Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-13
DELAWARE 8osPiTAL.
An interesting Statement ConoarpinT the
Condition AND AFFAIRS of the Institution.

DELAWARE aOSPITAI.
An interesting Statement Concsrping the
Condition and AFFAIRS of the Institution.
A friend of the Delaware Hospital
writes as follows concerning the in
stitution:
In appealing again to the public
after the lapse of several years to sup
port an entertainment on a large scale
at the Grand Opera House, the mana
gers of the Delaware Hospital desire to
say a few words as to their financial
position. The management expresses
heartfelt gratitude, largely to those
who shall hear ii no more from human
lips. The. hospital has received large
requests. Furthermore, by the clearest
of all evidence, by the regular paying
out of its money the community has to
very appreclable extent endorsed its
work.
Yet, in spite of all this, the running
expenses of the institution are far
ahead of its income, which condition
the managers feel is due neither to
extravaganza nor mismanagement. Two
opposite causes working to the same
result have brought it about. In the
first place, during recent years the
annual subscriptions have fallen Of
largely. Bequests, it is truet came in,
but most OF them necessarily, all of
them properly, go to strengthen the
endowment fund. However,, should
the present effort to meet the deficit
prove inadequate, the only resource is
those legacies which are unrestricted.
Today the institution is 81, 100 be-
hind the corresponding income of
last year. Five hundred dollars of this
is the loss of the yearly amount here
tofore appropriated by the Levy Court
to this charity. -
In the second place, running expenses
have largely increased. The city has
been growing steadily. More people,
more business and more manufactures
involve more deaths, disease and acct
dents. This follows, as light follows the
sun. But out of all proportion to this,
the hospital has grown In popularity.
1t was shy, distrusted thing at first,
really needing patients. Now 1t is
thronged and overcrowded. i.h
Until the managers secure sufficient
steady income, the managers do not
dare to talk of new buildings, but,
unless there are new buildings, they
must soon turn people away. The
i nurses submit to cramped, inadequate
1
grief to the managers, as we'll as to the
superintendent, whose labors of. love
can have more than pecuniary recog.
milton, to close their doors against any
case of need, and they ought never t
be subjected to it. sy
The hospital has had many soldiers
during the past months, and to them Il
gives freelyNof its best, without pric,
or change, counting it "a blessed op
portunity when they can relieve the
suffering and sickness of those brav'
men who so quickly enlisted at theii
country's call. ~
Yet, independent of the soldiers, ad
missions increase at the rate of % pc
cent annually. Each admission in
wolves, of course, certain expense
besides taking up room.
Further, a higher grade of service j:
now rendered. This has to be, Some o
the leading physicians of the city Civ
their services free of all charge, bu
they cannot be asked to do this unles
the latest and best appliances are fur
nished. It,p.would not be right t
themselves, to the hospital, or to tina
large portion of the community VIII
have no direct contact with it, 70
some of its best work is indirect. As
demonstration school for the younge
, physicians, as meeting ground for tn
older, as a training school for nurses
, its benefits are incalculable; that is
if it keeps up its plant. The sam
necessity is imposed upon every techni
, cal school land industrial concer
throughout the country. Otherwise
it is wholly distanced.
! As to late improvements, one ha
~ Do. x&s,- e
! geons' kits sent out in the late wa
! has been little short of revolution |
i the medical world. Antiseptic treat
4 ment As now universal, while the rang
of surgical treatment and the delicac
and precision of the instruments use
4 are marvellous. AS result, the ave.
age of human life has been lengthene
n and the fatality of casualties and di:
/. ease correspondingly diminished.
+ all, however, takes money. Where 81
I were spent formerly 800 are needle
Il now, fa ~,
n To meet such needs a great deal ha
d been done privately and quietly. This
a however, cannot go on, indefinitely
s The Delaware Hospital isla gret
q public institution. 1t knows no dill
o tinctions of creed, class or color. Lii
l. the gentle rain and constant dew,
0 benefits all. So it makes its appea
i trusting that its ''Temple of Fame,
i to be opened on October oath, wit
j Isong and dance and laurel wreathei
Is may be enabled to obliterate this di
y quieting gap, daily widening betwee
h its current expenses and its runnir
a income, and so allow all unrestricts
10 legacies to go to the endowment fun,
is Tho Mercantile Printing Co.
10 printing souvenir programme for Il
s, Temple of Fame" the proceeds
10 which will be for the benefit OF ii
lie hospital 8.