Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-10

Al was IN the capacity OF demon
strator of anatomy, My position as hos.
pital physician had nothing TO do with
my position or appointment as demon
strator of anatomy in the college. 1t
happened that while hospital physician
the position of demonstrator Of anatomy
in the college was offered me. / accept
ed the latter position because / was then,
as l am now, interested in medical edu.
cation.
Odd the faculty Of the college ever
fod fault with you as hospital physician,
or was there ever any interference with
the faculty in their Waits to and instruc.
ton Of students in said hospital2
A.-Nohs whatever.
Q.-Wouldy you as hospital physician
be inimical to such facilities and benefits
being allowed to and enjoyed by the fac
ulty of the Medical collegeP
A.-None in the world, but on the con.
trary it would give me great pleasure to
afford the faculty every facility and
courtesy, both personally and officially,
in my power. 1 would obey all legisla.
ton from the city and instructions from
the committee, as I always have done.
Q.-But why, doctor, in view of such.
local presidents and usage in other
cities, is the faculty of the proposed col
legs so anxious to get control Of and
operate the city hospital2
Al do not know. The reason stated
by DR.. Rogers in your published inter
view with him is that the physician who
holds for two years, IF he is SO disposed,
can embarrass US very much"
Q,-But you say that you heretofore
have allowed and would be only too
pleased Of an opportunity in future to
again afford the faculty every facility to
the hospital. Now what right has DR..
Rogers to entertain the apprehension
that you or any other physician in
charge of the city hospital would act
discourteously toward him or the faculty
OF the eollege2
Al am sure | do not know. / do not
see why be has or can have any right to
anticipate either personal discourtesy or
official disobedience of orders on the
part of the hospital physician from the
power that creates him. The physician
in charge would of course carry out such
rules aud regulations as the committee
gave him. As far as the faculty desire
any detail 10 the operations at the hos
pitsl, such would be ordered, if neces.
sary, by the committee. If there were
any special privileges asked BY the fac
ulty such would be granted aud be given
the physician as an official order. The
physician, even admitting that be we're
indisposed to comply with the desire oil
the faculty, would certainly obey the
official order, or else subject himself to
the penalty Of removal from Office.
HI ABOVE INTERVIEW
gives reliable and interesting facts, and
inclines US tothe opinion that the faculty
would better subserve the interests Of the
proposed college by issuing the pros.
pectus at once. 1t would be better 10 as.
sure the public that the college will be
established than to sigh for the posses
sion Of the city hospital. If the build.
iDgs will not be needed and the college
cannot open until next fall, Why try to
take charge Of the city hospital be-
fore that timer We truly believe
; that Memphis will wait q long time
for a medical college il the con
dition be the surrender Of her public
hospital to this or any other faculty thai
may be selected. The LEDGE is 10 ia.
Yor of a medical college, but the method
, and. condition Of capturing the city hos
piisl is another thing, and enc that doe
and will not meet the appreciation Of shr
people. The city hospital is operated
at surprisingly low figures, and We dar,
e say hat it is run a. economically aa an,
. institution Of the kind in the Union
Could the supplies and medicine be pur
e chased for cash the savings would be al
4 the more. The figures given by DR.
= ThOrnioa above are taken from the reg
D isters book, sDd are reliable. It will b
o seen that actual expenses Of maintain
ing the hospital for the past FIVE year
has never amounted 10 more than $22,
1876 per snnum This vas the anonn
in 1873, when the ebolsrs and yellow 4,
yer epidsmics prevailed. Az 10 Dr
Thorntons administration of the cit
hospital, his services speak for then
IS selves and are creditable TO his talen
fidelity and character as q gentleman
h physician and pubic Official. He
y heartily in favor Of a medical colleQ
being established in Memphis.
h.. Hon. C. e. Hooker was in the city ye
terdsy. BE is in excellent health. sn
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