The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-15
PRIVATE HOSPITALS.
The Latest Freak for wealthy Patient
and Scientific Explorations.

Tne Latest Frcak Tor wealthy Pattents
and Scientific Explorations.
The latest professional fad in this city
Is tho private hospital idea, which
threatens to become a craze. Almost
every eminent surgeon has one or
more private houses turned into hospi-
tails for the reception and treatment ol
patients who can afford to pay extern
sive prices. These houses, which are
usually elegant dwelling houses
situated on Fifth, Madison or Lexing-
ton avenues, are furnished in the most
luxurious style. The doctor has his
Office in the library. The parlor is
made into an elegant reception room.
The chambers aud all other available
rooms are fitted for patients OF wealth.
One room is set apart for the use of the
doctors assistants, usually young medi-
cai graduates who are glad to give
their time for their living and the en-
perience obtained. The most import
ant part of the establishment is the
patient. who must of course have
plenty OF money, and may be male or
female. The complaints of both sexes
are treated. though not usually in tho
same house. And these surgical re-
treats offer the inducement OF perfect
privacy to all their patrons, which
is one secret of their success. AS
may be surmised from what has been
said, many of the patients are people
of means who do not wish their friends
to know OF their illness, and who have
strong reasons for secrecy.
The first private hospital started in
this city was that of wefl-known
gynecologistand obstetrican. In this es-
tablishment the diseases of women are
exclusively treated, and the cost TO
each patient is about $1,000 month.
There are often thirty or forty in
mates, seldom less than ten or fifteen.
So it will be seen this first venture was
success. If all the private hospitals
for the treatment of women were of
the same order, it would be a matter
for public congratulation, but of the
hundreds that have been opened by
many doctors Of doubtful schools of
characters the majority are not above
suspicion. Some of these private af-
fairs are really the laboratories Of
human viviscctionists. More than one
famous surgeon who has a hospital at
his command sends the best Of the hos
pitfalls cases to his own establishment,
where he can experiment undeterred
by the supervision of human lay-trus-
tees and other hospital officers.
A certain surgeon desired to obtain
a large number of cases of abdominal
section, a few years ago, and resolved
TO perform laparatomy whenever he
could obtain patient on whom there
was the smallest excuse for this, the
most difficult and deadly Of all oper-
ations. He was one of the surgeons
in-chief OF one Of our largest hospitals,
and proceeded to operate on the insti-
tution's charity patients on the slight
est provocation. Before long the num-
Der of deaths from abdominal section
in the hospital engaged the attention
Of the trustees. and the surgeon was
ummoned-privately OF course-be-
fore the board. After a long hearing
they failed TO agree as TO whether or
not he had abused his powers; but they |
agreed to forbid him in future TO per-
'orm capital operation without all |
,hc surgeons of the hospital concurred
md were present. He had not yet |
the scientific data that |
he desired, so resorted to the |
private hospital idea. He purchased |
large house on Thirsy-fourth |
street and fitted it up for private hos
,ital. Here he could, untrammeled,
tut up his victims and obtain his SCI
,ntitic data. Here he sent all patients
whom he could feel justified in operat-
ng on. Here he has slain his hundreds,
md will slay his thousands before he
.cts done: then he will publish book
N abdominal surgery that will make
lin famous. AS he is wealthy man
nd can spend any amount of money 70
ttain his ends. and works strictly |
within the letter OF the law, nothing
an stop him in his death-dealing ca.
eer.
This is but one instance. There are
many others. Ii is in these labOraIo-
les of science that most of the surgi-
al sensations that appear in the public
ress originate.
There is one advantage gained by
hem, however: that is they are the
est possible schools for the adyap;e-
lent of surgical science. Talk about
utting up dogs and cats! Why, We
ut up men--the worthiest animal .or
ivisection!' Such were the worns.
erhaps over enthusiastic, which The
ritter heard one of these students
( ANATOMY utter. N. y. Cor. 81. Lofts
lobe democrat.
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