The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-04
Formal Reply Is Issued to Recent Statement of F.
 M. Jackson
URGENT NEED FOR
 MORE FACILITIES
Physicians Point Out That Hillman Is at This Time Absolutely Unable to Care for All Char
 ity Demands

members or the Hillman hospital star comprising 4s prominent physicians of Birmingham. an answer is made to a statement issued by Fred M Jackson on July 51. In reference to the hospital. The statement in reply to Mir. Jackson says that 1t Is not question of wheth : CT an applicant Is deserving to be giv en free service at the hospital but to provide care and treatment. The statement follows:
 Tn an open letter in the Age Herald of July 31st, signed by Mir. F M Jack son, reference Is made to EIillman hos pital. Knowing MT. Jackson as we do. we are sure, as he states in his letter, that he wants Jefferson county to take care of every deserving charity patient of the county, We are sorry that he Is not better informed concerning the work done by this institution. We do not say that all of the patients treated there are deserving but they are with out funds and are unfortunate in being i'll and afflicted. When human being without funds becomes i'll 1t is not d question as to whether he or she Is de- serving, 1t Is purely a question as to whether or not the people of Jefferson county desire to provide for their care and treatment. We know that MT, Jackson Is in favor of the board of revenue of the county providing ade- quate facilities to care for these un- fortunate cases.
 "As members of the staff of the Hill man hospital we desire to state that Jefferson county has not adequate hos pital facilities for caring for the char ity cases who come to the hospital for treatment. The s100,00O which the bond issue will provide will enable the board of revenue to provide the facil- ities which are urgently needed at the present time.
 We have rendered and do now render our services as members of the staff of the Hillman hospital without compen sation. We make no charge and in no instance do we or have We received any pay for our services
 We are sure that the citizens of the county are familiar with the reports of the grand juries with reference to the Hillman hospital. The last three grand JuTleS nave urged lnt tlidi hlthA pl this institution. As we see It. it would be unfortunate indeed if the $100,00 provided for in the bond issue is not secured for the Hillman hospital We believe as stated by the grand juries that the county cannot eXpend It's mon sy for better purpose.
 "E. P. Hogan, M. D. Supt., R. M. Cunningham. M. D., B. D. Sibley, M. D., Earle bremen NJ D.. Wm. T. Berry, M. n Dol al M Alfred A Walker. M. D., E. s. Casey, M. D., Jul fus B. Cooper, M. D.. J. D. S. Davis, M. D., Thos. D. Parke. H. R. Coston M. D., A B. Harris. M D.. J B Heacock, M D., B. L. Wyman, M. D.. S. L. Ledbet- ter, NJ. D., c. w. Shropshire, M. D., Ira J. Sellers, M. D.. M. II. Jordan, M D., Geo. A Hogan, M, D., F.. M. Robinson, man, NJ. D., ]. F. Long, M. D., R. II. Hamrick, NJ. D., w. J Love, M. D., K. W. Constantine. M. D., ], Ross Snyder, M. D., W F. Scott M. D., John Doug lass, NJ. D., James E. Dedman, M. D., Harry Levy, M. D., H. r. Sugerman, M D., E. w. Fucker, Jr., M D., E. F. Solomon, M. D, B. G. Copeland, M. D., F. A Lupton, NJ D., Gaston Torrance M. D., F. Lawrence Scott, M. D., Sam G. Stubbins. NJ. D., B. S. Lester, M. D. A F. Toole. M D., H. c. Crelly, M D.. H. E. Mitchell, W. II. Wilder, M. D., W. P. McAdory, M. D., L. c. Morris, M. D., ]. s. McIester. NJ D., D. r. Talley, NJ D."
 Statement to Voters
 In addition to the statement fin answer to Mir Jackson q large number of the best Known ctibens of the county yesterday also issued statement to the voters o, the county regarding Hillman hospital. which is as follows:
 rro Uota of IaffqrGop foIIptV.
 'grhe. Hillman hospital is owned and controlled by the board of revenue of Jefferson county. It was organized and chartered 1888 and the present building was erected in 1902 At the time it was erected 1t was adequate for the demands. but there has been a steady increase in the number of charity patients that have requested admission. The work had grown to such a magnitude in 1905 that 1t became impossible for the lady board of managers to maintain the hospital as a charity institution by soliciting funds from private individuals. So on the ad- vice of some of our most prominent bus mess men the lady board of managers of the Hilman hospital gave the hospital to the board of revenue of Jefferson county. Since the hospital was turned over to the board of revenue for the use of the needy people of Jefferson county there has been a rapid increase in the number of patients who>have applied for admission. In 1908 there was an average of 4S patients per day in the hospital, in 1909 GA patients, in 1910-11 72 patients. Ths average now is N patients per day and from five to 12 patients are refused ad- mittance each day
 Congested Wards
 There are seven wards in the hospital and each ward has from four to eight more beds in 1t than there should be. The largest number of patients that can with proper hygienic surroundings be ac- commodated in the hospital is 72. To meet the emergency extra beds have been put in these wards The nurse study has been converted into a ward for con f1nement cases. The overcrowded condi- ton prevails in every ward and depart ment of the hospital and frequently there are several patients in Nord for whom there are no beds.
 Needs of the Hospital
 q There is an urgent need for at leasF twice tho ward space that there now is.
 70 There should be sufficient number of wards to permit the separation of med teal and surgical cases
 g. There should be wards of sufficient number to permit the separation of the extremely i'll patients from those that are convalescing.
 fnement cases-one for white women and one for colored women.
 "5. Larger dormitory space is needed fer the nurses with sufficient room for a study and q recreation room for them.
 "6. There should be two wards for chil- dren.
 q Proper facilities are urgently needed