The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-04

Four years ago, maybe, in a series of papers on local charitable enter prises the writer of this article pre- sented a glowing account of the Hill- man hospital. The building was de- scribed as a spacious and substantial red brick structure standing in the midst of ample grounds on South Twentieth street; its easy access to attending physicians and to any suf- ferer who dragged his pain-racked limbs to it's doors for the healing and comfort freely dispensed. was pointed cut; its restful, modern interior was pictured as an architectural credit to Birmingham; its wholesomeness and cleanliness were descanted upon; the faithfulness and efficiency of the nurses were emphasized; the hospital management stamped with general civic approval. Today a part of this might be repeated, but not all
 Maintained by County
 The hospital was then, as now. main- tained by the board of revenue of Jeff ferson county. It was, and is, char itable institution to which all the cit tzens of Jefferson county contribute for the benefit of It's sick and afflicted poor. Formerly the hospital was ade- quate to the needs of the county; to- day it Is not. The county has far out grown 1t and the very people who saunter past the building in the aft ernoon by way of a daily "constitu- tional" or motor past perhaps several times daily are most of them unaware that within its walls may be found as fine a demonstration of the rapidity of Birmingham's growth as could be seen in any book of statistics. Out wardly it has remained practically the same; within conditions have become pathetic. It Is natural that the coun- ty should have outgrown the hospital; such a process was inevitable in city of such phenomenal growth, but the needs being plain, it remains for the hos pital to overtake in power for useful ness the community's enlarged condi- ton.
 Many things which were good four years ago in Birmingham are decidedly lacking today. The Hillman hospital stands just as it stood then-a trim, at tractive, cleanly building; the nurses who administer to the needs of the sick and afflicted within it's doors are keeping apace with modern affairs; the physi- clans who diagnose eases administer drugs and use the knife when occasion arises are better equipped than they were then-busier men than they were then, too, but they give their services as free ly and as generously. In such things has the hospital grown. Only in it's capacity and equipment does the building remain unchanged
 Charity Is Elastic
 True, one finds today greater mum Der of beds than formerly An elastic charity pervails at the Hillman hospital. It was originally intended to accommo- date 73 patients. Friday morning s5 were enrolled. Since the advent of pr. Ho- gan, who is now charge daffares at the hospital, none have been turned away as long as space remained for an addi- q tional bed. So. by degrees, every avail able inch has been consumed. There are four to eight more beds in every room than there should be for the comfort and welfare of the occupants-and even with this, the all embracing charity of physi- clans and nurses has struck it's limit. People are turned away daily. There is no place for them to lay their heads; they come, sick, lame or halt, incapable of caring for themselves, and If there is no vacant bed-back they must go.
 A visitor, Investigating the needs of the hospital the other morning, sat in Dr. Hogan's office as he busily gave instruc- tions in response to nurses queries and telephone inquiries. Several people clus- tered about the door. one or two awaited the doctor within. A man stood just out side watching the hurried conversation between the white capped. capable wom- an at the desk, and pr. Hogan. His pale blue eyes were stretched wide, in .dazed fashion, felt hat still rested on his head and he wore no coat. A suit case, appar ently almost empty, was absently held in his hand as he waited with a sick in- difference for his verdict Passing him en route to the elevator, the visitor heard