The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-31
THE MEDICAL MOLE HILL.
Investigation Of the Hospital Squabble-Nr.
Wishard Versus DR.. Eastman.

| The committee of eight, consisting Of Council
| men Haugh, Newcomb, Smithers, Mack and
| Rees, and Aldermen Rorison, Pritchard and
Bernhamer, met last evening to investigate the
City Hospital squabble occasioned by the drop
ping from the hospital staff of Dr. Joseph A.
Eastman by the superintendent, Dr. w. N.
Wishard.
! Among the witnesses were Ave young women
| nurses at the hospital, who testified to acts of
brusqueness amounting to discourtesy on the
part of DR.. Eastman while a member of the
staff. and which had brought about conflict be-
tween him and the superintendent, resulting in
his tDr. Eastmansl being dropped from the con-
sulting staff
DR.. Eastman admitted, to degree, that he had
been bfuSque at times, but that his offenSe was
not with studied intent, but grew out of his anx
iety for patient, upon whom he was perform
ing difficult and delicate operation in ovariot
omy. This presentation of the case was sub
stantlated by number of witnesses.
1t was shown that DR. Eastman in this partic-
ular operation and at other times, had ignored
the superintendent.
AS there were number of physicians pres
ent this was followed by a discussion of points
OF professional courtesy. DR.. John Chambers
said he had never-and he had been in many
hospltals-kuown case in which physician
performing an operation had thus ignored the
resident physician
Superintendent Wishard was asked if a pay
patient would be received and allowed his own
physician, no matter of what school that ply
stefan might be. He said he had never declined
to receive anyone--no one had ever been re-
fused A pay patient can have his own physi-
clan, as in that case the Superintendent is re-
lieved of responsibility, but in the Of non
paying patient as the superintendent is under
bond to discharge his duties, the charge Of the
patient must be in his hands. He then present
ed the following
To the Mayor, Common Council and Board of Alder
men,
Gentlemen-We have been members of the board of
trustees of the Indianapolis City Hospital and with
desire to offer gratuitous advice, it is judg
ment that the most important duty of the staff is the
aid rendered the superintendent and his resident
sstants in the discharge of their professional duties
and that the clinics are Of secondary Importance to
the regular rsulting work of the staff While they
are important and proper, yet they should be Incl
Judgment that when superintendent is placed in
charge of the hospital his consultants should be
with whom ne can maintain pleasant personal and pro-
fessional relations, and selected by himself.
PETER BRYCE, W. H. MORRISON,
+. W. HAMILTON, Il. +. CHANDLER,
II. j. MAUER. N. YOKE.
DR.. Eastman asked: "May bring out pay
patients with that understandings
Dr. Wishard, with great acidity: Eyes, if
you will excuse me from any professional asso-
| citation with you"
daugnCOn, OF the COllcR0 OF RnySlCla0S
and Surgeons said that the college with which
he was connected had been Disseminated against
In not being given legitimate representation on
the hospital staff, and asked for fairer and bet
ter representation. He said that nominations
would be made OF clinical teachers from his col
lege and placed before the committee for ap-
pointment They would be rnobiectionable
physicians, and he would see if the appointments
could be made.
DR.. Chambers said he did not understand that
..14 hn&xr H. Nnlln &c
Indiana and the College of Physicians and Sur
geons, but disagreement between Drs. Wish.
ard and Eastman. II feel for you, gentlemen"
he said. when you are called in to settle doc
tors Squabble. They are very bitter, but never
give rise to bloodshed." Continuing, he said that
he had some suggestions to make that would
probably aid the committee to come to de-
cision. On the point of equal reprrneen-
tation he said that six seven years
ago there were as now two old school or regu-
lar colleges, and they caused trouble to the
council, as now. Sensible physicians outside the
two colleges took the matter in hand and sue
| coded in having the two colleges come together
into one-the Medical College of Indiana.
for the new Union College That college could
not, of course include everybody in its profess
sorshps and new college was organized by men
who failed to get places in the Union College.
He wished the new college success as he had no
doubt that its teachers were capable and worthy
gentlemen No one college can contain all the
talent asking professional honors. He said his
recollection carried him back to the time when
there was very large consulting staff at the city
hospital The unfortunate patients were taken
in one day and lectured upon by the In
| diana Medical College and the next day
| poor souls by the other fellows. Such course
| could but be condemned as cruelty almost
as a crime to the unfortunate patients. 1t be-
came evident that everybody could not be made
| a teacher with safety to the patients. A few
men must do the work and be held responsible
for that work 1t was 80 all over the world
| Where consulting stats are chosen there are
many who might teach, but cannot be accom-
modated. Too many clinical teachers are had
for the patients; too frequent changes in teach
ers and treatment can not help but be bad. It
| is not safe to have staff made
| dents from particular college can not be
recognized as demand for clinical instructors
| on the hospital staff from each college repre-.
sented by students. In this city we have the
Medical College of Indiana, the College of Ply
| sicians and Surgeons two eclectic colleges, and
the Physo medical College. 1t may be next
| year we will have another, making six. When
| things come to this pass you have to make a Sc
| lection. You select men for this work through
| the City Council. or through the proper board or
| you leave the selection to be made by the head
| of the resident staff.
| Councilman Edenharter asked Mr. Bernhamer
| member of the committee to present the fol-
| lowing resolution for him. In asking this he
stated that as matter of fact the Physio medi-
| cal College had "a matriculants while the Medi-
| cal College of Indiana had 43 and the College of
| Physicians and Surgeons, which was demanding
| large representation upon the staff when the
| the Physio-medical College had no representa-
| tion), has only % matrculants, only nine of
whom had bought clinical tickets:
Whereas. the Physio medical College is represented
at the clinics of the City Hospital by greater
the record for tickets, than the Central College of
Physicians and Surgeons and whereas their professors
| are men of equal ability; therefore, be it
Resolved that they should be given representation
upon the consulting and lecturng staff of said hospi-
tai in proportion to number of tickets purchased"
Alderman Rorison presented the following
which was unanimously adopted
With regard to the general management of
the City Hospital your special committee recon
mend the passage of the following:
/ MoyAd That the hosnital hoard and snnerrn.