Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-19
COMMUNICATION.
For the Lvening Star.

s. hrmary. e
t. Nh. EDlroR: notice in the published
proceeding of the House of Representatives
an amendment to the general appropriation
bill, offered by Mr.. Stanley, donating to
the directors of the Washington Infirma-
ry" $40, 900, to enlarge their building. Can
you. cir, give reason rendering the eularg.
ment of til. building occupied by the med
ical department of Columbian College neces
sary, either for the accommodation Of pupils
or the sick. Let us inquire into this. The
building, situated in the rear Of the City
Hall, formerly the Jail, was some years ago
granted, by Congress, to the medical de-
partment of Columbian College. Since an
in6rmary has been established there, to
which the government annually appropriates
S., 900 for the support of certain number
of sick, all others have to pay for the occu-
pancy Of bed in that institution. 1t is
not a hospital No one can derive medical
assistance from it without paying for it, in
short it is on extensive boarding house for
the sick, conducted by six medical men,
professors in the institution above named,
| bot who have lately denominated themselves
the "Directors of the Washington Infirma-
ry."
This appropriation is not needed and is
unjust. If Congress desires to confer a
benefit upon the city of Washington, why
not establish a general hospital, open to all
the poor and needy who are exc uded from
the 1nfirmary. The establishment of this
institution is private enterprise, conduct
ed entirely upon a basis, intended to adj
vance the professional reputation of those
connected with it, by building up school
Of medicine, which after the elapse of
dozen years, has signaIly failed, having now
smaller class than another institution,
three years old, and which has received
neither house nor money from Congress.
If Congress enlarges the building, next
they will be called upon to increase the an.
naal donation for the maintenance of GER
tain number of sick, or in other words to
| support the college, which cannot support
itself.
What part of the building do the direc-
tors desire to enlarge? 1t cannot be the por-
ton which is appropriated to the students,
for room twelve feet square, would &C
commodate all the pupils they have had in
ten years. 1t cannot be that which is appro.
priated to the sick, because there is room
enough in the present building to accommo-
date many more than have ever been ac-
commodated for two thousand dollars year.
l have Said the appropriation would be
unjust, and why? Because it is not right
to exclude another institution from a share,
the faculty Of which are as capable and far
more enterprising. The medical depart
ment Of George Town College, situated on
the corner of and Twelfth streets, have
larger class and their pupils should not be
deprived of the advantages of an institution
erected aud supported by the government.
Again it is not right that the government
should erect building and then rent it to
itself, as is the case with the infrmary, and
at the same time permit the National Medi
cal College or more properly the medical
department of Columbian college, to occupy
that building as medical school, depriving
all other students and medical men from
any share in the advantages of such an in
stitution.
1t is unjust, because it is supporting and
holsferino I'm a lettering institution piyinp