New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
pENEEICENT TNION.

Tho irtoros+inc announcement is made in our
oolr,rrs This morning that st. Lulles Hospital
and the House of Rest for COnSumptlVeS are 10
bo consolidated. 1t is unfortunate dcporabe
and discreditabIe that so large part OF the
charitable. educational and religious work OF
tho world should be accomplished In wasteful
and inefficient manner Time money, appll-
ancos and energy fail to produce their legitimate
rosults in diminishing the misery and promoting
tho welfare of the race because they cannot be
brought into systematic and thorough co'opera-
ton II is therefore always a source of salts
faction TO see two institutions Whch can DC
united without loss TO either entering upon
new career Of usefulness by combination Oh
resources under one management ana eSpecIdi-
w when rs in this case one of them has been
doing admirable work in the face OF obstacles
which the other is peculiarly competent to re-
mayo From This union of IT. Lukes and the
House Of Rest we NAV confidently look for new
developments which will not only be OF great
immediate benefit To the afflicted but when
will also permanently advance the science oil
medicine.
DIR. Koch's investigations and discoveries and
the new hopes which they have kindled have al
lca,, served TO concentrate the thoughts OF the
world upon the origin, nature and cure OF con-
sumption. There is. unhappily, much reason to
fear that the famous German bacterlologlSt has
not achieved 80 great triumph as mankind IN
general and even his own profession were mt
first encouraged to imagine. But from INC
work which he has done, and still more from
the efforts which he has inspired, notable re-
suits are vet to be expected. The announce
mcnt that the particular service hitherto per-
formed bv the House of Rest is hereafter to be
carried on under all the advantages which 81
Lubes is able to provide, suggests the hope that
means TO combat and conquer the woiul Scourge
of consumption may be sought in the future win
still more zeal and persistence than in the past
and with greater success. Indeed we lhlef
from the action which has now been taken ana
from the statements which accompany 1t thai
this is the wish and determination OF the nos
pital authorities They have at command great
resources of skill and equipment and it is doubt
full if they could employ these facilities in any
manner more honorably and usefully.
Now that this new and important step has
bccn decided on. it may not be thought an in
trusion if we suggest to the trustees of -.
Luke's the advantage of removing that institu-
| ton from us present PId'c VI ON''VO"N~ w. "
more spacious and secluded site. The hospital
property on Fifth-ayc. has an enormous money
value, but is not peculiarly adapted to It's present
use Aside from the fact that 1t Is central ana
accessible, it has no special advantages, ana
even this facility Of approach has ITS drawbacks.
| Further uptown, perhaps, in the nelahbofhood
of the spot chosen for the new Episcopal Cathe-
J dral. an ample site could be acquired ana com
modious buildings erected, or at least carried
well on toward completion, for the price which
the Fifth-aye property would bring. And II a
further sum were needed there Is lhtle doubt
that some of our liberal citizens could be trusted
to supply it, A change of location has been
contemplated At various times, we believe, and
VIC are convinced that the suggestion ought not
to be definitely rejected now without careful
| consideration.