The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-15
DICKSON'S STATEMENT.
1t Has Reference to the Needs of
the Lackawanna Hospital--Pol-
icy Is One of the Broadcast
Liberality.

Saturdays Tribune contained an ar
ticle which set forth the needs of the
Lackawanna hospital and why addi-
tional wards are needed, so that certain
kinds of cases can be properly isolated.
With reference to the admission of
what are usually termed objectionable
cases the president Of the hospital,
James =. Dickson, makes the follow
ing statement:
In your excellent article on the Lack
awanna hospital in Saturdays issue
one or two errors Crept in, that in JUS
tice to the hospital and the public, |
feel that ! should correct. The article
setting forth the needs of the hospital
and their aid asked for from the state
is not only true but should be most
emphatically emphasized by every per-
son in Scranton who has a spark OF
human kindness in their makeup, and
your remarks on children's wards are
particularly appropriate.
What I would call attention to as
being incorrect is the paragraph in
which you state that cases of typhoid
fever, consumption and diphtheria Will
not be admitted, nor will cases of alCo-
hoism. Now, as regards typhoid fever,
consumption or diphtheria, we have
mentioned, that is, typhoid and con-
sumption; in fact. we have had and
are having constant admttance OF
these two diseases, and as regards ty-
phoid, we during the last two years
have rarely had less than from six
teen to twenty cases of this disease,
We only refuse cOnsumptive cases
which are chronic, our bylaws being
very specific in this case, that we
should take no chronic cases whatever,
but the fact of the matter is. we are
rarely without five ur more cases of
CONSUMPTION, or, as it is now called.
tuberculosis. These cases we do not
take. if it is understood when they are
brought there that. they are suffering
with this disease, because all medical
authorities now say that they are con-
tagiOus.
Now as regards alcoholism. there is
hardly ever a time We have not one on
more cases of this kind. We do not
admit them as cases under this head.
but they are frequently brought to us
as simply cases OF fever, or from cases
of slight accident, and the alcoholism
develops after they have been with us
day or two. Now let me say one
thing as regards the reason why we
cannot accept these cases. In the first
place they are very apt to he noisy,
such that will disturb the other pa
tients in the ward. IN fact they are
insane cases and as such, we having
anywhere from sixty to seventy bed
rided patients, we cannot in justice
to these allow them to be inmates of
the only wards we have and so disturb
some who are suffering with fevers, or
Just getting over q severe or serious
surgical operation, but / want to say
right here that never have we turned
out a case on the street of any kind.
We have asked that cases of this kind
he sent to the poor farm, and until
they We're taken to the poor farm they
had tirst-claSs attention at Lacka-
wanna hospital.
AS regards diphtheria, that is purely
and simply II contagious disease and
We are not allowed under our bylaws
to take these cases: however if they
develop in the hospital We Ho every
thing we can for them, and in fact We
do 50 much that our SuperintendentS
and nurses have given up their rooms
for these cases and they do everything
they can to take care of them.
| can only say, in conclusion, that the
Lackuwanna hospital has in every in
stance used every endeaVOr to take care
Of not only the legitimate wounded ana
sick, but have time and time and again
taken in cases which, according to the
strict reading of our bylaws should
have been put out on the street, but
never in my position as president, which
has extended over a term of nearly ten
years, have / known a single person To
he sent away from the hospital, whether
it was a case of contagon, insanity or
alcoholism.
We have always taken care of them
until such time as proper provisions
could be made, and just as good care
made of them as could be done by any
institution in the state.
This shows that the institution is as
broad as it is possible to make It and
emphasizes the necessity Of extending
TO it the assistance SO greatly needed