The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-21
ST. JAMES DISPENSARY OPEN.
SAVANNAH'S NEW INSTITUTION
FOR THE POOR,

Number of Patients Treated on the
Opening Day-The Plan of the
Charity-NO Distinction as TO Race,
Color or Religion of Patients-The
Physicians in Charge of the Work
st. James Dispensary. the latest addi-
ton to Savannah's benevolent and phi
lanthropic institutions. formally began OPP
erations yesterday at West Broad and
Charlton streets. All the physicians who
have entered upon the enterprise were
present during the day, and several pa
tents took advantage of the opportunity
to secure treatment for nominal sum.
The plan and purposes of the new dis
pensary have already been fully stated in
the Morning News. The dispensary will
be conducted by number of physicians,
who have banded together for the purpose
of furnishing medical treatment at a nom
inal sum to those who are too poor to
pay physicians fees and the cost of drugs,
and at the same time do not wish to be
considered charity patients. Many of
these people will not apply to a city ply
sician except as a last resort.
one of the physicians interested in the
movement, the results of the enterprise
will be beneficial in every way. Many
patients who are unable TO pay require
the most careful treatment. The city
physicians, with the large demand upon
their time on account of the number of
patients who apply to them daily, are uE-
able to give these cases the care which
they require in order to receive any ben
nh uvbp
piled to by these patients are, consequent
ly, compelled to give a great deal of their
time in treating them, where there is little
or no remuneration to be expected. By
combining under the dispensary system,
the physicians will be enabled to give
10 this class much better attention than
is ordinarily received, and, at the same
time, the small fee charged will enable the
patient to feel that he is not placed in the
same category with the pauper. The fee
charged is entirely for the necessary drugs
and dressings and the running expenses
of the dispensary. The physicians in
charge give their services free What is
more, they are well aware that the receipts
will not pay the expenses of the enter
prise, and they are. therefore, prepared to
put their hands in their pockets in order
TO maintain it. In doing this they also
expect to have the assistance of their
friends, and Of charitably inclined people
generally.
The physicians, who have given their
services to the dispensary. are Drs. E. R.
Corson, j. w. Daniels, w. z. Fitch, St.
j. B. Graham, ]. L. HERS, S. ]. Lanier,
r. baltimore J. D. Paige, A. B. Sim
mons, G.. H. Stone and ]. G.. Van Marter.
The work is divided into several depart
ments, two physicians being assigned to
each department.
The building occupied by the dispensary
tn he al
separate room to each department. A pa
uent applying at the dispensary for treat
ment will be given a card to the proper
department, giving the name of the physi-
clan in charge of that department and the
hour at which he will be in attendance at
the dispensary. The dispensary will be
open daily from II to 2 and
janitor and the dispensary clerk, Miss
Mary z. Burgess, will be present through
out the day to receive the patients and
give whatever information is desired
The dispensary will be openNo all with
out regard to color, FACE or religion, who
can give proof of their inability to pay the
regular medical fees. The physicians very
properly, do not propose to rob themselves
by treating persons at the dispensary, who
are able to pay for treatment elsewhere
The fee of % cents charged each patient
includes the cost of drugs, dressings and
whatever else is needed in this line by the
patient.
The physicians, who have undertaken
this work, believe that there are a great
many deserving poor in the city, who will
be greatly benefited by the dispensary
To those, who are out of work and bare
ly able to obtain the necessaries of
life, the dispensary will prove a boon in
case of illness of themselves or families.
The character of the medical talent afford
ed by the dispensary is of the highest.
the physicians composing the staff being
well established, and having a large eli
entele of their own to demand their at
tention. They have nothing to gain from
the enterprise, but experience and with
that the majority of the staff is already
well supplied