Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-06
THE FACTS IN A CASE.
The City Hospital and Charity

Cases.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-A sad case in our city in the last
few days has been made the text for some
very unjust criticisms OF the hospitals oil
our city by the press and others.
In this and all 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 sickness entails expense-often
very large expense-which somebody has
TO meet. In most cities the hospitals are
endowed institutions. and the necessary
expense is met in that way, but where
there is no endowment. the State or indi-
, viduals must make the necessary pro-
vision.
our City Hospital-for whose reputation
l am chiefly concerned-has no endow-
ment, and receives no State aid; its in
come is derived from patients who are
able to pay for accommodation, and from
donations from individuals. AS the dona-
tons come exclusively from Wheeling, 1t
was thought right when the hospital was
organized TO restrict charity cases TO res
! idents of this city and county. Had we
done anything else we would have been
overrun with cases from the neighboring
States. and, as il l., we have to scruunize
, with care all applicants for the free SER
vice of the hospital, and with our best
care we are sometimes victimized.
In the case now attracting attention
there was no need for the young woman
TO come to Wheeling. Her home was
equally near to Pittsburg and in Pittsburg
the State of Pennsylvania makes pro-
vision for such cases by paying the West
Penn Hospital $45, 900 a year TO maintain
free service That was the place for her
10 have gone.
But being here, | grant that she should
have been received and cared for by some
of our institutions. That was due to her
condition. without reference to what she
was or whence she came; but, as l say.
somebody would have to pay the inevitable
bill.
The case, though sad. is unfortunately
not singular. Hardly a week passes will
out our having cases that claim our SYM
pathy and would appeal to the public, If
known, quite as much as this. and If we
allowed our sympathy TO control our ac-
tons, it would not take long TO wreck the
hospital.
The City Hospital will do all the charity
work for which the citizens of Wheeling
will provide the means. Last year we re-
ceived in donations $1,551.53, and with this
small amount we cared for eighty-six
cases free of charge-charity cases.
1t is related of the Philadelphia philan-
thropist. Stephen Girard, that walking
along the streets one day he saw a poor
woman whose little stand of cakes and
fruit had been overturned by runaway
horse. A crowd had gathered which was
loud in it's expressions of sympathy.
After listening TO them moment, Girard
said: II pity her, tool pity her five dol
lars. How much do the rest Of you pity
her?"
So say 10 my fellow citizens of Wheel
ing: How much of practical sympathy
are you willing to extend to the suffering
and afflicted poor-yes, and TO the sinful
and weak? The way TO do this, and the
only effective way, is by establishing free
beds in the hospitals of our city. so pro-
viding places for the sick and meeting the
inevitable and unavoidable expense which
those who arc familiar with hospital work
know to be attached TO every case treated.
RODNEY r. SWOPE.
President City Hospital Association