The Sheffield General Infirmary: Correspondence between Amicus Montgomery and Dr. J.C. Hall.

  • Montgomery, Amicus, pseud.
Date:
[1861?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Sheffield General Infirmary: Correspondence between Amicus Montgomery and Dr. J.C. Hall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    has two such hospitals as the Infirmary and Dispensary. It is a matter of pride to me. But I contend that if the working men can afford to give subscriptions to the one, they are bound by a much stronger and sounder argument to provide means for ihe other, which for seventy years has been conferring inestimable benefit upon them., Again I appeal to their honest and manly feelings. They have subscribed a large sum of money for the Dispensary. If it be not now rich, let the gentry do their part, and give it their donations and subscriptions. They have handsomely done their share, at all events for the present. Let them come now to the help of the old claimant upon their notice. Though Dr. Hall says I am wrong in stating eight beds, I imagine if they take such an account of the Dispensary as I here give them of the Infirmary they will find my statement more correct than his; while in the latter there has been an average of 107 beds occupied by suffering members of their class, and the returns show that the only effect of the additional accommodation at the new Hospital lias been to empty the beds at the old one. 107 beds continually occupied by the sick and wounded poor. Think of this, my friends, and do not let sophistry or prejudice blind you to the fact that if you can afford to give, the In- firmary has the prior and stronger claim. Nevertheless, if Dr. Hall at once sends a cheque for ,£250 and continues to get subscriptions for division between the two institutions jointly, I will then, as he requests, “ throw off my mask,” when he will know me a great deal better than he does now. Yours respectfully, AMICUS MONTGOMERY. January 7, 1861. Sir,—If inclined to treat a subject so serious as the wants of the sick and suffering poor of Sheffield in the same spirit as that displayed by “ Amicus Montgomery” in his letter of this morning, I might at once express my perfect willingness to “ divide” the incomes of the two institutions whenever he can persuade the managers of the Infirmary to agree to his proposal. He can hardly expect me seriously to reply to the statements made in his last letter, the unfairness of which must be obvious to all. In one part of his letter he tells you that “the necessity for the Public Hospital only existed in the imagination of Dr. Hallin another part “ he rejoices that Sheffield has two such hospitals as the Infirmary and Dispensary; it is a matter of pride to me.” How are you to deal with such a man ? It is not for “ Amicus Montgomery” but for the inhabitants of Sheffield to decide whether he has or has not been “ fighting against the Dispensary.” In conclusion, may I tell “ Amicus Montgomery” that if, for obvious reasons, in discussing such a subject as our local medical charitable institutions, he refuses to give his real name and address, so far as I am concerned there is an end of the discussion ; and may I tell him, also, that, if he affix his real name and address to any statement on this important subject then no refutation could by any possibility be required, for that