The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-10

minutes upon Raleigh as Medical zen
tre." In order for a place to be designa-
ted as a centre of medical thought and
action 1t must possess several advantages.
First OF all its practitioners should be
men OF character and ability; second,
there should be well equipped hospitals,
both for public and private patients
above all some proper method of caring
Tor the poor and needy ones: and third,
there ought to be one or more institu-
items of medical learning, which shall
gather together the best efforts OF those
engaged In such work and radiate this
knowledge abroad. I think / may safely
say that the city of Ralelgn meets these
requirements in a comparatively success
fui manner. Not to claim too much fol
ourselves, we can show, l believe, that
Raleigh more fully complies with the
above stipulations as a whole than any
other town IN North Carolina. although
one or two cities may surpass Us in one
of more particulars Few even of our own
citizens know OF the constant, thorough
and excellent work done here in medical
circles by the private practitioners, teach
ers, students and nurses of our city
Faithfully, yet silently, with confidence
which 'vauntcth not ITSELF" the labor
goes on unremittingly night and day
/. Taken collectively Raleighs medical
men stand high in their profession ard
in the public esteem. Individually each
one is noted and skilful in his own field
of endeavor. Their work is worthy. their
counsel is sought, their reputation is
widespread. am glad to pay this tribute
to the honor of my colleagues, though
they need no eulogy at my hands.
q The hospitals of the city arc doirg
at all times high grade of service, rank
ing with that seen in cities of much lar
ger size. Patients from the surrounding
country and from long distances are seat
here by their physicians to receive the
care and attention needed. Too high al
estimate cannot be placed upon The good
these hospitals are doing for Raleigh. To
the INDECENT sick people of The city they
are the greatest possible blessins-ab,o-
lutely essential for the preservation of the
health and lives of our inhabitants. When
patients come from other regions. they
are frequently accompanied by tie doctor,
their friends or other members OF the
family, who sometimes remain for time
and thus commercial ties are formed for
their after life. Take away the hospitals
| from your community, gentlemen, ard
you remove sources for good, second only
will eternally be felt; build up the hospit-
ais and you strengthen the powers fer
uplifhting the whole town. 1t is not gen.
eralIy known, perhaps, that we have
i'll Raleigh three of the best hospitals in
North Carolina and that very big shale
OF the States medical and surgical work
| is done in them. These institutions are
Rex Hospital for both white and :olored.
st. Agnes Hospital Cat st. Augustine
SchooD and Leonard Hospital (at Shaw
University for colored people only. Each
one of these is equipped with modern ap
| planes for medical attention, with com.
petent stats OF nurses, while the three
| operating rooms could not Re surpassed
Any short comings of our hospitals have
been due TO one cause, i. e., lack Of NOR
cy No public hospital in the world is
entirely self-surporting and outside an
must be given, if such institutions are tn
be kept up. Only by the closest economy
and wisest manag cement are the hospital
authorities here as elsewhere able to I'd
minister their affairs successfully. Tie
whole community should help rather than
hinder them in their efforts. 1t remains
Tor a public benefactor or benefactrCss
to rear an everlasting monument TO HIM
self or herself by providing better
building for our largest city hospital.
1 need only mention as Il part Of the
general medical progress the very excel
lent method by which our city charity
practice is conducted. This is attended
tn by the city physician who receives a
salary for his work and who furnishes
advice and medicines free OF charge To
worthy patients.
3. Raleigh's prominence as an eduta-
4 tn haze cl1xy tpT on
the location of medical school. For
about two decades the Leonard Medical
Department Of Shaw University, COR the
education OF colored physicians. has been
bringing each year an increasing number
of students to the city and it Is rated
as one of the leading institutions OF lis
kind in the country. More recently .nere
has been established tho Medical Depart
ment of the University of North Carolina.
| a graduate course of medical study 20
supplement the first two years given al
L Chapel Hill 1t was not until January,
f1902, that the trustees of the University
decided upon locating this department
here, and though just one session ana a
part of the second have been held, | arr
glad to tell you that the school is not
only a success, but that its perllaGency
being now assured, it is destined to be-
come one of the States most important
educational institutions. All of the last
years graduate. four in number. passed
the State Board of Examiners WITH credit.
The faculty is composed OF men cxper-
fenced in teaching, the students are earn
est, the work is careful and thorough.
This school was located in Raleigh be-
cause this city was the logical place for
ut To quote from the University cata
iogue: THE advantages afforded ~ the
city of Raleigh for the advanced work OF
the University Medical School arc numer
Gus. 1t is the most accessible of the
Estates larger cities and has already he
come one of its educational centres. Com
Uprising, with tho suburbs a population OF
23,OC0 it offers clinical facilities second
TO none i'm North Carolina Two nos
lpltals admit students Of the medical col
legc for instruction These hoepitsls
arc attended b. the faculty OF Tho ro.laee
and special care is given to individual
teaching with the varied material found
in them. Beside these hospitals, there aYe
many available nuhlic inStitution2 which