Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-03
RICHMOND HOSPITALS
As HELPS TO BUSINESS
City's Reputation Of Home for AZ
ficted Has Gone All Over
the Country.
PATIENTS FROM MANY STATES
Incidentally, Patients and Their
Friends Leave Much Money in
Richmond CofYers-Convalesce
From South Learn Things.

Richmond has become noted far and
near for its up-to-date, modernly
equipped hospitals. Counting the
strictly charitable. the semicharitable
institutions. the homes for the afflicted.
the hospitals and sanatoriums for the
treatment of special diseases and pc
culiar troubles and the general pay
hospitals there are In the city and In
the suburbs thirty-eight institutions.
and there are among them thoroughly
equipped homes for the prompt treat
ment of all manner Of diseases and
physical and mental troubles that suf-
fering humanity may be afflicted with.
or the charitable and scmicharitable
institutions for the care OF the afflicted
aud unfortunate there are seventeen.
There are in and about the city eight
for the treatment Of specific ailments,
and there are thirteen general hospI-
tails. and all are modernly and scien-
tihcally equipped for the work they
have in hand.
This statement, hurriedly read. might
suggest TO the mind Of the reader tina
itlchmond IL rather unhealthy place,
Dut that would be a mistake. There
Is no more healthy city on the con-
tinent than Richmond. and but COM
paratively little OF the patronage that
supports these many hospitals is local.
nc Sick, the lame. the halt and the
blind AZ we'll as the mentally afflicted
come TO this city from dozen or
more states. AS well as from all parts
OF virginia for treatment. and thus 1t
happens that the reputation of Rich
nond's hrst-class hospitals and their
managers has gone forth to the world.
Io-day there are patients in these
hospitals from no less than dozen
states besides Virginia. notably North
Carolina, South Carolina. Florida Ala
Darna' tennessee. West Virginia. Mary
land and others :hat might he named.
These patients are almost always ac-
companied by one or more relatives or
friends who remain In the city as long
as the patients Themselves. and Incl
dentally spend good sums OF money in
Richmond while they linger Thus the
hospitals In The course OF year bring
vast sum OF cash 10 this city besides
that which the afflicted leave here in
payment OF hospital charges. doctors
feed. etc
The hotels. the boarding houses. M
drug stores and the retail stores OF all
kinds profit by this trade. The whole
saiers also come in for goodly share
OF business that is indirectly turned
Richmondward by the hospitals In
stances could be cited. One Will suffice
Five years ago a retail ,nerchan, OF a
OF virginia came TO one Of the leading
hospitals OF this city TO be treated for
trouble OF long standing. He WAS
entirely cured, and while he was con-
valescing he strolled in the wholesale
districts to get peep at business
again and to crafty his curiosity, and
learned that for many years he had
been making mistake In passing by
RichInond when in search of his fail.
winter and spring stocks to meet the
wants OF his customers I'm the good
state down South. This wise merchant.
whose vision had been thus enlarged.
put In two or three trial orders. and.
TO make long story short. he has
ever since then been large buyer in
several Richmond Wholesale houses. and
no longer makes periodical trips to
Northern markets farther away from
his base.
This may seem to be a rather sordid
view to take Of what is ordinarily a
serious subject. but 1t cannot be out
OF order to make note OF the fact that
Richmond's splendid hospitals are good
things for the old town in more ways
than one.