The medical charities of Birmingham : being letters on hospital management and administration / by Scrutator.

  • Scrutator.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical charities of Birmingham : being letters on hospital management and administration / by Scrutator. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ment. But what words are strong enough to denounce this huge injustice and cruel wrong? Why should it rest with 1,800 benevolent persons only, in a place like this, to pour oil and wine into the wounds of the poor way-farer, while twice that number will glance at him as he lies stript in the way, and indifferent or contemptuous pass by on the other side 1 Will any sort of argument reach these men ? Is there any species, of shame of which they are sensible 1 Alas, if no idea of social duty will move them ;—if they fail as men and as citi- zens to be touched by any sense of the just rights of the poor, it is idle to speak to them of the claims of a common Christianity, or the demands of divine revelation. But the public have also a duty to perform towards the patients j— that is, towards the hospital population. They are bound to see, as I have more than once insisted, that the benefits of our institutions are not afforded to persons who are not de- serving, and if those to whom the public commit this imperative duty fail to discharge it, their places must be filled by others who have clearer perceptions than themselves. Lastly, they have a duty to perform to themselves, that is, to see both on their own behalf, and on behalf of those who are not in a posi- tion to subscribe to Charities, that the greatest good to the greatest number at the smallest cost should be the guiding principle of hospital administration. To do this thoroughly, will require that many persons should resolve to devote more time than they are in the habit of giving to the good government of local institutions. My task is finished. I commit these questions to the hands of the public, whom they so seriously concern. There is no man, however humble his position or limited his means, who is not deeply interested in their consideration. But to those who have at heart the good government of the town of Birmingham, and are in a position to control it;—to those to whom this town is the place of their adoption, if not of their birth ;—to those who living in it, and living 6y it, do not affect to despise it j—to those who earnestly desire its progressive improvement and permanent prosperity;— these questions have an interest which is almost beyond the reach of words. I will never believe that when they have been fairly pointed out, and temperately discussed, the reforms which are so urgently needed will any longer be delayed. There may be some to whom private interests, party traditions, professional prejudices, will prove stronger inducements than the mani- fest claims of reason and humanity, but even these will in time give way. It is with the deepest satisfaction that I hear on all sides that many reforms are already impending. In the course of another year I trust they will be carried out. Then when the great Hospital Sunday again comes round, when Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, Churchman and Dissenter, laying aside all differences of nation and of creed, meet in the House of