Evening journal., 1919-10-04
THOUSANDS ARE
TREATED FREE AT
DELA. HOSPITAL
conLInned frnm Flrst pag.


The public has been led 20 believe
that the trustees In the management Of
the hospital have considere that there
were too many free patients in the hos
pital. aud bcause there is an abundance
OF work in Wilmington. free patients
should be made 70 pay. beg through
you. Mr., Editor, 10 state 10 the 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
piisl. and on the contrary, an alto
seiher different policy has been scrupu-
lously observed. After the annual
meeting OF the board Of trustees in
January Of this year, a full and COM
nlete statement was published I'm the
daily papers OF Wilmington, so that the
public, at least that portion OF Il in
terested I'm The administration Of the
affairs Of The hospital could readily
have seen lust what monies were re-
celved by the hospital, Just how they
were spent. and furthermore. the public
could not escape the fact MAT IN its
endeavor 10 take care Of The sick and
suffering IN our community, the hos
pital was going into debt
Without going into minute detail. let
me state a few facts In the year 1917.
the hospital gave 22,272 free days serv-
ice at an average cost Of about s2ii 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 $500, The cost Of
taking care Of the free patients I'm the
city OF Wilmington alone 70 The hospital
during the year 1917 was about $4,000.
In 1918. i6,i7i free days service was
rendered at a cost Of about So per
day. The hospital received $1,000 from
the City Council and $500 from ihe
Levy Court. and spent for free service
TN the city Of Wilmington alone over
$4,000. From our figures 10 date. for
The year 1919, we will afford about &C.
600 free DAYS service, which will cost
ms about S32S per day We VIII have
received from the City Council $4,000
and from the Levy Court $500. and the
cost for the care of free patients IN the
city of Wilmington alone viii be about
$1,000. These figures certainly speak
for themselves; and IN considering the
facts IN this phase Of The question. an
Of us should hear IN mind that in ar
fording this service 10 the sick and
suffering, the hospital, Is golns sim
further in debt
During The years 1917 and 1918. when
we were az war, the hospital auihorl-
ties felt that n was impossible for
them not 90 afford relief 10 the sick and
suffering. who would be unable 10 pay
for the hOspiiol charges even though
the hospital would incur debt FOR that
purpose. But now that the war Is 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 In physical trouble. we /
san no longer AFFORD % increase It's /
iebt With this view IN mind an
iouncement has been made 10 the pub
ic In the annual report Of iis officers
nd from time 10 time. 10 both the
'evy Court and The City Council when
ppllcaton has been made for an in
lease in The funds given by these two
odics. II has, therefore. become neces-
ary 60 insist that all those who are
any ways able 10 pay at least some
hing shall do 50. because II they do
ven pay a little, II assists the hospital
J caring FOR those who are unable 40 r
ay anything 10 Is a matter OF regret :
nat the hospital has 10 acknowle-ige h ! !,
be a fact that there are many per- y
ons In ihe.ciiy who partake Of the ad n
anisges OF the hospital and are able 10 ,,
ay IN whole or In part for the atten- a
on and care that they receive. and r
et these people after leaving the hos
ltai, not only make no effort 90 pay 5
heir Just share. but decline 10 do so. q
The statement to The effect that anv :
4 the hospital authorities has en- +
Favored ito take the last cent from q
ny patient when the patient was dis Y
harged' or even after the patient has
cen discharged from The hospital. Is a 4
'aiement wholly lacking in fact. .
All ule citizens Of our community are =
roperly interested IN the welfare OF the :
Hospital. because thev n,,st
now that in its work It is practically y
pc municipal hospital OF the cltv OF ?,
Wilmington, and because there Is M =
egnlar public institution for the care n
! tne sick and wounded, it has fallen =
nd continues to fall upon the shoulders
I the trustees OF the Delaware Hospital
. do everything they can within theIr q
hysical and financial power N care '
)r as best they may the patients com S
lifted TO their charge. However in
olhs so an iair-minded persons will.
am sure, realize two facts and both l
~, important ones. First, that only
ne Dest OF drugs and the best quality
food and other appointments can he
wen 10 sick people II a speedy and sue
ssslui cure Is to be effected: and see
hl, mat the cost not Of food alone y
nd OF This everyone is only Too a. :
mar but the tremendously increased y
ost or drugs and other hospiial 10 y
uisltes, which have advanced in nrico $
J a proportion greatly over the cost
T food. wy 'Os' L
The Delaware Hospital. fhro,sb a. o
GARD Of Trustees. is willing and in Ia
ms 10 continue the splendid ,vorl Il
mas always maintained in this com
unity, but TO do so. 10 must bayo 4
iee financial means. and II those OF our
IIlens, VINO are interested i'm sueh
.ork, desire TO continue the efncien,v
the hospital they must See to i,
iat the hospital is afforded sufficient
nancial means. first. 10 properly care
pr ihe patients committed TO us +
large, and second not 70 be com q
elled to go into debt for the purpose n
As The situation now confronls Inc n
osptal, 10 will become necessary m q
ne near future 20 cut down materially D
~ accommodations afforded for free y