New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-14
WHY THE DOCTORS REBEL.
THE WAR IN THE GERMAN HOSPITAL.
THEY SAY THE SUPERINTENDENT INTERPRETED
WITH THEIR DIAGNOSES AND DE-
IAYFD THEIR MEALS

The six resident ply sicians who presented their
designations the board of trustees Of the German
Hospital on June decided yesterday to make their
reasons public. Heretofore they were steadfast in
their refusal to present their side Of the case.
Inthe account Of the trouble published exclusively
In The Tribune on Friday, reference was made to a
formal complaint OF the physicians against Constan-
tine Ludwlg superintendent Of the hospital presented
TO the trustees at their special meeting Thursday
night. copy Of the complaint, signed by Drs. F. f.
Soudern A. Muller, II. A. Kurth, W. c. Guth
+. Staehlin and f. c. Schultze, yesterday placed
in the hands of Tribune reporter After expressing
the hope that knowledge of the grounds Of the COM
plant would Justify the designations and prevent
continuance of conditions that Impair the efficiency
and usefulness of the hospital service the complaint
reads in part as follows:
The superintendent has assumed unwarranted author
y for which alone responsible solely to
your beard IL would for instance, that
diagnosis Of patients preliminary to their assignment to
the proper wards peculiarly within province as
members Of medical staff The superintendent how
ever. who is himself physician has frequently and
persisteny ntecred WITH and forestaed this exer
else OF or judgment and discretion.
general management OF the hospital the policy OF
superintendent has been arbitrary incoDsderae and
oppressive. When for instance attendance a. meals mas
prevented by Of operation or other emer
eency effort has been made by him to consult the con-
venencc The persons thus occupied must 90 "ith
their meals uIess Others made to walt longer
or shorter tme for them. Three times In one
week has one Of been obliged TO Walt tOr
his supper in this way without being notified OF any chanee
In the supper hour until he appeared at the table,
breakfast also has been the subject OF rega-
ton In which superntendent attitude has been nether
dipniaed nor consistent The trouble in this and other
matters lies in the that the body OF regulations,
printed presumably for sole guidance has been In
terpreed and orally amended much at the within OF the
that has impossible for anyone but
the supcrn himself to know what rules in facb n
bur relation 10 the hospital management must be Observed
or what will be enforced
You doubtless appreciate how much our dignity ana
sense of honor professional and per'ona has been
az stake For TO continue in the work Of the hospon
ylthut compant was sacrifice ourselves and to Destroy
the efficiency and impair the usefulness OF the hosna
ltself Inasmuch a. a appeal to you By any method
other than resignation might not have fully emphaszeu
TO your minds sincerity and eancstness In this matter
we have therefore regned We simply cannot remain IN
the hospital long any part whatever OF the hospl
work (, under the direction OF the present spcrintAuen
Mr. Ludwig denies the charges made by the phys-
clans and Is content to await the decision OF the
tMstoes next Wednesday. When talking to Tribune
reporter Mr. Ludwig said thar he had not exceeds
his authority, and that he had not been tyranncal
or cruel The regulations were written. He could
only follow them and not disregard them. Mr.. Lud-
wig saws also that he has been In the hospital two
wears and has had trouble with the physcians
The doctors, at the request OF the trustees, nave
decided TO attend 10 the duties at the nospal unu
that the patients will not be without medical ADVICE
nd attention