Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-06-02

ience. There are often individuals in
a place, away from their homes, who,
when taken sick or being injured have
no place to which they can be taken
and cared for other than their boarding
/ place and are not always able there to
/ obtain proper nursing and care. To
| such, the hospital would not only be a
convenience, but blessing. Even to
those who have homes in the commu-
nifty, it would sometimes be case that
care, attention and treatment could be
better and more cheaply obtained in
! the hospital than in their own home
That hospital would be a convert
ence and benefit to the doctors of a
| place is not a fact. A short time ago
doctor from neighboring town told
the writer that, since the establish
ment of hospital In their county, he
did three times as much work as be-
fore but made less money.
1t has become notorious fact that
many persons in the vicinity of every
hospital, who are we'll able to pay for
medical attendance, will, in spite of
the most watchful care of its mana
gers, seek, and obtain free treatment
and free medicine. Persons, who, in
everything else would disdain doing
an unworthy or unmanly act, and scorn
to be classed as "a beat" seem to think
that such action towards a hospital is
perfectly legitimate and unquestion-
able.
No person in our community would
be more pleased to have hospital
here for the accommodation of those who
really need one than the writer, nor
would any one take more pride in a
well equipped institution of this char
acter, and, if the circumstances and
conditions are ripe for it's establish
ment, no one would be more willing,
according to ability, to lend helping
hand than he. 1t Is, however, we'll to
"look before we leap" The struggles
and trials incident To the establishment
OF the Williamsport hospital, some
years ago, a city of then $4,000 inhabi-
ants, are still fresh in the memories of
those familiar with it's history. There
was constant and never ceasing call
for help, and there were frequent
times when the nurses and patients
did not have sufficient food of proper
quality to support them in their work,
or to renew their bodily vigor during
eonvalesence. Those unfamiliar with
the details of the maintenance ofan in
stitution OF this kind can hardly form
an adequate estimate of the amount of
expense connected Herewith. There
Is call for money at every turn.
Since ii was difficult to secure pro-
per support In a city Of 10000 inhabi-
tants what ought we to expect in
town the size Of ours2 This should be-
well considered.
There il a disposition on the part of
those In authority at Harrisburg to re-
duce the State appropriations to small
institutions Of this kind, and In some
instances II has been with. held entire
ly, The support from this source Is al
ways uncertain, and should not be too
much relied upon. II IL rare for mu-
nicipal hospitals to be- selfsupporting
even Ia the most favorable localities
II our people are able, ready aud
willing 10 respond literally 10 the frs-
quent calls for money aud supplies that
will be made upon them, aud II there
should be a SUFFICIENT amount of money
pledged condtionally by reliable par
ties 90 supply all deficiencies In It's
adequate support, amer Il has been
built and equipped, before finally dc
termlning 10 proceed with tho pro
ieot, then We want a hospital Other
wise vs. would be- compelled to suffer
tho lguomimy of defeated purpose, aud