New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-07
ALLEGED ABUSES ~ THEN.

DIR D. IT, STEWART CRITICIsES DISPENSARiES
AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS
~ the assertions made by DR.. Douglas n. Stewart,
secretary OF the New-York Medical League are to
be credited a state of things exists In the dispen-
sarles and private hospitals OF this city which calls
for investigation. The league. which now numbers
over five hundred members Is making a determined
effort 10 obtain legislative inquiry and action with
regard to the abuses said to exist in these insttu-
lions and has for some time been collecting nfor-
nation and statistics to aid in its work
DR. Stewart was seen oy Tribune reporter at
his house No III West Sixtyfourtn ST. yesterday
When asked to state the nature OF the alleged
abuses he proceeded to make severe criticism OF
the hospitals and dispensaries. The city Of New
York he declared. gives about $4,000 a year more
~ the private medical institutions than 1t pays for
the support OF the city hospitals. Besides this. i'm
mouse sums are contributed by private persons.
and vet the poor are neglected In a shameful way
whcr they apply fo- medical treatment.
THE woman" said DR. Stewart. who was kept
waiting for two hours at the Vanderbilt Clinic
dov or two ago while suffering from smallpox is
only one case In point People come to me here
every day saving that they can get no attention
at the dspensaries because they are unable to pay
the charges treat them when have time. but
sometimes have 10 send them back TO the dispensary
and ask the doctors there 10 treat them properly
The dispensares are treating classes for which
,bov wera not founded. You will find that about
$50 0oD persons used these places in New-York in
1896 That Is about half the whole population OF
the city Numbers of people well able 10 pay go
IN tho dispensaries and while the butchers and
groccrs' wives being treated the poor brick
LAYER who has perhaps only a few minutes TO spare
and has no money for his medicine Is crowded out
and gets no aid. People even go TO these places in
their en- rrages and you three or four wait
ing outside any day. know one woman whose
husband Is worth many millions who makes use
OF them One day doctor at dispensary near
here suggested to a woman who brought her child
that she should take 1t Tor an airing into the coun-
try on n trolley-car. She was deeply insulted and
said she never used the cars. Another time woman
was told TO take a child on ferryboat. as sea air
would do It god and she took It the At
iantic."
With regard TO the private hospitals. DR.. Stewart
was even more severe in his structures When a
poor man goes TO hospital" he said. "the first
thing they ask him is II he can pay 81 week. II
he says he cannot they ask II his relatives can
raise the money and II II cannot be obtained he
Is packed of to Bellevue however sick he may he
and however great the distance 1t makes DIFF
ference II there are TWO feet OF snow tho
ground"
Dr. Stewart declared that dangerous operations
are determined upon III many cases whore they are
entirely on msh mas pain In his
cts know and can produce SIX women who
theT beasts S1" taken them are now "I pa"
q Al Of Of hs the o Wre
cured by ordinary means.
s'The " hole thing rests sentiment The money
10 support the hospitals Is given from good mo-
lives but the damage - doIfe In the appllca ton
Tbe money subscribed is wasted. There Is no need
FOR any one TO give 10 cents TO these charities All
the necessary medical charities paid for out OF
the taxes Every doctor. far as know In the
city has been asked q contribute sio to ST. Luke 3
Iiospital This hospital has the richest Board OF
Drectors OF any in the world When IL was founded
it was richly endowed. but all the money was sunk
In the building and now they not only ask the
doctors "a work in II for nothing. but they ask us
to help support II also.
.'Thr lchgue IL determined to have n tribunal APP
pointr by legislation before which the managers
OF these institutons may De brought The state
not OF discipline. and there Is at presen, no means
NV which the managers Of the hospitals and dts
pensaries NAV be told that their work must be
Quoted In the right way The league Is growing
M the rate OF about three new members day. IL
has no political objects. but means to have the
abuses | have spoken OF corrcc'ed."