The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11
WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE.
DrrF.T OF DIsPENSARY MAY BEAR
ON HOSPITAL PETITIONS.


al PAVING Assessments Because Its
"PubIic" scope Is Not Broad
rnouch-CIaimed Its stan Ply
stcians Helped Crush the st. James
Dispensary-AIderm Mills Has
asked That the UnfavOrabIe Action
of committee of the Whole Be Re-
considered.
The influences which il is thought may
ill the petitions in Council to relieve
me savannah Hospital and the TelfaIr
hospital from paving assessments, are
'.Isyed by some of the aldermen 10 be due
70 the unpleasautness among physicians
/ which grew out Of the al
sgsi efforts to crush the
n James Dispensary, an infant institu-
ZION which struggled for several months
against large number of opposing physl-
4 Clans The turn things have taken indi-
4 cafes that the supporters of the dispensary
went down with the determination to re-
member what had caused their failure
Al recent meeting Of the committee
of the whole of Council for the purpose
nj considering the petitions asking for the
remittance of paving claims, there was
quite a spirited debate, during the course
OF which ii is said the Savannah Hospital
was arraigned for the stand it is claimed
Ms physicians took in the fight on the
dispeusary. With the desire of being fully
understood on the subject, ii is sand AL
derman Graham and others fully reviewed
the object OF the dispensary, the struggles
il had, and the treatment it received at
the hands of physicians connected with
The Savannah Hospital. There was no at
tack upon the hospital, but che position
.,f.1 Lr- Is - ave 200
10 have been that it is not a public instl-
tuition IN the sense of the word which en-
titles it 10 exemption from paving assess
meats.
over year ago several prominent young
phys clans combined for the purpose Of
establishing the st. james Dispensary.
Their object was to incorporate an insti-
4 tuition where the younger members of the
profession would be admitted, and could
a have the same advantages enjoyed by
those connected with the Savannah Hospi-
a tal Dr. William Duncan, superintendent,
\ and Dr.. w. w. Owens, DR. T. J. Charl-
ton and Dr. E. r. Corson are said 10 be
n the only physicians who have the privi-
iege of treating charity patents there Out
side physicians only have the privilege of
treating pay patients. The physicians not
members or the medical staff always in-
sisted that the hospital was a public in
sduuon and that they were entitled to
the same privileges as other in being call
ed to treat charity patients. The opinions
Of the STAFF physicians, or, rather, the
81 DVHlu hA Il JUSTICES N4-Gu GlCClS them, ana
the outside physicians started the oppo-
s.uon 10 the Savannah Hospital which re-
suited Ia the establishment of the ST.
James Dispensary.
Under favorable auspices the dispensary
started its work near the Central Railroad
depot on West Broad street. For the pur-
pose Of getting the material upon which
to work there was no charge for physi-
clans services, the only charge being the
actual cost of the medicines used The
1phy solans at the head of the new insti-
pm Fitch, the late Dr. Stone, DR.. Simmons,
\ DE Corson, DR.. Daniel DR.. Lattimore
Dr., Van Marter, DR.. ,Lanier, DR.. Hers,
ana several others, gave their time TO the
al the dispensary. The jealous manner
In which they undertook the work was
Egenerally admired, and for a time ii look
leo as If The institution was to prosper. AS |
INCREASED, until there was always a crowd
at us doors to greet the members of the
Emellcal staff when they appeared.
Before great While the opposition be-
*gan 10 show itself, however, and whether
p Was o,her physicians or not, they got
Hthe credit Tor every antagonizing move |
|dSpensary staff had a negro in its dis |
*secung rooms and for a time 1t was |
#tAought there would be trouble at the |
0dlspensary, owing to the excitement |
<Wno assembled about the building. The |
Edspensary physicians had no hesitancy |
~ expressing the belief that This was a |
|put up Job on the institution by opposing |
physicians. Later on DR.. Corson handed |
IN mis- resignation and accepted an APP
4 pomtment on the medical staff of the Sa- |
~ The most interchangeable workers in or |
gaming The dispensary the other MEM
&hers OF the staff freely expressed the opin- |
n on that this was another barrier placed |
Enembers resigned.
4 The dispensary moved along until a few |
tohlhs ago, when il gave way under its |
Fsclsstudes and closed its doors The |
Patronage did not justify the expense to |
men lhe stan was being PIT in maintain |
~ IL, The original intention being to es- |
Eaoish an institution where an the physi- |
dns would be EMIT led TO practice, it win |
II readily understood how those connected |
Eltl II felt when they were forced to give |
~ lhe undertaking, as they thought, for |
any ol support of their fellow practition- |
a :, Iney felt that If barriers were thrown |
uer way by opposing physicians, that |
- were responsible in a large measure |
Egi ~ me failure of the dispensary to accom-
*lSu IT'S purposes.
Under this condition of affairs it is |
aimed the reasons the former dispens- |
a supporters have for opposing the re- /
llahCe of the paving claims are an |
a aren't and opposition was NOT surprising |
IN Is sald that Alderman Graham review |
IN Ile situation on the committee of the |
noe and urged that the Savannah Hos
l.d4 was not a public institution in that |
~ 81 the word that entitled it 10 the |
exemption it asked The conditions of |
gahi , are that the patient be a
th'e person, and that he must be I'M
we TO pay expenses; otherwise he must
y eulered as pay patient. During the |
Ee1se OF the discussion in caucus it Is |
r. the aldermen became greatly inter-
s9eu, some going so far as to ask the |
"-dl{ OF the superintendent and other |
A itsuQhs which they thought would have
A 3s- nearing on the justice of renting
Ie paving claims. After the matter had |
f. thoroughly discussed il is said the
4 oaIa decided that none of the institu-
OuS which asked for the remittance
4 o1id receive ii, except the Female Or
4 ei u bSsylum at Oglethorpe avenue and
.Aqeiman Mills, who is president Of
r BOARD of trustees of the Savannah
ospyal has asked that the action of
r. Committee of the whole be reconsid-
~ neither this will be done is not