New-York tribune., 1907-06-25
MRS. SAGE HELPS AGED
GITES S3OO,OOO FOR ILL.
Sum Goes to City Hospital and City
Home to EndO1c Institute.

Mrs Russell Sage. through the Sage Founda-
ton. has made special gift of 100000 to the
City Hospita! and the City Home on Blackwells
Island The money is to be used for the endow-
ment of the Russell Sage Institute of Pathology.
and the institute will act pathologist 10 the
hospital and the home. Mrs. Sage wishes special
attention devoted by the institute 10 research
work in the diseases affecting the aged.
This gift although made through Robert ".
De Forest and the Sage Foundation, will not
draw upon the S10000.O00 set aside for the
foundation by Mrs. Sage The gift was made
by Mrs. Sage in the form of securities. which
she has turned over directly 10 the foundation
for the creation Of the institute
Commissioner Hebberd of the Department Of
Charities made public yesterday letter from
Mr. De Forest to DR. Theodore G. Janeway, at
tending physician at the hospital. which reads
I'm part: This institute is TO be organized ac-
cordlng TO the plans and under the direction OF
DR.. f. G. and Or. T. c. Janeway with whom are
10 he associated on the board of trustees as ex-
ofFcio members the Commissioner of Public
Charities Of the City of New York and the pres
Ident Of the medical board Of the city Hospital.
and as individual members, DR.. u. Bryson Deia-
van. Dr. Simon FleXner and Professor Graham
Lusk The institute will be promptly incor-
porated."
After explaining the necessity for cooperation
between the department. the pathologists and the
trustees Of the institute Mr. De Forest says:
dowment the research and educational work
Of these hospitals will be largely increased. 10
the good OF the general public. and particularly
in dealing with the diseases 10 which old age
is liable"
The plan for the institute was first brought 70
the attention OF the Sage Foundation in April.
when Dr. Theodore c. Janeway wrote 10 Mr..
De Forest telling him Of the conditions Of path
illogical work at the City Hospital and the City
Home In his letter Dr.. Janeway said thar 1t
was doubtful whether the city could be
reeted to relieve the hospital Of It's needs. and
that the only other solution Of the difficulties
Law in private munifcence The letter was in
part as follows
The purpose Of the institute is twofold.
First-Researcn into the problems of disease and
more especially the diseases of advanced life
Second-The improvement of the city's poorest
sick and aged in OF its largest institutions
These two purposes not distinct, but
closely related and of the two believe the second
10 be the more important but only 20 be attained
through the accomplishment of the first
New buildings in prospect especially separate
building for the housing OF the medical stan, will
SO much further improve conditions as to make
the service of the City Hospital much more at
tractive one to young physicians.
Four years ago the City Hospital had pathO-
logical laboratory but pathoiogst. some one from
the city or some member of the attending staff
making the autopsies and the vast material of the
institution being wholly lost to science. The taClt
ties for the application of careful laboratory
methods for the diagnosis OF the patients ailments
also very poor.
AT that time the present pathologist. DR.. Oertel.
was appointed by Mr.. Folks. For four years he
has given his time unreservedly 10 the building UP
at the city Hospital of a modern pathological de
partment modelled after the best German insti-
tutes One year ago he was also made pathologist
of the City Home. and has since then had charge
Of the pathological work OF both institutions. Dur
ing this time his constant presence, his teaching
OF the staff and his assistants and his example of
thorough and self-sacrihcing scientific work have
immensely raised the character of all of the work
done throughout the institution. and have more
anything else contributed to improve the care
of the patients in all departments of the hospital.
In this time he has trained men in pathology. who
have left him other positions; in all this time
and his assistants well have not received
cent for their services. On such basis further
development is impossible. for cannot work
indefinitely for nothing. There are two alterna-
tives;
Ffrst-The attempt to have the city put the
pathologist and his assistants upon a salary.
second-The endowment Of an institute by Pri-
vate benehcence.
At Bellevue Hospital the pathologist receives a
salary of 5000 from the city and has paid
sistants and Il fairly equipped department. The
present condition of demands upon the citys boz
rowing capacity and the knowledge of the long
established custom of administering the Depart
ment of Charities upon almost nSgaTdly basis
make the likelihood Of such reasonable financial
compensation by the city a thing of the remote
future. More than this. am fully persuaded that,
in this country at least. placing such positions
under the Civil Service rules is almost certain TO
result in their eventually being filled by inferior
men. The prohibition of employment of non-reSi-
dents of New York would rob of the who
in the past have been best pathological
sstants since there but few from New York
each year who desire to go into pathology.
Finally. the possibility of political interference
where salary is involved never he escaped.
For this reason l feel sure that the future de-
velopment of the scientific work of the city hos
pital depends upon the cooperation OF private
benefcence and city support; the salaries of the
scientific workers the expenses of special research
work the maintenance of a proper working library
and the cost OF the publication of results TO be
horne by the income of an endowment. while the
buildings and their care and cost OF the routine