Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-10
TIL MEDICAL COLLEGE.
.8W1HTwB EGt)g
Another Interview Upon tho Subject
professional Comfy and Re.
70 liable Figures for the Read.
ing Public.
Views OF DR.. g. b. Thornton Upon
the Institution and the city
HOsPitaI-PresePve shis
Charity.

Having published an interview with
DR.. VIM. E. Rogers, the prime factor in
the Inauguration of the enterprise look.
ing to the establishment OF a medical
college in connection with the control
aud use Of the Memphis City Hospital,
a LEDGER reporter yesterday interviewed
DR.. G. B. Thornton, who is now, and for
the past nine years has been, the efficient
physician Of the latter institution. This
interview presents some facts which we
leave for the consideration and careful
attention Of the public.
Question-Dr. Thornton, what is the
average annual expenses of the city
hospital2
Answer-The budget is about $40, 900
per annum, though the expenses come
within this amount, as will be sect by
reference to official papers.
Q-What amounts do these papers
show?
A.-These papers show the following
figures: Total expenditures for 1872
amounted to $29,654.45, from which we
must deduct $526O 10 received from pay
patients the actual cost of maintaining
the hospital, minus $2788. IA Of perma.
nsnt improvements, amounted to $2l,-
$3.50 In 1873 the gross expenditures
Of the hospital amounted to $39, III. l3,
Of which sl0,42O.72 was for permanent
improvements. three new wards being
built. This with $780,. Is received from
pay and marine patients make the actual
cost Of maintaining the hospital $22,-
1893. l6. The official figures for 1874 are as
follows: Gross expenditures, SIG, 846.s SO;
amount received from marine and pay
patients, $3473O CO., improvements and
special pay roll of engineers force,
1896 A; actual cost for maintaining
patients, sl9,97T.39 The official figures
for 1875 were as follows: Total appro.
pristious, sl9,565 40; received from ma.
rine and pay patients, 1861 so; actual
cost of the city hospital, SIS, 81 80
amount Of budget, $22, 900; unappropri
ated balance in budget $6o22,lO. Th,
official figures fos 1876 we're 80 follows
Total appropriations, $l9.8l4 Is; re
ceiVed from marine and pay patients
$45l6; actual repairs, $l29.65; actus.
cost of the hospital, sl5, 1853 so. The
report for 1877 is not yet completed. The
official reports show that 1000 patients
we're treated annually.
Cor course you are aware that al
effort is being made by several Of on.
physicians TO establish a medical collegr
and to get control Of the city hospital
So far as / know, the public charities 0
other cities in the United States hay
never been surrendered to the control 0
any institution, association or corpora
. ton, and it is questionable but what 81
? injunction would be issued to restrain
F., our council from making such dispos.
ton by a special ordinance, grant 0
: otherwise. Can you give me any info
: nation upon these subjeets2
: Alt is not customary in other cite
; for public institutions to be turned owe
} to faculties of medical colleges. Will,
as a mere question Of right a city hs
. authority to make such disp osition
o public institutions as they deem ct, sue
Z is not customary, aud it would be a yer
! dangerous experiment. However, facu
!, ties Of medical colleges have the entire
. these hospitals for the purpose o. seac
ing their special branch Of science, med
d cine and surgery, but they 20 there su'
ject to such rules and regulations as Il
governing committee Of these public i
stitutions see proper to impose.
= Q.-Then what relation should ext
= between the city hospital and the lacul
: of the medical college2
. Al think the city should grant Il
' faculty every facility aud courtesy DC
sible for chemical purposes.
Q--WOuld there, under the prese
, MANAGEMENT of the city hospital,
anything to prevent either the faculty
It, students of the proposed medical collie
from having the benefit Of such cleuic
OF instruction in said hospital2
A.-None whatever. In fact, there
a precedent for this. The faculties
b. the two medical colleges that exist
ar here before and after the war had all {
lis facilities and access to the city boapi
Is they asked or wanted.