The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-06
THAT CHILDBIRTH CASE.

Rev. DR.. swope, President Ofths City Hos
pltaI Assoclation, Gives Reasons for
the Keeping Out ofsueh CaHsi.
The president OF the City Hospital
Association, Rev. DR.. R. Rush swope,
yesterday made the following state
ment regarding the case of the young
woman, who was about to give birth
10 child the other morning, and who
was refused admittance to hospitals
and hotels:
"A sad case In our city in the last few
days has been made the text by the press
and others for sumo unjust criticism OF
the hospitals Of our city. In this and oil
similar cases there are other things than
sentiment that have to be considered
we have to be mercenary and think OF
dollars and cents. Every case OF sick
ness entails expenSe-often very large
expense-whlch somebody has IL meet
In most cities, hospitals are endowed In
situations, and the necessary expense is
met in that way, but where there Is no
endowment the state or individuals must
make the necessary provision.
"Our City Hospital, for whose reputa-
ton 1 am chiefly concerned, has no en-
dowment and receives no state aid; its
income Is derived from patients who are
able TO pay for their accommodation, and
from donations from individuals. As
the donations come exclusively from
Wheeling, It was thought right, when the
hospital was organized. 70 restrict char
Ity cases TO residents OF this city and
county. Had we detle anything else we
would have been overrln with cases
from neighboring states, and, as It IS,
we have to scrutinl1e with care all ap-
-. &c. fam rNNH
pltal, and with our best care we are
sometimes vlctimlzed.
I'm the case now attracting attention
there was no need for the young woman
to come to Wheeling; her home was
equally near to Pittsburgh and in Pitts
burgh the state OF Pennsylvania makes
prnviBion for such cases by paying the
West Penn Hospital $4,000 a year to
maintain free service. That was the
place for her to have gone. But being
here grant She should have been re-
celved and cared for by some OF our IN
stltutlons That was due to her condl-
ton without reference to what she was
or whence she came; but, as say above,
somebody would have TO pay the ineVi-
table bill.
''The case, though sad. is unfortunate
ly not singular. Hardly a week passes,
without our having cases that claim our
sympathy and would appeal to the pub
| lie, II known, quite as much as this. and
IL we allow our sympathy to control our
actions It would not take long to wreck
the hospital.
.'The City hospital will do all the char
lily work for which the citizens Of Wheel
| ing will provide the means Last year
we received in donations 1851 90, and
/ with this small amount we cared for
elghty-slx cases free OF charge-chartty
cases.
at is related of the Philadelphia phil
anthroplst Stephen Girard, that walk
! ing along the street one day, he saw a
poor woman whose little stand OF cakes
| and fruit had been overturned by a rum
away horse. A crowd gathered and was
| loud in Its expressions Of sympathy.
| Girard. after listening for moment
| sald, 'I pity her, too; pity her 80; now
much do the rest OF you pity her"
80 l say 10 my fellow citizens OF
wheeling; How much OF practical SYM
pathy are you willing TO extend to the
suffering and afflicted poor?' The way
TO do this, and the only effective way IS
by establishing free beds IN the hospitals
OF our city. so providing places for the
! sick and meeting the inevitable and un-
nyoIdable expense, which those who are
familiar with hospital work know 70 be
attached to every case treated"