Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-12
A HOME FOR INCURABLES.


The Urgent Need of Such Charity Forcibiy
= Set Forth.
Communicated
The awakening popular interest in
the establishment Of home for incur
ables in Wilmington has, within the
past few weeks, received new impetus
6y the discovery Of case Of des-
tItution involving the care of an incur.
able disease (canoer) in the western
part Of the city. This was an instance
showing the bardships endured by those
unfortunate enough to be thrown on
the world 10 a physical condition which
in itself closes to the sufferers every
opportunity for treatment by excluding
them from all Of our charitable institu-
tions except the hospital at Farnhurst.
BY the merest chance the old couple
referred to, living in squalor of the
most rspuenant kind, were found by
kind neightor, through whom the story
of their misery spread rapidly until a
number of ready, heart and hand,
came to their rescue. The old man of
10 years, who is dying Of malignant
cancer, was being unused in one
roomed hovel by his aged wife, herself
on the.verge Of pneumonia. When dis
covered, their stock of coal and food
WuiC uDout bAHhuStbtt, tnb "InttT DlhSlS
were searching every orsvice in the
dilapidated shanty, and they were both
on the brink of despair through hunger
and cold. The patient had subsisted
for six weeks on tea and bread alone.
| and was almost frozen for want of
proper covering. r.N-
After things had been somewhat "set
to rights" and nourishing food and
Elenty OF warmth had been provided,
the question OF sanitation and regular
medical treatment added new diff
culties, though the need for occasional
| pain alternating doses was readily sup
piled through the kind attendaEce,
| free, of one Of OUT younger physicians.
| 1t was not many days before the case
Of this old man grew critical, owing to
the enforced removal Of his wife to the
Delaware Hospital, she having de.
veloEed an acute attack Of pneumonia.
She is still in that institution. At
this stage, the crying necessity for a
home for incurables was demonstrated,
for Notwithstanding the persistent
exertions of several of the young ladies'
who were interested in the couple, in
searching far and near for nurse for
the old man, it was only after three
days and nights of such efforts that
they at length succeeded in making
sufficient Inducements to tempt a care
taker to take charge of SO hopeless ard
repulsive a case. Even the arrange
ment made with SO much difficulty is
but temporary.
With AN illustration SO timely and
affecting. 1t is not to be wondered at
that our broad. minded and tender
hearted citizens should wish to lay
the foundations without delay Of a
home for such human wrecks on the
shores of lIfe--a shelter for those past
all human aid except as 1t comes to
them 10 the softening of the terrors
OF their last despairipg days.
The Noblesse Oblige Circle Of the
Kings Daughters have for some time
past been saving fund from their
work, hoping to establish and support
ward or at least a room for incurables
connected with hospital. Gould this
not now be done in connection with
the proposed new buildings of the
Delaware Hospitals?
1t is sincerely to be hoped that some
thoughtful men or women in our midst
may quietly take note of this growing
need of our city and send donation,
no matter how small, to one of the
members of the circle, that it may be
added to the fund, thus enabling the
founding of a suitable home for in
| curnhlAs ".' 'h.