Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-02-28
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. %, 1890.

FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. 20. 1890.
Miss G. l.. Haynes, NJ. D., now employed
Tin what capacity is not stately at the Massa-
chusetts State Female School, at Palmer, has
Just been elected Assistant Physician in the
Western (Va.) Lunatic Asylum at Staunton
Her salary has been fixed at 500 year, WIFI
a home in the Asylum.
Dr. HAYNES is unknown to the profession OF
Virginia, and it appears singular that tne
Board of Visitors of this important medlca1
institution should have been in such preclpl.
fate haste to fill vacancy by the election OF
a person who it not yetshOwn to be qua TO
pass examination before the Medical ExamIn-
ing Board of Virginia. 1t will be rememb Der
ed that only few years ago, the Board OF
Visitors of the Central (Va.) Lunatic Asy-
lum near Petersburg, too hastily elected
gentleman who had not qualified to practice
by previously passing the examination by the
Medical Examining Board of Virginia, and
tbe Board of Visitors to the Asylum had to
rescind its action and elect another physician.
We cannot understand how the Board OF us
itors of the Western Lunatic Asylum OF Viz
qina. who seem to be ignorant OF the laws
Governing the practice of medicine in their
own State, and presumably Of the qualltlca-
tions of Miss Haynes, could have been lnduc-
ed to commit themselves to an election SO
important to the medical interests OF SO many
families in Virginia without first having all
the positive evidences attainable that the
marty elected Assistant Physician is cOmpe-
tent to assume the responsibilities and duties
incident to the position. The Board OF Nlsl-
tors to the Asylum is not composed OF medlcal
practitioners, nor are we aware that the pres
emit Board is competent to judge OF medlcal
ability Hence in the name of the Profession
of Virginia, as we'll as in the interests OF the
afflicted citizenship of this State, we protest
against such assumption on the part OF Inc
Board of Visitors of the Western Lunatlc
Asylum.
Ne are not aiming these remarks at Miss
Haynes, for we do not know anything apoul
her But we are crying aloud against the &C
ton of the Board of Visitors not composed OF
medical men. in not seeking the opinion, and
in not giving ear to the voice OF the medical
profession of the State in the selection OF med
ical men or women for medical positions
where medical ability is especially required
for the treatment of diseased conditions OF the
human system. Common sense and common
courtesy yield to the Bar the right to nomi-
nate the important judges. Like luogmelii
and courtesy should be extended to the medl
cal profession in the selection OF purely
qaedical offcial- Virginia Medical Monthly.
The above contained in the editorial de
partment of the Virginia Medical MONTH,
published at Richmond, would be very
misleading if read unaccompanled by facts
of which the writer of it seems to he unin
formed. Some of these facts we propose t.
give. 1t says:
"Miss C. L. Haynes, NJ D., now employed
Gin what capacity is not stately at the Massa-
chusetts State Female School, at Palmer, has
Just been elected Assistant Physician in the
Western (Va.) Lunatic Asylum at Staunton.
Her salary has been fixed at $3.50 year, will,
home in the Asylum.
The ''capacity" of Dr.. Haynes at the
Massachusetts State Primary School il.
Palmer, Mass, is that Of Resident Physic
ian, a position that she has held for some
time and with such success in all respects
as to make the authorities of that inStitu-
ton very loath to part with her-a regret
of which the Asylum Board of Directors
has been Informed by them in writing. DR..
Haynes is a native of Spartansburg, S. c.,
graduate of Columbia, Is. CO. Female
College, and a graduate of the Woman 5
Medical College of Philadelphia. She is a
lady of the highest character, and her testi-
monials in that respect are from some of the
most eminent citizens of South Carolina
Similar testimony Was given on that point
by the faculty of the Medical College al
which she graduated. and by many male
to say:
''Dr. Haynes is unknown to the profession
of Virginia, and it appears singular that the
Board of Visitors Of this important medical
institution should have been in such precipi-
tate haste to fill vacancy by the election OF
person who is not yet shown to be qualified to
pass examination before the Medical Examn-
ing Board of Virginia. 1t will be remember
ed that, only few years ago. the Board of
Visitors 20 the Central (Va.) Lunatic Asy-
lum, near Petersburg, too hastily elected a
gentleman who had not qualified to practice
by previously passing the examination by the
Medical Examining Board OF Virginia, and
the Board of Visitors to the Asylum had to re-
scind its actions and elect another physician
There has been no vacancy" and no
''precipitate haste'' in the Staunton
matter whatever. On the contrary the
Board has been very slow, deliberate and
cautious in the whole matter. Over year
ago a resolution offered by MI. J. w. Todd
to inquire into the expediency of adding a
female physician to the staff, to be employ
ed in the female department, was adopted
by the Board. Correspondence was
entered into and with a result over
whelmingly in favor of taking such a
step. About three months ago, after
getting the result Of the enquiries,
the Board appointed another committee
to still further enquire into the matter and
ascertain the names of candidates to be voted
on at another meeting to be held month
later. 1t will be thus seen that the matter
was entered upon and carried out with the
utmost elaboration and caution, and with
out particle of precipitancy. Of course
the Medical Monthly is aware that there are
no female physicians in Virginia and that
any gotten, must necessarily be from outside
the State. 1t was not at all probable. OF
even possible, that the sixteen candidates
for the pOsition-there were siXteen-all of
whom were engaged in other hospitals OF in
the practice of their profession elsewhere,
could leave their duties and make a journey
to Virginia to pass the Medical Examining
Board, without the assurance that when
passed they would have the new position at
their disposal to accept. The case was not at
all like that at Petersburg, though in that
case we incline to the opinion that the Pc
tersburg Board, if they had gotten a good
for man the place, were very unwise in not
waiting for him to go before the State Board.
and holding the place open for him until he
could do so. Suitable physicians linen OF
women-for insane hospital work, are not
so plentiful that few days delay should
operate to make a Board lose a good one.
Again:
eve cannot understand how the Board of
Nicitn,.c Of tho NEnrtn.,, L ,,,,a4:a