Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-09
CARD.
Wheeling. w. Va, Oct. Sth, 1896.
90 r.tt--- - -, Daufefar


To the Editor Of the Register.
Sir.-I noticed in the evening paper
a report of tn ciJy's mortality for the
last quarter, which, if left as 1t is IN
this so-called report, would do me, and
NV hospital. a great injustice Ii has
been. all along, my purpose 10 keep my
professional work as private as possible;
or at least l have not directly or indi-
rectly attempted 10, through the press,
or even a medical journal, 10 advertise
my successes or conceal my failures.
| shall be plain, and state at once That
the peculiar shape in which this report
is made is Intended as a personal injury
TO me and my institution I, therefore,
beg Of the public 10, in honest vindica-
ton Of myself, allow me to make a state
ment such as will show up matters in
their true light, and thereby do me sim
pie justice.
Two of the five cases referred TO as
having died in my hospital in the last
three months, were "broken-backs,"
and therefore absolutely hopeless. I
explained to the friends that all we could
do was TO care for them. and make them
as comfortable as possible until those
fated unfOrtunates should terminate
their suffering, as they uneXceptionaHy
do, in death. This we did, at very
considerable expense, for which we re-
ceived no compensation other than that
of the consciousness that we had done
what we could to Tighten the burden OF
those poor fellows on their speedy Jravei
from their horrible accident TO their
grave. The report of these cases is made
in such a manner as TO do me as much
harm as possible
All can say in this connection is:
God have mercy on this miserable, mar
row mind. capable of conceiving 50
cowardly an attack on a man, before
whose face he has not the manly cOur-
age and decency TO attempt such
thing.
Another case of the dreadful five"
was a young lady who was brought
here many miles for an operation; bur,
on entering the hospital | at once no.
Jiced that she was dying, and that 10
consider an operation was out Of the
question; and so carried the sad news 20
her aged mother and two sisters who
accompanied her. We did what We
could to add as many hours and minutes
as possible to the very shor, period Of
life yet remaining TO this very estim-
able young lady, the daughter of an old
land highly esteemed personal friend.
This sad case also was reported to the
public as The other two, without word
Of explanation, for d purpose evident to
any one acquainted with the circum-
stances.
The other two can be accounted for in q
very satisfactory way; but now that i ar
rive at the number reported by the City
Hospital" | snail go no further; except
to state that l venture the assertion that
in The period referred TO in this report,
there have been done at The Haskins
Hospital three times as many capital OPP
eradOns, as done in the City Hospital,
and double the number of charity cases
treated there. And we have paid our
expenses, tat rates paid by business
hOueses for water, gas, etc. every dollar,
without going out asking assistance
from the public.
This statement refers distinctly to the
City Hospital. as l am perfectly aware
OF the gact that the Sisters Hospital
re3ts more charity cases than all the
Hospitals in Wheeling combined.
have no favOrs to ask of either Hos
pitals, however, or their special friends,
and nave, therefore, no object in making
this statement except to state a simple
tru.h in connection with this Hospital
matter. Yours respectfully,
THOS NJ. HASKINS.