The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-06
TO rnn EprroR or THE HRRALp;--

To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:--
observe In to-day's papers remonstrancc fro
the attending physicians OF tho New York Ilosplty
against his proposed removal to Bloomingdale,
which some specious statements are made which
may be well to look to more carefully.
When this hospital was first established In Its pQ
sent locality it was comparatively NJ far from u
city as Bloomingdae Is now above the limit OF ci|
population. New York town then scarcely passe,
Wall street. An idea was ut that tmc prevalent TN
hospital needed pure air, outside OF II at least,
though but little attempt at internal ventilation wi
made. 1t was accordingly placed away beyolI
the communicating influences OF close1
built city and In the midst OF Held
upon q commanding cmnence. For me la|
thirty years Il has been surrounded by thick
built houses, having for many years been crowdd
TO overlooking, way down into the cellars and up
the very top Of high garrcts, with tine poorest drtic
West dcnizens Of the city, with black, white al
yellow, with organ grinders ana bone pickcrs, WI
Irish, italian, German American, Chinese negrol
OF the lowest types, with thieves, pumps, gambler
prostitutes DULLES and politicians all cheek by Jow
In short Il there anything vile, foul and DEGRADE
10 found In this city, IL was centred nfnedlate
around those buildings. The view from Its window
overlooking Church and Thomas streets anu 4
Anthony tnow WORTH street, was In the highest q
gree dcinoralizing ana the noxious emanations fro
the streets ana CUTTERS added to the inpuriy OF "
"
For the last ten or twelve years the march OF ira,
has somewhat amellorated these sources OF toulne
and healthy stores have driven away tue noXios
groggerles and houses oi prostitution. ON the SEQ
OF air there ~ less reason now for removal than ~
time during tue last twenty-five years.
There IT, however, one fact which Is scarcely, II
all touched upon In the reOnstrance, VA; thlt "
patients are wanting. The building once Tiled wit
the sick ~ mainly used for . private institution
established and now kept up for private advantag,
The medical school attached noIninally Ia the IN
versty OF New ork, since their edfoe In East fou
tecnth street was burned, have hired appropra'
room from the hospital and WIN y tne privilege
clinical nslruciionAlike beneficial W the husplla
the college and the pupils.
The other buildings are lmp6rfcctiy nlled TT
building of the Wards Island hospitals, the SCI
mems Retreat, tho brsokyn Hospital. &C., has
taken from the New York Hospital many OF u
patients which formerly over thIOnged H. fhe IA
tories and workshops which formerly furnished sue
frequent injuries from accidents are moved up tow
and into ADJACENT towns, aud their quotas 20 '
Bellevue, ST. Luke's and The sisters Hospital IA
10 this the Increased reputation of special hospta
for diseases Of the eve and ear. OF Ieuiaes OF en-
dren. for Jews for Germans, for Catholics, for hph
copaIlans, and II IL easily seen why the glory
FINALLY, the selection OF its medical men has nc
been such ~ to continue tho reputation OF tue ho
pitai at that high standard 10 which IL formerly a
famed "11iere were giants In those days. and
was because they showed their extra Inches that the
were appointed to the high places. Latterly men a.
appointed by nep0ttsm-the sons nephews, aunt
cousins OF governors Of trustees, Of past officers Of
ANYBODY appointed not for his ABILITY, but because b
Is somebody's relative, who may have done notnli,
else but saunter through Spain, or dawdie In nJd
Park, or gdsier les rues de Pufrs--appointed "
cause II would concliate the Quaker or Episcopalia
Or Dutch interest nos necessary ~. because q w ~
appoint MIN, ana no can resign, you know " An
yet while the New York Hospital has never once 10
the last quarter o. century had rea. advance ~ =,
medical science OF the times, II has IN the main bee
highly respectable, decorous and" Old iogy.n Iu
community has found this out, and the patients nav
gone ~ other hospitals: the students have found
out, and the cliniques of Bellevue are crowded.
senlity Is the prevailing characteristic Of the Ne'
York Hospital. Respectable, venerable, uignineu,
ia diving or dry rot It's little clique That once acte
like q parish beade on the profession, rapping an
youngster over the head wn0 CHANGED 10 MAKE an
noise or to do anything TO overcome the cterna
STARVATION winch In influence excited, squelcnin.
with terrific frown any outsider VINO uld not wol
ship this Grand Tycoon OF seuoteaton anu nssuiiI
tionthls arrogant body WIN w sccfot VishnAasioi
rns neeeasi,lss OF inc community In the lower par
Tits city rearS a o;a, r pu oe cnc w - Y,
fne remainder might be sold without prejudice !
tbis want and the grand institution could be move
e,eowhere n moved 10 some cheaper location 1
IN, w,~nry or not too distant then ali the building
might bc dispensed with. Tho Old Rutgers mansion
on inc East river, latterly occupied by MT. Crosb,
wouId BIO healthy location for large hospital, COZ
vonient 10 shipping the ferries and down town.
The Episcopal Divinity school on West Twentiet
street ought to sell out anil move away rom IN
pItal might be aavantageousy located. block {
land OF little value might easily be found east {
broadway, and perhaps east o. the Bowery and nc
far from Prince street, on saNbrlou5 soil ana SUR
clently central for practical use.
Noxt, the community have right to dcmnnd--fc
they, by state and city taxes and legtcies, nav
erectedt this institution its medical officers nor
the lowest 10 the highest, should be appointed b
concOurs; lee them apply 90 candidates, write an
defend theses in short prove themselves 70 be u
heat men Ia the professionalism your hospitals va
rank nigh and Ia Europe, the honorable situation
will be ned, not by ricn mems sons and nephew
parties but by tho nerve aud brain Of tho thinkin
'''' - - AUGUSTUS X. GARDNER, n. u,