The Portland daily press., 1878-02-07
MAINE GENERAL HOSPITAL.
Rodericks Rel Observation-Disclosures Sat
Down Upon.

AUGUSTA, Feb. 6.
A gentleman who signs himself Fitz-James
takes occasion in the Portland Argus of yes
terday to severely criticize the Maine General
Hospital, and in doing so he uses as text por-
tons of a letter which published in the PRESS
on the Goth ultimo, giving an account of the
legislative committees visit there q few days
previous. Now L do not propose to champion
the cause of the hospital or of the Finance
Committee. visited, in company with that
committee, that institution for the purpose of
gathering what information L could of public
interest and intended to inspect it Impair
TALLY.
Fitz-James attempted to make me say that
the land was donated to the hospital. L said
nothing of the kind and what l did say upon
that subject cannot bs distorted into that by
any one who intends to treat the subject fairly.
The heating apparatus looms up before him
like ghost. Now know nothing of the cost
of that machine or whether or not some other
firm could have put 10 one for less price, nor
do I think the committee believe it within the
range of their inquiries. 1t said that it does
the work we'll and that the building is perfectly
heated and ventilated, and that the cost of run
ming it would be low if the hospital were full.
Does he deny this? L do not understand that
he does AS to my statement that no difficult
surgical operations are performed without the
consent and advice of the surgical staff |
will say that for my authority l have the word
of d.. Hunt and nearly all of the trustees,
given to the committee at its late visit to the
hospital He also takes exceptions to what 1
said about the hospital having at its command
the best medical and surgical SKILL able to
treat any case 10 the most skillful manner. I
understand that the names upon the medical
and surgical staff of the hospital comprise
some of the very best in the profession in aud
around Portland, one especially standing at the
head OF the profession, and [ do not believe
that this scribbler will succeed in making the
people or the Finance Committee believe that
these gentlemen, who have won such an envi-
able reputation in the noble profession they fol-
low, are incompetent and unskillful, or that
they disregard or are neglected. OF the sacred
trust they have accepted.
Why did not FitZ James appear before the
committee when they were at Portland and pre-
sent his charges? They published a notice re-
questing all who had any thing to say affecting
the management of the hospital to come before
them and they should be heard, but as he fail
ed to put in an appearance then, the committee
are going to give another hearing at the State
House, Thursday afternoon, on purpose that
this gentleman, and such others as wish to be
heard may have an opportunity, and am re-
quested by the committee to say that they de-
sire all persons who know any facts affecting
the management of the hospital to be present
aud present their testimony. L do not doubt
that the gentemaa will avail himself of this
chance for it would be very much more manly
to present his charges in person than throwing
mud at people from behind a nom de plume.
As the object of this gentleman, apparently,
Is TO crafty some personal spite he may have
against the trustees or superintendent will
not pursue the matter further. RoDERIcK.