Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12
CAUSED BY DISEASE
Much Of the Dependence Upon
Charity.
PAPER BY MR.. FOLKS
READ BEFORE CONFERENCE OF
CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS.
Plea for Aged Dependents for Better
Surroundings During Their
Last Days.
PAPER BY MR.. FOLKS

ATLANTA, Ca, May 1.-THE final days
session Of the national conference OF cnar-
tiles and corrections began this morning
with Mrs. Alice N. Lincoln of Boston pre-
siding. The topic Of the morning was,
Disease and Dependence; Housing ana
Sanitary Inspection"
The principal address was given by
Homer Folks, commissioner of charities OF
New York city, who said, in part:
most cursory examination of the
causes of destitution. whether in connec-
ton with the assistance Of the poor IN
their homes or their care in public 1nst1-
tutions shows that sickness is always one
of the leading causes, and is usually the
leading cause of dependency. The tendency
of recent charity administration Is to make
physical disability the one indispensable
condition for admission to a public char
liable institution and to commit vagrants
and able bodied paupers to correctional in
stitutions. The municipal lodging houses
afford shelter for few days TO peopie
temporarily homeless and destitute but
under ordinary conditions and with the
opportunities for temporary work anord-
ed by modern charitable agencies tnere
seems now to be no reason for admitting
to almshouses or other public institutions
those who are able-bod1ed
and one which should have important ef-
fects> upon our attitude toward the IN
mates Of public charitable institutions, ana
upon our methods of conducting such IN
stitutions.
We have left far behind the times when
patients in hospitals for the insane and
other public hospitals for the treatment
Of acute diseases were regarded as pau
pers. Have we not approached the time
when inmates even of our almshouses,
may be regarded more in the light OF pa
tients than of paupers? The word pauper'
carries with 1t the suggestion OF Volun-
tary dependence upon the public, OF will
ingness to receive public aid when such
aid is not really necessary, of preference
for accepting the public bounty rather
than making all reasonable effort Tor sei1-
support. Under modern conditions, these
all are facts which are becoming inapplf~
cable to most Of the inmates of our pc:
lie charitable institutions.
The Case Of New York.
Taking the public charitable institutions
of New York city as an example, one-half
of the inmates are patients in hospitals.
OF the other half who are in institutions
formerly known as almshouses. now known
as homes for the aged and tnfirm, fully
one-third are hospital patients and receiv-
ing hospital care, while of the remainder,
constituting the principal population of the
homes for the aged and infirm, 1t Is evi-
dent to any observer that their dependence
is due in very large measure to the infirml-
ties that accompany old age.
Observation and experience lead me to
the conclusion that we could and should
regard these people with more cons1dera-
ton than we have been accustomed to give
the inmates of the almshouses. We In
stinctively feel that the word "pauper' 1s
a harsh word, and does a measure of In
Justice when applied to them. Do we not
also instinctively feel that age, as such,
should receive a degree of consideration
very measurably in advance of that which
should be accorded the middle-aged, volun-
tary, able bodied pauper?
1t Is no doubt true that the disease and
inf1rmity which brings these people to a
condition Of dependence are themselves due
to earlier causes, which may or may not
imply i'll desert. Much of the sickness is
no doubt due to intemperance. The exces-
sive use Of alcoholic liquors and other
forms of dissipation are the occasion Of a
very large amount of tuberculosis. No
doubt an appreciable number Of those who
in their extreme old age seek the shelter
Of the almshouse have led lives which have
at least some chapters that had best be left
unread.
But, after ALL to what extent should this
affect our care of them In the remaining
years of their lives? Even though they
may have been vicious, or even criminal,
need we, so to speak, rub it in in their old
age? Now that the years of storm and
stress are over, now that the ability for
self-support is undeniably gone, shall we
not simply recognize them all as aged and
infirm and. If without means, entitled to
at least respectable care at the hands Of
the public-a care which shall be quite
different from and superior to that afforded
in penal and semi-penal institutions?
Death is the great leveler. and as its
shadow is approached the characteristics
that have marked certain individuals as
n nth In, f1nfr ntaI
tions tend to disappear, and, in my opinion
may safely be more and more disregarded
in our care of the aged in public institu-
uons.
Reform in Methods Necessary.
The consideration of the topic Disease
and Dependency" and my observation and
experience of the care of hospital patients
showing every gradation from those suffer-
ing from acute disease to those who are
simply suffering from the disease of old
age, lead me to believe .i.at a reconstruc-
ton of our ideas as to the proper care of
the aged is necessary, and that the condi-
tions which might have made certain
changes Of doubtful wisdom in the past no
longer exist, now that we have gotten rid
of the able-bodied pauper as an appreciable
factor in the charity situation. / believe
therefore, in more individual care of the
aged; In smaller groups. even In individual
rooms for some; in separate quarters for
aged couples; in better food; in more pri-
vacy; In less unattractive dining room serv.
Ice; in less barren monotony of clothing;
in more opportunity for out-of-door life;
in employment, which need not be re-
munerative, but should be attractive-in
other words. In a life for aged and infirm
dependents which shall not be simply a
waiting for the end. but which shall round
out in a more natural way the closing
years, affording such opportunity for activ-
ity as each Is capable of and a measurable
variety of things to interest and occupy.
DR.. D. ]. Mcmahon Of New York spoke
on Accidents and Hurtful Occupations as
Causes of Dependence"
During the afternoon the sectional meet
ings were resumed. The main address at
the concluding session tonight will be de-