The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-28
PUT IT IN FIGURES.
DIR. Daniel Compares Hospital sta
tistics Here and in other cities.


tistics Here and in other cities.
DIR. ]. w. Daniel submitted statistics,
which he had complied. comparing the
expenditures and appropriations of Inc Sa-
vannah hospitals with those of other
cities, comparisons being chiefly with Au-
gusta DR.. Daniel said, IN partA 3
we will first take up the annual report
of the Savannah Hospital for 1897. We
ind they had total number of patients $50.
This does not say whether they were ALI
city, county or pay patients, but il must
mean patients of all kinds, for we find In
their cash receipts the items of $SO47.24
received from pay patients" and SO
from foreign seamen, and city of Savan-
nah, $500. Now, if these were all charity
patients the city received less than in
former years, which show in 1893, patients,
$685. 1894, COZ; 1896, $50; 1896, 496; 1897, 500,
each year getting less, showing a de-
crease of patients.
we will now take up the St. Joseph's
Infirmary reports. We find their attend
ance has been almost uniform each year
Total patients, 1888 699; 1894, $780, 1885, 754;
1896, 1855, with slight increase of total pa
tlents each year. A comparison with the
savannah Hospital reports will show that
at no time for the past five years has
their maximum total attendance QS9S, GID
been as large at the St Joseph's
smallest, total patients 1893, 69S. The
annual reports in this case, as in case of
savannah Hospital, simply gives total pa
tients treated, but fails 60 state whether
they are city, county, marine hospital or
pay patients, with one single exception,
report 1897, states, Number of city and
county patients received during year. 1877, q"
with number Of days of illness, 500
making the city and county pay over 81
per day for patients. Taking 1897 as an
average year, and applying this 1877 as an
average city and county poor attendance
at each hospital Savannah and St Jo-
sephs), we find the city and county pay
ing twice as much for the accommodate ton
of their sick poor as any city of similar
size In the country. There is one question
that presents itself here, and that is as
the total patients in one institution de-
crease yearly, they do not increase in
same ratio in the other. So where do the
sick go? The city is increasing in popu-
lation each year, so their decrease must
be due to the increase of the practice of
physicians who do not enjoy the privileges
of the hospitals, and their self-interests
demands that they keep their patients at
home. Where the patient can have the
physician of his choice, and the physician
| retain his patient, which he cannot do if
his patient be sent to hospital, unless he
can pay a minimum fee of 5000 per week
for room and nurse and pay his physician
besides. l wish to emphasize the fact
that the existing state of affairs works to
the detriment of all physicians, old or
young, who are not connected with the
hospitals"
DR.. Daniel made comparison of the
reports of the Augusta white and colored
hospitals for the year 1897 with those of
Savannah for the same year, very much
to the disadvantage of the latter show
ing that the former had been much more
| 1fa-1 L.
much better results for the money ex-
pended He held, in conclusion, that Sa-
vannah and Chatham county have been
paying twice as much for accommoda tons
for the sick poor as Augusta, and that the
local hospitals had used the public funds
to advance the interests of few physi-
clans and citizens to the detriment of the
majority of the citizens and physicians
DR.. Daniel was several times interrupted
and his statements disputed by the hos
pital representatives. In reply to his
statement that the Savannah Hospital re-
ports did not show the contribution of 81,
600 by the county Dr. Duncan stated the
he reports only showed the funds which
passed through his hands as superintend-
ent, the county's appropriation having
been collected by the president Mr.. Mi Is.
1t was also commended that instead of the
attendance at the hospital having decreas-
ed steadily OF recent years. as stated by
DIR. Daniel, that the attendance last year
was the largest of the last several years.
DR.. Daniel having stated that no re-
ports had been made for several years by
the Georgia Infrmary, Capt Cunningham
said that such reports had been made and
that the trustees were not responsible IL
they were not published. Health Officer
Drummer stated that he did not remember
having received any reports from the
Georgia Infirmary. DIR. Charlton stated
that reports from the ufrmary had been
omitted during several years, but reports
had been made by him for the last two
years, though they were probably received
too late fcr publication in the Mayors re-
port. ~ bot 80
DR.. Daniel stated that up to about ten
years ago Augusta was under the same
disadvantages as Savannah is to-day.
There was only a small hospital con-
trolled by a few physicians. The city
took hold, erected a negro hospital and
enlarged the white hospital The hos
pitfalls are controlled by the city Jointly
with the medical faculty. and to-day the
medical profession of Augusta is better up
to date than Of any city South of Baltl-
more. Their hospitals are filled the year
round with pay patients who are from
| Georgia and South Carolina. Their physi-
clans do not send away for their physi-
clans to make operations for them, nor
do their people go to New York for treat
ment p ,rraif.<.
This brought up a discussion as to a
|