The morning news., 1899-12-31
DR.. BRUNNER'S POSITION.
HE REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF THE
HOSPITAL FIGHT.

on the staff of HOspitaI-An In
teresting Personal Narrative of the
Fight Which He Made in 1894 and
Some AiIusiOns TO the st. james
Dispensary-Dr. Daniels Statistics
Comparing Augusta and Savannah
Hospitals.
Health Officer Brunner's statement, at
the last meeting of City Council
upon the hospital question has been the
subject of much discussion. The paper
has been quoted with approval on both
sides. and each side seems anxious that
it should be givein publication in full.
DR., Brunners paper was an interesting
review of the hospital question, as it has
existed for a number of years. with a
somewhat humorous account of the part
which he played In the fight some years
ago and a summary of the situation, to-
gether with his views upon the subject.
1t is the first complete contribution TO the
hospital literature since the discussion be-
gan, and is thoroughly readable article
DR.. Brunner, in his statement, said:
Il believe that I can give you a per-
sonally disnterested statement as to hos
pital matters. To the minds of many VINO
are here tonight there will come a serious
doubt as to the correctness of this state
ment, but before I have finished my re-
marks 1 believe that will demonstrate
to the impartial listener that have
never yet spoken or acted except from
a strictly disinterested standpoint when
| hospital matters were at issue.
For years the medical profession in
Savannah has been divided on the hosp-
| tai question; for years q few men have
controlled the hospitalss and, on account
of the peculiar surroundings of these in
stitutions, they have been able to retain
| their positions, and to admit, it would
seem, only those of the profession whom
they saw fit. There are three hospitals
in this city which take care of the indl-
gent sick, and which derive portions of
| their revenue from the city and county
| authorities; they are the Savannah Hospi-
tai and the St Joseph's ~Infirmary for the
care of the INDECENT whites, and the Geor-
gia Infirmary for the care of INDECENT ne
groes The first named hospital has
staff of from seven to eight physicians.
The St. Joseph's Infirmary and the Geor-
gia Intirmary, each, have a staff of one.
| These hospitals now receive from the city
and county S16,S00 per annum, which is
believed to be in excess of all other reve-
nues received by them for the care Of
| AhdiSeht Sith. anu mink can show
you where the city and county have un-
knowingly advanced the interests of pnysi-
clans serving On staffs of these hospitals
to the detriment of the other practition-
ers of medicine in the city of Savannah.
Two Classes of Patients.
There are two classes of patients re-
ceived in the free wards of every hospital
that is, the pauper and INDECENT classes
they are two distinct classes The pa1lDar
| is Oprq1lxr in,
instance remains a pauper. The poor man
does not necessarily remain so all his
life. l would exemplify what I mean
when / state that the city of Savannah
and the county of Chatham have aided
members of the different staffs of the hos
pitals in Savannah to the detriment Of
other physicians not connected with the
hospitals by citing an hypothetical case:
Dr. Brown of the Savannah HospitaI
medical staff is called in to attend per
son-call 1t case of appeudicitis-needin
surgical interference. He finds his patient
in a room where aseptic surgery could
hardly be practiced the aid Of profess
sional nurse beyond the reach Of the pa
tient. He takes the patient on his own
certificate to the Savannah Hospital.
There, in a room with all necessary sur
gical appliances and hygienic surround
lngs, he performs an operation under the
best of conditions. The operation is sue
cessful; the patient owes a debt of graft
tude to the Doctor; he goes out and ex-
presses 1t to his friends; and in after
years, becoming more prosperous he en-
ploys this physician and pays him for nll
the services rendered. But DR.. Jones not
connected with the medical staff of the
Savannah Hospital or any other hospital.
but the equal of DR.. Brown in inteil-
gence and medical education, has a pa
tient which ne finds under the same cir
cumstances. He cannot operate where
he finds his patient nor can he carry him
to the hospital to do so; he is a con-
scientious man, and, knowing that he
cannot do either his patient or himself
justice he is compelled to let his patient
have the same advantages as the patient
of Dr. Brown, whereupon he applies to
one of the city physicians or the health
officer or to DR.. Brown of the Savannah
Hospital for permission to enter his pa
tent. who henceforth becomes the patient
of DR. Brown; for while Dr. Jones may
be permitted to witness the operation, he
cannot perform 1t. This patient also re-
covers, and whofis he grateful to? The
man who brought him to the hospital and
turned him over to the other doctor, or
the man who performed the operation
Most assuredly the latter-not because of
any superior skill Dr. Brown may have
had over the other man, but simply be-
cause he Is one Of the staff of the Savan-
nah Hospital.
Not for Sweet Chnrtty's sake.
ut may be wrong to be brutally frank.
but / am constrained to be So and tell
vou that the medical profession, about
which so many beautiful things are often
said. Is credited with deeds, the motives
of which are not always understood 1t
has been said that the physicians who
serve on the staff Of these or any other
hospital have given their services
erafuitous for sweet charity's sake. Such
is MOI and never has been the case. II ~
doubtful whether one physician IN fifty
ever did such work without realizing the
benefits that would arise from same, and
,he medical profession for years, seeing
that a few men were deriving the benefits
Of the hospital work, has from time 10
9ne objected 10 g. Naturally the 'ins"
nave lifted their voices Ia indignation that
che outs" should endcavor 70 phtici-
pate IN the privileges which were 20 ad-
vantags Gus 90 them. and the outs" with
equal Indignation have demanded repre-
( eertaHon. That the Dhyaicians who have