Evening journal., 1898-03-21

TO cut OF aAl charitable appropriations |
cannot help stating my opinion, that |
this is a short sighted and unwise
economy. When one stops and con-
siders that the charitable institutions
are supported by private subscription
for the benefit OF the public poor, and
that everyone treated and supported i'm
these institutions is OF SO much benefit
and relief to the public treasury, one
would easily agree that the small pro
rata additional tax levied upon prop
erty, necessary to produce the amount
'of these appropriations, would be a
small burden to the taxpayers and a
benefit to the county. II is a poor argi-
ment to say that the citizens will keep
up these institutions at any rate. It is
the duty OF our state, county and city
governments, apart from the natural
pride in having such institutions, to
see that worthy, meritOriOus and neces-
sary charities are supported. / sin
cerely hope that the members of the
Levy Court wil see their way clear to
continue the appropriations authorized
by Legislature.
The hospital has increased it's num-
ber OF days OF service, reaching 1900;
the number OF patients admitted being
343, OF which number 800 were free pa
tients, and In the dispensaI.y the num-
ber OF patients treated was ,726.
am led TO believe from the reports
OF physicians that the dispensary SER
vice Is being abused in that persons
who can afford TO employ a doctor, are
attending the dispensary and receiving
free treatment. This Is neither fair to
the hospital nor to the physicians; no
profession is more entitled 10 the grati-
tude of the community that that Of
medicine. The staff OF the hospital give
| their valued time and services to the
poor free OF all cost, and without any
reward to themselves except eXperi-
ence, which in the case OF the older
physicians is not commensurate with
/ the loss OF time from their regular
practice. They naturally feel that they
are not fairly treated, and that the
/ charity Is abused when they see either
| their own patients or others, who are
| able to employ a physician attending
free dispensary. The principle Is
| wrong. and its continued use viii tend
TO pauperize the community Every
one who is able should be willing "a
employ a physician in time OF sickness
The dispeneary was instituted for thOse
| who cannot pay a physician by reason
OF their poverty, and not for those. who
being able, yet will not employ one.
hope some plan Will be devised to cor.
rect this abuse.
The total subscriptions for 1897 were
81. .43O so. which included $500 from thi
Levy Court for 1896. The cash dona
ticns were s421.15, with s2O9 receive,
on donation day.
Treasurer Henry G. JnOes repOrte'
receipts, including a balance or 81,
254. 40 carried over from 1896, amount
ing to $40 9.9O2.S3. The disbursement
OF the year left n balance OF 81. .660.63 o
hand ON january 1, 1898. The asset
amount to $40 .232.S4. During the yea
the surgical dispensary treated 80
cases. and the medical dispensary %
cases. The total admissions and n
| manning on january I, 1897. 363
the 80 who died fourteen died In froI
| ten minutes to fifteen hours from oh
time OF admission. The number
q | operations In the surgical ward was 4
and the cases treated in the medic
ward numbered 161.
y Many OF the old committees Will
z reappointed.