The morning news., 1899-12-31


ent STATS
During the latter part of 1894, while at
tending a meeting of the Georgia Medical
Society, at the residence of one of its
members, 1 was asked to meet several
physicians after the conclusion of the
meeting. l was told that the question of
representation on the staff of the Savan-
nah Hospital was to be discussed at the
Office of specialist, and that my presence
at this discussion would not be unwel-
come. On arriving at the office of the
a esaid specialist, / found four physi-
clans present. The matter of insisting on
representation on the staff of the Savan
nah Hospiia al was thoroughly discussed.
The annual meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees of the Savannah Hospital was soon
to be held 1t was said that every one who
contributed $40 annually 90 the support of
this institution was entitled TO vote in the
election of managers; and that, as they
city of Savannah and the county of Chat
ham gave $500 for that purpose annual
ly. 1t would be entitled TO $50 votes After
listening 10 the remarks of these
gentlemen expressed per-
feet willingness to make the
fight, strictly in the interest OF the medi-
cal profession, under three conditions:
First, that no physician then serving on
the staff of the Savannah Hospital was
to be removed. Second that 1 was to FIJI
would give me their support when the
fight came on. In naming this latter
condition I asked each individual sepa-
rately if he would stick to the last, and
received an affirmative reply from each.
As the time for the annual meeting ap>
preached. I went to the Mayor of the
city of Savannah and stated the case;
and, upon my request, he gave me proxies
for the city. Likewise l went to the
chairman of the Board of County Com
missoners, who also gave me the proxies
for the county; and on the day of cleo
ton l deposited the list of managers for
whom 1 east the $50 votes of the city of
Savannah and county of Chatham. Con-
siderable indignation was expressed at my
oction from certain sources, and the
newspapers devoted some space to it.
And, strange to relate. within twenty-four
hours l received a letter from one of the
gentlemen who had asked me to take up
the fight. stating that. after careful con-
sderation. he could not allow his name
to be used in the matter; and another
said that the medical partnership exist
ing between a certain medical man and
himself would terminate unless he with
drew from the the scene of operation.
The third man l never saw for weeks af-
terward. 1t was said that he jumped the
fight before it came on. The fourth man
and myself were left to hold the bag.
Il OF dWnlie the HpSp1tdi AidlttT was not
again brought to the attention of the pub
lie, but interest in the question had never
entirely died out and during my absence
from the city, about a half-dozen promi
nent medical men organized what was
called the st. James Dispensary.
The st. James D4sRensnry.
II am told that this dispensary
was organized to force recognition
upon the part of the hospital
authorities to the merits of the
gentlemen organizing it, This dispensary
is thing of the past, but before its dis
bandment it was successful to the extent
that three of its charter members were
elected to the staff of the Savannah Hos
pital Right here / would exempllfy
of what value 1t is to physi-
clan to be on the staff of
one of these hospitals. am told
by several members of the defunct ST
James Dispensary, that one of the three
gentlemen who they were demonstrating
with for having accepted a position with
the Savannah Hospital, upon being re-
minded that he was charter member,
| and that by such action he was deserting
! the other members, replied that he could
| not refuse the position; that he had been
| in Savannah for nineteen years, and that
ne could not afford to put aside such aid
to his professional work. This statement
| is vouched for by not one, but three promi-
| nent reputable medical men. No one of
! the laity can thoroughly appreciate the
value to a physician of an hospital APP
| pointment. If the city of Savannah and
| the county of Chatham contribute approx
| imately $4,000 for the care of INDECENT
| sick, and this appropriation is used for
the advancement OF eight or ten physicians
| to the detriment of twice that number Of
! other physicians in the city, then the city
| and county have a right TO interfere, and
| see that these gentlemen who have never
| been recognized in hospital work. receive
! fair play and Justice. The medical men
on the stats OF these hospitals are, so far
as my personal knowledge goes, gentle
| men of intelligence and careful medical
| education, but there are just as much med
! zeal and surgical ability on the outside of
| the staff as there are inside OF 1t. Let
me call your attention TO a fact which
| should be carefully considered by this
| body, and the County Commissioners.
| This system of private individuals run
ming the hospitals has caused the medical
| profession of this city as whole, TO de-
| teriorate Medical men of Augusta and
| Atlanta have invaded the field which
| properly belongs to Savannah. ] had oc-
| casion this summer TO visit several coun-
| ties in Southeast Georgia, and ! found
that it-was no uncommon thing for Au-
| gusta and Atlanta men to be sent for to
| treat cases of sickness. or 10 perform sur
| gical operations. within seventy-ive or
! eighty miles of Savannah. / consider this
| condition of affairs TO be directly attrib-
utable TO the hospital conditions which
now exist.
The Young Doctors.
"A word about the young men Of the
| medical profession, and again l speak
| from a dlslnterested standpoint II
| has been stated by one OF
| the medical men representing the
! the Savannah Hospital that the
| poor sick should not be experimental upon
| by the young men Of the profession. The
! laity have been taught TO be aware OF the
/ Young doctors. Such fear or admonition
! had good grounds in the days Of long
ago. Speaking from personal experience,
1 50 per cent. Of my class were not only
unit to practice medicine on their gradu-
alton but were unfit 20 take up the study
| Of medicine. A medical education Is as
| different now from what II was twenty
or more years ago as day Is from night.
| Formerly, q two-year course OF medicine
was pursued by nearly every graduate,
| and their examinations we're mere for
/ maHties To-day the man who graduates