From the time of the first settlement of Cambridge
until the year 1865, there was no Hospital for this
city, unless the Almshouse can be called such. There
has been for a long time a growing need of such an
institution. The hospitals of Boston had not room
for all, or a large number, of the sick poor of Cambridge.
Nor was it right that, with our means and
advantages, we should be dependent upon another
city for the care of our own citizens. It therefore
seemed necessary that we should have a suitable Hospital
of our own, where the sick and disabled poor of
Cambridge could be cared for.
In the fall of 1865, a number of the citizens of
Cambridge made me donations for the purpose of commencing
such an institution. The next step was to
procure a house. I did not succeed in finding one I
could have until the spring of 1867. I then rented
for one year a small house, which I opened as a Hospital
in May. When I opened the Hospital, I
had not sufficient means to carry it through one
year; but I had faith that all needful wants would be
supplied, and they were. I was sustained through
the year, and closed with sufficient funds to pay my
rent for another year, and also a small sum to begin
again upon.
I was obliged to suspend at the end of the first
year, the owner wishing to make another disposition
of the house. That first year was one of success,—
so much so, that I felt encouraged to reopen the Hospital
as soon as I could procure a house. I was
obliged to wait until the fall of 1869 before I could
find a suitable house, and a landlord willing to lease
me one for such a purpose. In the mean time a Fair
had been held, which added materially to our funds.
Assistance also came in from other sources.
In December, 1869, I reopened the Hospital on
Prospect Street, in a convenient house on the corner of
Prospect and Hampshire Streets, where we have remained
until this time. During these two years we
have received one hundred and twenty-two patients,—
forty the first year, eighty-two the second,—many of
them very serious cases, and several of long duration.
Out of this number'we had four deaths: the others
either recovered entirely or were very materially benefited.
We have also treated a number of out-patients in
the Dispensary. The patients are mostly persons of
small means, or in very moderate circumstances,—
hard-working, industrious women, who earn their own
support, and, when they have families, supplying either
wholly or in part their needs also; but, when sick or
disabled, they can neither support themselves, nor be
properly cared for in their homes.
Others are domestics, who cannot conveniently be
taken care of in their places, and usually have no
home to go to, nor means to pay for their board and
medical care and nursing. We have had several such
at the Hospital, and sent them out well and able to
take care of themselves again.
Another and very interesting class are children.
Some of these can be soon restored; but many others require
long care and very skilful medical treatment before
they can be cured, or helped as far as their cases will
admit. All who. have seen suffering children know
how hard it is for them to bear their ailments, even
with all the alleviations which money and care can give.
It is far more hard for them when they have but few,
if any, of the comforts an invalid needs; and but little
care, and that little unskilful and irregular. Few,
except physicians, know how many of these cases there
are.
The surgical and medical treatment has been under
the daily direction of Dr. Charles E. Vaughan and Dr.
J. T. G. Nichols, who have visited the Hospital in
alternate months since its commencement, giving us
their invaluable aid most generously aud kindly; thus
granting freely to the poorest patient all the skill the
richest could provide.
In the first year of our work, Dr. S. Cabot of Boston,
very kindly gave us his valuable advice. Since then,
Dr. Richard M. Hodges, of Boston, has several times
assisted as consulting and operating surgeon. We are
much indebted to Dr. M. Wyman for his advice and
assistance, and also to Dr. C. Bullock for very valuable
dental services. Other physicians, also have most
generously offered their aid.
With regard to our means of support, we have no
fund from which to draw. Our only maintenance has
been the funds coming in from time to time, a small
part of which has been the moderate amount paid by
patients who are able to pay for the care and treatment
they receive. We have sometimes been very
poor,—so poor, that twice we almost stopped. Then
aid has come at the eleventh hour, and we have been
enabled to go on with our work. In the fall of 1870,
the city government came generously to our aid by
appropriating $750 for the rent of the house we occupy.
They showed us the same kindness last fall: thus
our rent for this year is secured.
At the same time, the Hospital took a very important
step onward. A number of the gentlemen of
Cambridge consented to act as Trustees for the institution,
and, forming themselves into a Board of Directors,
obtained from the Legislature of Massachusetts an
Act of Incorporation to the Cambridge Hospital; and
the same has been duly organized under the said Act.
The Hospital was first opened as a Hospital for
Women and Children, taking in no male patient over six
years of age; but, now that its usefulness has steadily
increased, it is hoped that it will be the beginning of a
General Hospital for the City of Cambridge, large
enough and rich enough to take in all of either sex
who can be benefited by hospital treatment. . . .
This is a good work that has come upon us,—caring
for the sick and disabled; helping "those we shall
have with us always,"—helping them not only in the
body, but sometimes, also, receiving the great privilege
of helping them in a higher way, and one that will be
a help in the great future which is coming to us all.
Cambridgeport,
May 20, 1872.
Miss Emily E. Parsons: Dear Madam,—The
undersigned, in behalf of the Cambridge Hospital Corporation,
in closing their official connection with you,
desire to express their high appreciation of your valuable
services in the establishment and management of
this institution.
In their judgment, the Hospital, during its brief
existence, has done great good in restoring the health,
or adding to the comfort of many, who without its
benefits, might have suffered from poverty or neglect.
They feel that whatever good has been done is mainly
owing to your self-sacrificing labors and untiring devotion;
they honor alike your faith and your works.
They deeply regret the necessity, which compels them
to close the doors of the Hospital, and thus to deprive
the City, for a time at least, of the benefit of your self-imposed
work of philanthropy and charity.
With sincere thanks for what you have accomplished,
and with pleasant recollections of their official and personal
intercourse with you, the undersigned would
subscribe themselves very truly yours.
Isaac Livermore,
W. W. Wellington,
W. A. Bullard,
committee
in behalf of
Trustees.
