File:History of the Philadelphia almshouses and hospitals from the beginning of the eighteenth to the ending of the nineteenth centuries ...- showing the mode of distributing public relief through the (14785594543).jpg

Identifier: historyofphilad00lawr (find matches)
Title: History of the Philadelphia almshouses and hospitals from the beginning of the eighteenth to the ending of the nineteenth centuries ...: showing the mode of distributing public relief through the management of the boards of overseers of the poor, gaurdians of the poor and the directors of the Department of Charities and Correction
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Lawrence, Charles, b. 1837
Subjects: Philadelphia (Pa.). Guardians for the Relief and Employment of the Poor Philadelphia (Pa.). Board of Guardians of the Poor Philadelphia (Pa.). Dept. of Charities and Correction Almshouses Hospitals Hospitals Hospitals
Publisher: (Philadelphia) : C. Lawrence
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Open Knowledge Commons

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been said that as paupers are of no use to societywhile living, there is no wrong done in making them useful whendead. The protest answered that by saying: If the basis ofthis argument was true, the inference would be shocking. Whatthen should be said of it in the face of the fact that many of themduring the principal part of their lives, and until old age or sick-ness overtook them, supported themselves and families, often underthe most difficult and trying circumstances, in a creditable andrespectable manner, who have been useful members of society andwho have as keen sensibilities in regard to decent interment andsafety of their remains as any other people. But we are not will-ing to admit that even in the case of the most depraved, the Boardwould be excusable in conniving at any violations of the grave.Few, and perhaps none, are so deadened in feelings as not to desirethe rites of Christian burial, for who would not revolt at the idea,160 > o m ooczo-\ zo DO m 2CO ocH
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Histo-ry of Philadelphia Almshouses and Hospitals. T>1 if they were consulted on the subject, of permitting their bodies tobe exposed in the lecture rooms, cut to pieces for the benefit of theschools and then thrown into a pit containing the remains of hun-dreds of others. All look to the Guardians for protection ; no dis-tinction is practical or expedient. To trifle with or disregard these feelings is a cruelty alto-getber unjustifiable. If the advancement of medical science be a sufficient plea forthis, why might it not be as well applied as an apology for the inflic-tion of bodily torture, for it is questionable whether that would, bea serious cruelty, compared with the goading of the mind to agonyby the horrible apprehensions of such a fate to await the body afterdeath. That it occasions dread and anxiety in the minds of some ofthe inmates of this House, is a well known fact. They are full)aware, or at least many of them are, that burial here, during thelecture season, is a moc

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