oh the cities oil tie
Union.
the largest In the couutry, receiving from
| IA. 900 TO %. 900 patients year aud haTing
about 1000 beds.
Mobile has three hospitals, two OF which
are general. All are large and admirably
| conducted.
| These statistics were published some Years
ago. Doubtless many other large and -four
ifhng institutions have sprung into active
| life since.
WHY should our beautiful, seveu-billed
| city be behind her sisters OF the Union la 40
enterprise touching the lives ADD welfare OF
| 10 large portion OF her citizens3
We have two slmshousss-on for the
white, the other for colored people; but all
who need at time. pccaniary AID are not pau
| pers. To treat them as such would not only
wound and distress them nsedlsssly, but
would in the end produce decentralization
pnd indispo.ition TO exertion, which would
throw m intOerable burden on the tsX-piy-
Ing class who would be compelled osupport
| them.
As "idleness IL the devips workshop"
wsuld II not be well TO convert these two To-
stitutleus is.o work.houses 90 that various
| tramp, warrants, and others having no visi-
bic means OF support could find work, aud be-
| ing brought undsr some wholesome restraint
grsduslIy form habit, Of Industry? The old
law, "Ii man work not, neither shall he
eat" seems still h be a healthy idea.
II sometimes occurs that strangers OF good
standing ara taken III on our streets, and
being unable 10 speak for themselves they
are carried to the poorbsuse, 10 default 81 a
more congenlsl place Of reception. This
seems almost a. cruel a. our custom Of con-
fnlng the insane In Jail ike = common ielon
white the lanalico inquirendo is pending
We are all familiar with the Keen dread
which is felt by the poor generally oil being
upon the town." which idea Dickens has
20 beautifully embodied in the character OF a
| determined old woman, who always kept
sswed up In her dress the Nancy necessary
for her burial. vigorously DENYING herself
| for that purpose, and who, when she felt
that her DAYS were numbered. left Der home
] AID died on her journey, fsein. from the
| peorhouse. Many OF them battle for ye'rs
with disease and poverty rather than "come
to that"
There is no doubt that Thousands OF our
people die yearly for want OF proper atter-
! ton during sickness. Illness in a poor
family means loss OF work, accumulated
debt, aud a general "setting behind hand"
many falling utterly to catch up again. The
sick one Is not the only loser. tor either be Is
neglected. or else the very necessary time
OF 3 relative il consumed N taking care OF
the patient. the narrowed income barely
sustaining life, leaving nothing for diet
necessary for restoration.
From byEieuic poiat OF View. IL II not
we'll for the sick persen 10 be removed from
| close quarters. where the budding together
creates great danger OF contasion or iniee-
| ton?
All Of these difficulties might be obyiated
or greatly lessensd by 4 general hospital In
which the sick could be well cared for,
| properly uourished, aud much more speedily
| restored TO a self,sustaining condition.
Many OF the owners OF our large manu-
featuring establishments, VINO already care
generously for the health and comfort OF
their employee have expressed their entire
! willingness TO aid IN such an undertaking /;
some prominent men saying at Is neces-
sity."
There are many wealthy, generous per.
sons who sre on the lookout for worthy OBJ
| iects for their muuifcence.
Not eng ago q lady mas attracted by the
| bright, happy faces Of the children At the
Female Orphan Asylum on Leigh street, and
she donated to then $1,000. Let us at once
form 4 nucleus, let our hospital be a solid
fact on permanent foundation. and gifts,
| legacies, aud eudowmepts will surely follow.
| This appeal was suggested to the writer by
. prominent lady OF Richmond, who has the
| enterprise very much at hesrt. II Is hoped
| that our public-minded and generous press
will take hold OF the matter.
sARAH A. PErLH.
Exeene aaass ene D~sa-