The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-22
CAMP PA|GN FOR
 BETTER HOSPITAL
Inaugurated at Meeting Held Last Night at
 Hillman

The meeting held at the Hillman hos pital last night for the purpose of ,lis- c2ssfnR .he enlargement ol the lns,iL 'ition to suit the needs of the county had a seed attendance from tre local physicians, Board of Revenue, n.inisters and other o.tizers. The plan Of ocsanizating for a campaign of the county was decided on Tn view of an election for bond issue to :aise funds Tor the necessary additions and cn the motion of Dr. Mack Rogers i. was deciied to ask the Board of Reve- nue to issue a call for a public meeting cn Tuesday night. March Il. at the Cham Der of commerce auditorium. when the
 matter Will be laid before the citizens.
 Fora erly 1t has been the idea of the Hospital authorities to ask for only sb0, co w'tl' which to make the needed im- provenents and enlargenents. After the disclosiire last night nf the distressing limits tiors of the institution the sentiment of the meeting was heartily in. favor of asking for an appropriation of not less than $lGC,000.
 . The meeting was called to order by Job Going, president Of the Board oi r lady, also member of the board, who explained that the object of the meeting was to place before the public the con ditions existing at preesnt in the county hospital, and consider whether it is not right that the institution should be built up and maintained to degree that is commensurate with the needs of grow ing couDty and city.
 Various members on the medical staff of the institution were called on for statements as to the conditions In the place. and in every instance was shown most convincingly the immediate neces- sttv for more room and more equipment with which to take care of the growing number of patients who seek admission.
 Many rat1etic cases were told of patients who could not be given treat ment for the simple reason that they could not be provided with a bed. Suffer ing little children from the public schools have been turne1 away because there was no place to put them. Medical and surgi- cal cases which can not always be segre- gated are crowded together for want of space, and women from the poor in the critical stages of pregnancy are almost daily denied admission because the only available room in the obstetrical ward is occupied. F.
 The statement made by the different doctors who are in attendance at the hospital was startling revelation 10 those who were present at the meeting last night, and they had the effect of stirring up strong sentiment in favor of making of the hospital just such al institution as the county and city ought
 It was brought out before the meeting by Dr. w. H. Wilder that Birmingham Is the only city of its size in the coun- try which does not maintain a charitable institution of this kind.
 Tic Rev. J. A. Bryan stated that if the citizens did not feel inclined to help in tle charitable work being done by the hospital they should at least feel deep moral obligation to support those men on the hospital stan who have generous lv given of their time and services ,n waiting on the suffering and the sick. He also gave recital. of some of the incl dents within his own knowledge which furnished convincing evidence in favor Of the great need for enlarging the in- stiiution.
 Among the other citizens asked to speak WIS R. F, Johnston who advised the members that unless they could put be- fore the citizens of Jefferson county and of Birmingham larger scheme for bulld- ing an institution worthy or the sroW ing community, their solicitations would not meet the approval of the county. He thought that the people would scarcely take any cognizance of petition for s5oo00 bond issue because it would seem so nadeouate for building hospital Witch would become the county ana city.
 The whole sentiment of the meeting last night was strongly in favor or in- stltuting a vigorous campaign for raising the necessary funds with which to make the enlargements and improvements. The rurpose in holding the next meeting VIII be to disseminate among the people a general idea of the true condition d. n,.esant existing. It was decided at the m, citing that a committee will be appoint ed from the hospital staff to furnish suit able material for publication for the en- lightenment of the public. <
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