Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-24
THE EASTERN DISPENSARY
The Annual Report Made by the Board Of
Directors.
Congress Asked to Purchase the
building Now Occupied by the
Institution Under Lease.

The ninth annual report of the Eastern
Dispensary was submitted to the Commits
sioaers today through the superintendent
of charities. During the year there were
4,1S6 visits. and total of 1903 patients
treated at the dispensary. There were j27
operations and 5,SSS prescriptions COM
pounded. Continuing, the report says:
THE board of directors released the val
liable property No. 217 Delaware avenue
northeast, the present lo> alton of this in
stitution for a term of two years. with
right of purchase for the sum of $4,000.
Its location is well adapted for dis
pensary, and the building is amply suffi-
cient not only for dispensary work, but for
an emergency hospital to include cases
from the eastern sections of the DISTRICT.
The necessity for this emergency hospital
has been carefully investigated for several
years by the board of directors, attending
staff and lady managers, with the result
that in June, 1897, the board of directors
formally established this hospital as a part
of the work OF this institution. The scope
and purpose of this emergency feature are
intended to cover one-half of the territory
and embrace Cne-third of the population of
the District.
For the want of funds to secure he
proper equipment, this hospital has not
been formally opened for the admission
of emergency cases, but will be about Oc-
tober l.
Congress Asked to Purchase.
1.-THE board of directors and lady man
ayers desire that Congress should purchase
this property for a dispensary and emer-
gency hospital on the terms of the afore-
said contract, and we earnestly request
that you recommend this purchase In your
report to the honorable Commissioners of
the District, to the end that they may re-
port the same to the present Congress for
an appropriation.
I'm addition to the purchase of this prop
erty, the board of directors and lady man.
ayers earnestly appeal for an appropriation
of $500 for the fiscal year 1899 10 meet the
increasing demands of the dispensary. and
5000 to maintain the emergency hospital,
which will require the services of two resi-
dent physicians. a janitor, two or more
nurses, a cook. surgical Instruments, the
necessary bedding. &c, the cost of which
has been carefully estimated by the at
tending staff and approved by the board.
The Emergency Feature.
"The rendering of first aid to the injured
is one of the demands which modern civil
lization exacts Of all, whether from the
profession al man or the artisan. Free
treatment at any hospital or dispensary,
wise, should be reserved exclusively for
those unable to defruy the cost Of sucn
treatment.
Gases requiring treatment in emer-
ing, as we do. that some restriction should
be placed upon imposition, we think the
city should be divided between the already
existing institutions For twelve months
the beard Of directors has considered the
question of enlarging the scope of this
institution, and in June of the present
year contracted for beds and bedding. Or
dered necessary instruments and appli-
arces, placed resident physician and an
assistant resident physician in the house.
Two wards for more serious cases requir-
ing detention and one ward for the re-
ception of emergencies have been fur
nisncd.
Located as We are, immediate aid can
be rendered those persons who may be
taken sick or be injured along the line of
the steam railroads crossing the eastern
section of the city, to similar cases occur
ring in the government printing Office at
the race track, at the navy yard and at
the Capitol.
What is Needed.
while we have wards for the patients,
accommodations for the residents ard the
nurses. drug room, and all things neces-
sary to hospital, We are lacking in funds
necessary to its proper conduct. We can
expect many calls Upon our resources in
the near future. and 1t would be particular
ly embarrassing to be compelled to close
our doors to the needy from lack of SUBJ
stantial support.
IAN advance step was made in January,
1886. when the chair of acknowledgements
was established and DIR. Bishop placed in
charge. Since its establishment many cases
of diseases otherwise incurable have been
very materially relieved or cured. The
would increase the efficiency of the service
very much. What this service, as well as
the dispensary, needs most, and should
have at as early date as possible. is a
f1rst-class static machine with an X-rays
attachment. The cost of this machine
will be from 1915 to $780,