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68
It is probable that "80 or 90 per cent." of these persons
had not previously been "in receipt of parochial relief," but I
repeat that it does not follow, therefore, that they were "able to
pay" for hospital treatment.
The Managers themselves, as a body, are recognizing not
merely the duty, in the interests of public health, of admitting all
comers, but the fact that few of their patients are able to pay.
The subject came under their notice in March of the current year,
when it was stated that the facts would show that not five per
cent. of those thus admitted were of a class who could pay, and
that not ten. per cent had friends who could pay part of their
cost—statements well borne out by our experience in this "rich"
parish, as set out above. It was further stated that the admissions
had greatly benefited the Metropolis, in removing the feverstricken
from among the population—a fact the accuracy of
which will not be questioned by anyone conversant with the
subject, but of which the importance is perhaps scarcely realized
even now by a not inconsiderable section of those concerned in the
"medical relief'' of the infectious sick.
PAYMENT FOR NON-PAUPER CASES IN HOSPITALS.
Certain charges incurred in the treatment of the sick in hospital
are borne, in the first instance, by the Poor-law Authority of
the Unions and Parishes from which the cases are removed, be
the patients paupers or not. Not so very long ago, the Asylums
Board desired to contract with the Yestries and District Boards
for the reception and treatment of non-paupers: their proposal,
however, not proving acceptable, fell through, under circumstances
set forth in another place (vide page 54). As a rule, the
Guardians pay for the cases sent in by the Sanitary Authorities
or by medical men, without demur, but some little time back the
Board of Guardians of St. Saviour's Union made objection to
pay the cost of maintenance of a child admitted into one of the
hospitals, presumably at the request of the Sanitary Authority,