Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-28

Eais1rs III Tie Essastys joarael
The general drift of intelligence is iox ard
bettering the coalition OF humanity. As 4
means to~ar.i this end we educate the pod
pie, AMI wb;is education On an intellectual
basis plays an important part. education On,
q physical basis plays siilA
greater part. IL - nearest 10
the more immediate necessities Of life. Cur
state boards Of health are striving hard, aniI
accomplishing much toward Improvement
Df 81. sanitary condition of our cities and
TOW ne TIE medical profession is stul, inH
every means hieh promises better resuitsl
I'm medicine and surgery. Dgr city ano
;Uwp officers are doing all they can 10 im-l
prove the facilities for caring for their res-
/ len. sick and INDECENT. Everything that
! accomplished in these severai lines etia1
..,tes the people Hospitals are product,
Is necessary outcome of education and
s.vaneing Christian civilization. The
.oe,i that is wrought by them CANNOT
b.. over-e.timated. How many poor suffer
! patients we see every month who have
hot the mental or material ability TO relieve
tneir physical needs hose friends or fami-
bic. have not this ability who could be cared
or and nur>e,l to health again, were proper
-anitary conditions afforded. How many
children conli be taken from tenement
.,aases where filth and bad air have full
way. I've need not leave Angus
la 10 tinI the crowded filthy tene1
fnent' TO place where they could
get pure air. good food, water and
SOAP. and perhaps little medicine ut proper
Intervals, a,,d thus sdrs tires rhich other1
}, is, ,r.gM be Inst. There is not one ply 1
,ieian in the city of augusta who does moi
know Of at least half a dozen children who
have liel IN tire iast year simply ~ be-
I ,nsc his directions could not be car
fie,i ogt for lack of Intelligent
nursing and proper sanitary surroundings
oar aimshouse is well appointed and man
sged as an almshouse and patients consigned
h,,ere all receive careful nursing and treat
brent. The present matron has had many
wears experience in the care and nursing
,f the INDECENT and everything possible is
lone for their comfort and well-being; still
b is not a hospital Besides there is another
! ,es,ion. though perhaps sentimental
b &c, deserving notice. When aims
house" is mentioned to Il sick patient
EIlere is feeling of false pride that viii
bot allow them TO consent to removal
" ence whereas were il to a hospital that
We advised removal there would be nj
|i.sent. have seen this tine and time
! gain in the past year in my work as city
&ly stefan, and know of many cases whers
s~~overy would have been much more
speedy could we have obtained the pa
tient's or friends permission to remove the
patient to the alms-house.
As matter of saving to the city we be-
|lirve it would be economy to care tor the
kitty patients in hospital rather than tic
hire nurses outside and have to feed and
whole families in order that one
patient might receive benefit thereby. At
IA safeguard in case of an epidemic of con-
tagious disease a hospital would have great
lvalue. If we were to have some epidemic
Bin the city among the poorer class what
could we do: We have not even pest
house in which to isolate cases. We could
hot put them into rooms or buildings tina,
we have at present As matter of safet,
no the community we urgently need nos
some place in the city where we can treai
contagious diseases. should such occur and
we have Nc immunity. As an emergency
hospital il would have a value. No privat.
Ihouse, however well appointed can have IA
|cilties for the proper and sate treatment OF
severe surgical injuries. If we are not large
lis New York or Boston we are just as hu
1man. and heir to Just rs many conditions
Failing for treatment AMI demanding just a
good treatment. our difference is chiefly
la to numbers. We have more manufac
|turies relatively than New York and have as
|many accidents. Perhaps our streets are
mot az crowded neither are our bar rooms
fThe city of New York has upwards OF
fly hospitals not including many pri
Iydie sanitarlums and four homropaihi,
hospitals. We woat one. Everywhere
the hospital idea is spreading. Small cities
throughout the United States are learning
the utility of general hospitals and when 0
sctg reaches population of l2,D0O we see a
1ho- pital spring up. We have reached the
period when hospital is as necessary as d
Church or library.
Why are physicians the prime movers III
ltlis scheme: 1t certainly is no mcrcenarN
3motiye. The hospital wouli be conducted IL
1all well regulated institutions of the sort are
9ov the iaiety Profe ssional services would be
RENDERED gratis. The reason physician,
ARE the prime movers is this; 1t is oui
Business and pleasure to render assistanc,
(to many who cannot assist themselves; tC
advise those in need of advice. We see the
needs of the sick more clearly than an,
|o.her class. Physicians in Augusta ar,
in the opinion that Il hospita
here is needed We ask the cooperation
lof every citizen in this city TO accomplish
THE end sought. &. NJ. RANDALL, NJ. u.
tr,rsr, Ian y, lspp