Public Beneficence.
There are in the Republic many beneficent establishments, hospitals, charity and mutual assistance societies, that do important services to all who need them without any distinction of nationality.
In the capital there are, under the care of the State and of the National Charity and Beneficence Commission, the Charity Hospital, the Alms House, the Insane Asylum, the Orphan Hospital, the Maternal Asylum and also a small-pox Lazaretto.
There exist also, under the care of private beneficence, the English Hospital, the Italian Hospital, and soon there will be a Spanish Hospital.
For a long time there have been many Ladies' Beneficence Societies, and many Mutual Assistance Societies: La Junta Central Espanola de Beneficencia, La Fraternidad, Societa Italiana, Circolo Napolitano, Societe Francaise de Seccours Mutuels.
The number of the members of all the societies is more or less 25,000.
Charity Hospital.—In the beginning of the year 1891, there were 489 ill people in the hospital; from January to December of the same year, there entered 5,361; therefore, during the year 1891, 5,850 persons were attended at the hospital. Out of them 5,022 were cured, 4 ran away and 451 died, remaining 373 persons for the year 1892.
Out of the 5,361 persons who went to the hospital, 1,529 only were natives and 3,832 foreigners.
Insane Asylum.—In 1891 the number of people attended to was 987. During the year, 58 went out and there remained for 1892, 768 persons.
The 258 people who came to the hospital in 1891, were 107 natives and 151 foreigners.
Alms House.—Out of 473 beggars living in the asylum, the greatest number, in the year 1891, were foreigners.
Orphan and Foundling Asylum.—In the beginning of 1891 there were 397 children. During the year there entered 574; thence there were 971 children in the hospital during the year 1891. Out of them 56 foundlings were claimed for by their parents and 22 orphans by their relations; 63 orphans were adopted by various families.
Maternal Asylum.—The three Maternal Asylums received during the year 1891, 1,937 children of both sexes, who were attended to by the Charity Sisters.
In all the departments there exist Beneficence and Mutual Assistance Societies that do great services to the poor people.