National Republican., 1877-02-07
TIE COLUMBIA LyING.IN.AsyLuM.

Lying.In-Asylu ylum, has created much remark. Tho
hospital and asylum have been the SUBJECT of con.
Siderable scandal. II has been frequently charged
that the Institution was maintained principally
for tho convenience of fast Congrossmen and
other officials, and their unfortunate paramours
Mrs. "Olvia" Briggs recently embodied in an
address, in opposition to the proposed Girls Re.
form School, some very caustc remarks In refer.
enee to this Institution and the part taken BY
Congressmen, to provide patients as we'll as
funds, which served to revive the scandal
The Consulting Board resigned because
son, has been invested with unlimited
ns% SS1trG TnsfS so a can uSsT The
without the knowledge OF the board, and without
consulting them. member Of the Consulting
board stated last evening. that the action OF the
that patients could be introduced In the asylum
without question.
LETTER OF THE CONSULTING BOARD.
The following is the communication sent by the
Board of Directors rendering their designations
WAsHINGToN, d. c., Feb. End, 1877.
GENTLENEsi We have tie rS honor to Sspi. aeipoSl.
edge the receipt Of communication from your
board, containing the text Of the action taken BY
recommendations made in tho annual report Of
the Advisory and Consulting Board.
after the subject matter Of the recommendations
alluded to had been duly considered by q com.
mittse Of conference appointed on the part Of tho
dissent therefrom, expressed In your approval OF
the report OF your committee in so far as Il relates
to the recommendations submitted by its board,
as an honest difference OF opinion with regard
to the best mode of conserving the interest Of
Mho,S Sh sSnSTc under ,ySSr to
only through the compliment of your creation.
In this view nothing could be less pleasant or de-
board on any point less vital than one affecting
the proper standing of the hospital our connec-
q point Is made in more than one Of tho recon.
mendations presented by us to your board in the
discharge Of our obligations to you, and that the
answer made to those recommendations does not
foreshndow even their future favorable consider.
alton. Under the original bylaws and resula-
Hoard, our further duty In tho premises would
have been limited to the semi.ahnual presenta-
tion OF these same suggestions until their adop'
them actually operative. The last Of the amend.
ments however, adopted by your board, that to
relieves us Of this duty. but even reduces
US, in our collective capacity, to q condition of
nullity which We cannot but consider as cuuiva-
lent to belief that our opinions, at least, are no
longer either weIghty or acceptable. Moreover,
our medical services even, are by section eight
OF your Committees report, restricted to such q
degree as render them comparatively valueless,
and subordinate them to the unlimited authority
while, at the same time. 1t deprives the patients
Of the customary advantages OF medical institu-
tIons Having that respect for your board which
would prevent us from occupying an attitude
hostile TO 1t, while filling posts In It's gif,-with.
holding, MS we do, acquessence in the conclusion
reached in the report Of your committeeman
believing, as we do, that our present dilemma is
consistent neither with our professional positions
on the :tag oi Columbia Hospital nor with the
the Institution.
maintenance, development and elevation Of the
hospital, In this action we reserve to ourselves.
the right to strive for the attainment OF these OBJ
lecs, either with the public, for whose beneft 1t
was created, the medical profession, with which
It should be identified, or with the legally consti.
and character, alike belong to the National
Government We beg leave, then, to tender here.
with our designations as members ofthe Advisory
and Consulting Board Of Columbia Hospital.
WM. b. DRINRARD, M. ID.
J. FoRD THOMPSON, NJ. ID.
Z. II. A. KLEINscHNIDT, NJ. d.
JOHNSON ELIOT, NJ. d.
s. A. II. McKIS. II. ID.
A. Y. p. GARRETT, NJ. D.
SAMUEL q. BusRY, NIL.
THE ACTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The following Is the report Of the committee
referred to, which was unanimously approved by
the Board Of Directors:
COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN, AND LYING.
IN-AsYLuM.
WARRINGTON, d. c., December 4. 1879.
The special committee appoi ntcd at the last
meeting Of the Board Of Directors OF tho hospital,
to ,,n wnom was referred the "RsPor, Of the Con-
dated September q, is76, respectfully report;
that your committee appointed by the Consult
them, the various points recommended by
shS% saar.d In ,hsm said report have carefully con:
Board Of Directors u their consideration:
he rst TsiSnt,Ss BY the
Of the surgeon. in chief, the visiting physician
and surgeon may visit any particular patient as
often as he the surgeon;in;chieD may desire
m n n paE ghan ha
elect other than the visiting hyslcian and sur.
geon to make such visits. An consultations
Board. and no surgical operation shall
4. his so. request by some member Of the
This resolution your committee recommend the
board to approve, with amendments, SO as to read
AT the request of the surgeon. n.chief the
visiting physician and surgeon may visit any
particular patient as often as he (the surgeon.
geon-in chief elect other than the visiting physi.
clan and surgeon, to make such visits, except by
tSapet ,on 81 .: ,he pstsnt and With The appos
members Of the Consulting Board, except
operation shall be performed except by the sur.
geon.in:chef, or, at his request, by some member
0 shs Consulting s III Board or other ay recognized
sent" p'''
carpets from all sleeping apartments of patients,
your COMMITTEES recommend their removal from
ALI rooms used for lyingin purposes but that they
be, Tor the present. allowed 20 remain, in such
private rooms as not used ryr such purposes
3. AS to the recommenda. Ion to admit q member
OF the Consulting Board, to all meetings OF the
Board OF Directors for purposes Of mutual consulta
tion and explanation, your committee are of the
opinion that such admission is not necessary or
advisable.
4. As to the admitted conflict between
chapter ! section 8, and chapter 9, section l,
your committee recommend that chapter 7, sec.
tion ., be amended so as to read: iNo capital
operation shall be performed, except IN cases OF
urgent necessity, without tho appreciation Of a
majority OF the Consulting Board present, after
due notification; nor shall any operation be per.
formed, except by the surgeon In. chief unless
with his and their appreciation"
o. Asto the proposition to abolish the salary
OF surgeon In. chiei, your committee are of the
opinion that this, for the present. would not pro-
mote the interest Of the hospital. Arguments
and considerations that would be Of great force,
II this were hospital for general purposes fail
when we consider the prime fact that this is a
hospital for special purposes, requiring special
capacities and skill In its chief medical officer
We are of the opinion that II Is wise for the Board
Of ID ireetors to retain In their hands
the power each year to regulate and fix the re-
muneration OF Its medical officers according to
their Judgment Of what Will best promote the
prosperity Of the hospital at that time.
o. AS to the recommendation that the resident
physicians be appointed after a competitive ex-
animation by medical board connected with the
hospital, and be not allowed to engage In private
practice, your committee are Of opinion that the
surgeon.nchief should nominate the resident
physician, subject to the confirmation Of the board
IIsAA 49,. -.