THE HOSPITAL.

Evening Star, Issue 2891, 25 May 1872, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL.

To the Editor. Sir, —Dr Richardson, in a letter to your contemporary of this morning, says he read in an article which recently appeared in your paper that, “in 1864, a resolution was passed that incurable patients be removed to another institution. ’ ” I also read the article referred to, but did not arrive at the same conclusion. The conclusion I did arrive at was that a certain report of a Commission, containing a recommendation (not a “ resolution ” of the Council, as Dr R. calls it), was referred to the Government to carry into effect so far as “ may be desirable, "and so soon as the Government may be in a position to do so. ” Whether any, or what, efforts have since been made to abate the evil so properly condemned (the retaining in the Hospital of a large number of mere objects of charity) I know not. But that the evil still exists Dr Richardson himself supplies proof when he refers to the “incurable” who, after dismissal from the Benevolent Institution, “again found an asylum in the Hospital.” Also in the “ robust, healthy-looking man who appeared quite out of place among the other patieuts in the ward, ” and who, according to Dr R., had still been allowed to occupy that place for a period of nine years ! This alone is quite sufficient to justify your general remarks on this subject.—Yours, &c. M. D. May 25. 1872.