The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-12

Iotal. 900
That the establishment of the hospital will
result in great financial saving to the City
and County, and be step forward in the in
terest OF humanity and sociology, will be seen
by the following extract from d letter written
in February last by Superintendent Clarkson
OF Branch County Jail 2:
am in receipt of a copy OF your bill relating to
the erection by the Board of Supervisors of this
City and County of hospital and home for idebri-
ates. and providing for the commitment of dipso-
manacS and confirmed opium, morphine or alco-
hol lnebrates thereto. Knowing that land has
heretofore been set apart by this City for this pur
pose, heartily indorSe your bill as an economic
proposition as well as from humanitarian basis.
We have confined in this institution the present
time lS9 inmates, who are either confirmed opium,
morphine or alcohol inebrates This number does
not include those confirmed inebrates who
committed for petty larceny, which was excited
by the craving for narcotics. The total number of
prisoners now confined in the Jail is 3S9, showing
that nearly so per cent confirmed inebriates
In two-thirds OF the cases they again COM
mitted within ten days after their release 1t is
therefore, seen that they are permanent burden
upon the City and County. From my experience
with these nebrates 1t is nv conviction that they
are in diseased condition and powerless to re-
sist the morbid craving for narcotics without
special medical treatment-hence my Endorsement
OF your proposed hospital and home. These unfor-
Inmates should not be committed as criminals
when in fact they are the victims of disease.
In support OF Superintendent Clarkson's let.
ter, Mr.. Chairman, let me say that inebriety is
durable disease TO the same extent that other
nervous diseases are durable; that is, q certain
percentage OF cases can be completely cured,
others can be benefited very much. But Gov
ernor Budd by his approval OF the legislative
act has provided the one thing, the want of
which has most commonly been the cause of
failure, that is, the compulsory detention of a
patient in hospital under pleasant and health
Jul surroundings, where each patient will be
made the subject OF special study and special
medical treatment suited to the exact require
ments OF the case. Under this system il is rea-
sonable for the taxpayers to hope and expect a
large reduction in the cost of caring for this
class of indigentS.
/ therefore respectfully ask that your Com
m1ttee on Hospitals recommend to the board
that the Finance Committee be empowered
ana requested to include in the next tax levy
OF lS9o-9o the sum of 100000 in the general
fund for the purpose of erecting, furnishing
and maintaining the hospital and home for
olpsomanlacs and inebriates.
In answer to questions by members of
the committee DR.. Gavigan stated that
there is City lot having frontage OF $50
feet by depth of 240 feet in the block
bounded by Point Lobos avenue, Ninth
avenue, Clement street and Tenth avenue,
about three blocks west of the French Hos
pltal, which had been set apart by the au-
thorlties for just such an institution as is
contemplated by the code. He said that
there was no doubt but the institution
would be self-sustaining, as there are a
number of rich people who are victims of
drink who would pay for treatment there.
He instanced the Home for the Care of
Inebrlates, private institution, which
now has $67, 900 in its treasury, to show
that when charge is made against those
who can pay, enough revenue can be OBJ
tanned to meet the expenses of a hospital
for those who suffer from drink.
After brief consultation the committee
unanimously voted in favor of resolu-
ton to have incorporated in the next tax
levy the sum of 100000 for the construc-
ton of the hospital and all seemed favor
able to locating it on the City lot described.