The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-01-08
Shall the Good Work End /?

This question is asked because of
probability of the Burlington Count.
Hospital being compelled to close it
doors, The managers, at their last meet
ing, decided that there was no use il
struggling for existence. As is wei
known the hospital has no permanen
fund to draw upon, but is dependent upoI
the voluntary contributions of the people
of the county These have been liberia
but not equal to the great expense in
Cured.
Few people realize what this institution
has been and the good work it has done
Those who have looked upon the unpre.
tentious building on Madison avenue have
probably given it passing thought as a
place where sick people might go and be
treated. But the hospital has been of in
estimable value to this county. The
treatment given there has equaled that re-
ceived in city hospitals and the fees have
been considerably less In fact there has
been so much that has been gratuitous
that the present state of affairs is the
result
On the first day of January, 1900, there
remained in the hospital five patients.
During the year 131 were admitted with
~ ''out" patients. Ninety eight were
cured; nine died; and ten remained on the
first of the present year. Of the cases
treated 81 were medical, 70 surgical and
81 operations. These latter are what
have caused most of the trouble. The ex-
pense attending operations is very great
care, antiseptics, and dozen matters alb
solutely necessary, cost money. The re-
suits have been gratifying, life having
been saved in nearly every instance. In
some cases the patients have been able to
pay small fee, but it no case has the
entire cost been met.
One incident may give an idea of the
usefulness of the hospital. boy had
been suffering with pain for several days
Thinking it but childish ailment the
parents tried home remedies, but as they
did not have the desired effect physician
was called. He at once pronounced the
case appendicitis So far had the disease
advanced it was impossible to move the
lad any distance. The family was not
able to have the operation performed at
their home, so the boy was taken to the
hospital. None too soon was the work
done, but it was successful life was
saved This is only one of the many.
The hospital was started in 1879 through
the efforts of the late DR., Ashhurst, who
devoted his life to it. At his death DR..
Richard H Parsons was elected superin
5endent. and has held the position for fif-
,een years The physicians of Mount
Holly have, in turn, acted as doctors and
surgeons at the place, aided by those from
,ther towns. All these services have been
for the benefit of suffering
humanity and for the credit of an institu
ion for which they feel an honest pride.
As the cases have increased, the work
growing beyond all expectation, the ex-
,enses have likewise grown and the bal
lnce has been on the wrong side of the
edger On the 10th of this month a
Meeting of the managers will be held to
determine what the final action shall be.
At present it is the opinion that the hos
,ital should be indefinitely closed. There
S but one way to obviate the difficulty
md that is to provide means for an annual
income, sufficient to keep the place going.
t does seem as if there should be enough
PEOPLE in this county of $4,000 inhabitants
Who would guarantee small sum yearly
or this purpose. This is county institu
ion and has aided the county treasury
more than once. Why cannot the Board
If Freeholders take hold and give sub
tantial aid 1t will be great calamity
f this worthy institution is allowed to go
nut of existence just as it is becoming to