Evening journal., 1919-10-04
ARE
TREATED FREE AT
DELA. HOSPITAL
continued from FIrst pag.

may know Just what the facts are.
The public has been led 10 believe
that the trustees in the management Of
the hospital have considcre that there
were too many free patients in The hos
pital. and bcause there is an abundance
Of work in Wilmington. FREQ patients
should be made 10 pay. ! beg through
you. Mr Editor, TO state 10 ihe citizens
Of Wilmington and The state Of Della
ware that no such position has been
assumed, taken or acted upon IN the
management Of the affairs Of the hos
pital. and. on the contrary, an alto
geiher different policy has been scrupu-
lousy observed. Aflcr the annual
meeting OF the board Of trustees IN
January Of this year, fun and COM
plete statement was published In the
daily papers OF Wilmington, so that the
public, a least that portion % II in
teresied in the administration Of the
affairs Of the hospital could readily
have seen Just what monies were re-
celved by The hospital, just how they
were spent and furthermore, the public
could not escape the fact thai IN IFS
ende9vor 70 take care Of The sick and
suffering I'm our community, the hos
pital was going into debt
Without going into minute detail. let
me state a few facts In the year 1911.
the hospital gave 22,2T2 free days sery-
fee at an average cost OF about s2i4 per
day This covered patients received
both from within and without the city
OF Wilmington The hospital received
from the Levy Court $500. and from City
Council $1,000, In all s25O0 The cost Of
taking care Of the free patients I'm the
city Of Wilmington alone 10 the hospital
during the year 1917 was about $4,000.
In 1918 i6,iii free days service was
rendered at a cost Of about ,s29s per
day. The hospital received $4,000 from
the City Council and $500 from the
Levy Court, and spent for free service
IN the city Of Wilmington alone over
$4,000. From our figures 10 date. for
The year 1919, we viii afford about i6.-
600 free days service, which will cost
us about 1929 per day We Will have
received from the City Council $4,000
and from The Levy Court $500. and the
'ost for the care Of free patients In the
city of Wilmington alone will be about
$4,000. These figures certainly speak
Tor themselves; and IN considering the
facts In this phase Of the question. an
nf us should bear In mind that in ar
'ordng this service TO the sick and
suffering the hospital. Is going still
further in debt.
During the years 1917 and 1918. when
we were at war, the hospital authorl-
ties felt that u was impossible for
them not TO afford relief 60 the sick and
suffering, who would be unable 10 psy
for the hospital charges even though
The hospital would incur debt for that
purpose. But now that the war IA over
and keeping In mind that the hospital
as an institution established and oper-
ated for the sole purpose OF caring for
those who are I'm physical trouble. we
ran no longer afford 10 increase lis
iebt With this View In mind. an
louncemcnt has been made 10 Tho pub- /
ia I'm the annual report Of its officers.
nd from time 10 time, 10 both the
.evy Court and the city Council when
pplicaton has been made for an in
lease in the funds given by these two
odies. Il hns, therefore, become neces-
ary 10 insist that an those who are
} any ways able 90 pay at least some
hing shall do 50. because If they do
ven pay a little, u assists The hospital
cnring.for those who are unable to Z
ay anything. u is a matter Of regret
rat the hospital has 20 acknowledge IL :,
, be fact that there are many per I,
1ns In the city who partake OF the adj I,
Of The hospital and are able 10 I
ay I'm whole or in part for the alien 7
on and care that they receive. and +
et these people after leaving the hos
ital. not only make no effort 10 pay )
ieir just share. but decline to do so. q
The statement TO The effect that any $
Z the hospital authorities has en-
Favored 80 take the last cent? from r
ny patient when the patient was dis ,
hsrsed. or even after the patient has
cen discharged rom The hospital, Is a d
ieiemsni wholly lacking in fact.
Ail ihe citizens Of our community are :
roperly Interested IN the welfare OF the !,
eiaware Hospital because they must y
now that in IFS work It is practically ]
le municipal hospital of the CITY OF 7,
and because there IS no F,
agular public institution for the care
the sick and wounded. Il has fallen
nd continues TO fall upon the shoulders
the trustees OF the Delaware Hospital
do everything they can within their /,
MYSTICAL and financial power TO care /
)r as best they may the patients com >
lifted 20 their charge However i'm
oing So all fair-minded persons will.
am sure, realize two facts. and both
lost important ones. First that onlv
ne best OF drugs and the best quality
food and other appointments can be
wen TO sick people II a speedy and suc-
sssiui cure Is TO be effected aud sec
nu, that The cost not Of food alone.
nd OF his everyone is only loo "a
iillar' but the tremendously Increased
ost OF drugs and other hospital re-
uisites, which have advanced IN price
a proportion greatly over the cost
Z food ]
The Delaware Hospital through lis
oard Of Trustees, is willing and in
'nds TO continue the splendid ,york I
has always maintained in this COM
unity but TO do so. II mnsf have ,
ne financial means and il those OF our
itizens. who are interested in such
iork. desire to continue the enlcicn,v
{ the hospital. they must see 10 il
hat the hospital is afforded sufficient
nsneisl means, FIRST to properly care
Or The patients committed 10 lis J
barge and second. not TO be com {
elled to go into debt for the purpose. !
As The situation now confronts the =
ospital. it will become necessary In {
he near future to cut down msteriallv /
he accommodation afforded for free \