The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-04

ing staff and the physicians from
September until June. The regular
staff consists of the superintendent
and two graduate nurses. The first
year. 139 patients and nine infants
were cared for at a total cost Of
$500 to the county. The second
year 256 patients and ~ infants at
the same expense, and in two and
one-half years the total had grown
to 526 patients. The first year the
deficit was $3,92O; the second year
it was $1,557, and they think in
year or two in may become self-sup-
porting.
/ / think the description of the
first hospital is very interesting AMI
Jefferson county hospital is equally
as successful and the idea is spread
ing. Indiana, Kansas, Texas and
North Carolina have all passed coun-
ty hospital laws. South Dakota and
one or two other states are planning
to take early action. AT Columbus.
Ind, they are planning to build a
! 100000 hospital.
/ We are sending out of Marlboro
county every year many patients to
the various hospitals and thousands
of dollars are expended by them for
surgical operations, treatment and
diagnostic methods which should
and could be kept at home if we had
well equipped public hospital. This
hospital would give the people all
the advantages they have had to
, leave home at great expense to OBJ
tam, and our poor sick and affliced
could be cared for here among their
relations, friends and we'll wishcrs.
I at less than half the cost The need
of the hospital has become so great
in the county that the movement to
commence the work comes from out
side the profession. We have tried
TO interest the citizens of Rennetts-
Vile in a hospital and failed. not
because we do not need it. but be
cause We could not show that II
would be profitabl or even sclf-suD-
porting. The fact is. that as a rule.
public hospitals are not seIf-sunpart-
ing and are not q mOnov-making in
v"stm"Nt, and that is why there ar,
so few hospital beds in proportion
70 the population in the state OF
south Carolina. The population of
South Carolina the last census was
about l.515,4OO. and il was estf-
mated in 1912 that there we're onIv
2% hospitals and about 1.G6S beds
and there should be one hospitaI
bed to every 100 in population.
Marlboro county has about $4,000
Inhabitants and there IS. as far as 7
Know. not single hospital bed in
the county. We should build hos
pital that all Of our people woull
be justly proud Of, where our sick
can be cared for TO the very best
advantage. II should be modern
well equipped ard up to date. with
a pathological and bacterioIogicaI
laboratory, X-Ray laboratory. train
ing school for nurses ambulance ser
vice, etc, one that every taxpayer In
the county can point to with pride
and the conscious knowledge that he
has helped build and maintain II
such an institution would not onIv
give our people these advantages
put would give our philanthropic and
generous citizens ar opportunitv 10
endow bequcath or donate money
TO help the poor and sick and pen-
citrate the memory of their generous
kindness and the lasting gain of the
ones who need it most Such an in
stitution would also make us better
and more capable physicians. because
we can then have the use of this nee
essary equipment Of modern methods
to aid In our work and study. The
people of every community look on
their doctor as being true and sim
cere; always willing to sacrifice self
and selfish desires for the good OF
humanity, so let us endorse this
great work that has been begun and