New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-08
THE CITY OF HEALING.

The announcement that another large build
ing is Immediately to be erected for the accom-
mediation of the New York University and Belle
vue Medical College suggests the reflection that
this city has become the centre of activities OF
the healing art at least in the Western Henri
sphere. Time was when two or three schools
of medicine in other American cities ranked
foremost upon this continent, and decidedly
ahead of any in New-YOrk. But with the
foundation of two great medical colleges by the
two great universities seated in NeW-1ork this
city began to assume the prfmacy in that rs
we'll us other respects. The institutions IN the
other cities have not declined in value; but the
New-York schools of medicine have risen and
advanced, and have. we may not un1uStly
claim placed themselves in the van. To-day,
in addition to the medical colleges of New
York and Columbia universities there are half
q dozen other institutions devoted to the teach
ing of the healing art all forming such group
as is scarcely to be matched elsewhere in the
world.
Nor are they ALL Still larger and still more
numerous are the hospitals, dispenSarieS and
asylums of New-York, in which what is taught
in the schools is put into practice, and in which,
indeed, the members Of the schools acquire
much Of their best knowledge through observa-
ton and experience. How vast work they are
doing few realize \ single item may suggest
the ground floor of this new building of the
University and Bellevue Medical College will
be given up to the free dispensary of the col
lege, which is now treating 100000 cases year.
Now, q college is not hospital or q diSpen-
sary. So far as it does the work Of the lat
ter It Is an adjunct to its work of instruction.
Yet here is this college. with small endowment
and no State aid, giving expert professional
treatment free of charge, to 100000 patients
Vpori Whom va fbot &c only
among many colleges and host Of hospitals
and dispensaries, we begin TO get a glimpse Of
the magnitude Of the work which is being done
IN New York for the healing Of the nations.
We say the healing of the nations advisedly
and not without reverence for, indeed that is
one Of the most notable features of the case.
The aing of all the world flock hither. From
every part Of our own land the sick and crippled
come or are brought to New-York 10 get the
benefit OF its unrivaled facilities for curing
them. Moreover, he we vigilant as we may or
can, the gates of Ellis Island will admit host
Of sufferers from alien lands. 1t Is probably 10
exaggeraton to say that half our work of heal
ing here is done for the strangers within our
gates. II II were not for the immigrants and
for the multitudcs who come hther from else
where IN our own land we might shut I'D half
our hospitals or give twice as much space and
attention to our own local sufferers In such
case too the death rate OF New-YOrk would 90
down to point that would provoke the envy OF
great cities throughout the world This is not
said grudgingly. NewYork does not shrink
from the burden which is thus placed upon #.
The sick and suffering are as welcome TO come
hither for healing as are the we'll 10 come for
pleasure or for profit. 1t is one OF NETWORKS
crowns Of glory that this Is city of healing
and we feel assured that its generous citizens
VIII see that II is amply maintained as such in
the supreme place.