Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-12
COMBINE IS OPPOSED
Emergency Hospital Directors
Take Firm Stand.
WOULD REMAIN IN CONTROL
Plan of Board of Charities to Have
Institution Connected With Dis
pensary Not Relished.

The board Of directors and staff of
Emergency Hospital will oppose the plan
to combine that institution with central
dispensary conducted by the District gov
eminent through the board of charities,
and the position of the hospital board is
made clear in the annual report just made
public. The report states that the pub
lie has generously supported the institu-
ton. and reminds the public that the need
for annual contributions is ever present
The government constitutions to the hos
pital are compared with the funds G. anted
other hospitals, showing that If the board
Of charities succeeds in diverting these
government appropriations, Emergency
Hospital will have to close its doors or
curtail its activities.
The growth of the emergency work is
given in statistical form. Seven emer-
gency calls a day is the average for the
present year, and the report says that
the usefulness Of the hospital has grown
in spite Of other hospitals doing the same
work in the city, and these statistics are
given as an argument in favor Of TIE
continuance of the hospital. The directors
declare they want to conduct the emer-
gency work as at present, and do not
want to mix instruction to medical stu
dents with the delicate work on the OPP
Grating table.
Scores Charities Board.
Portions of the report follow:
Within the last six or eight years the
board Of charities has in one way and
another sought to obtain control OF the
management of the Emergency Hospital,
and finally to the detriment Of it's eff
cheney, did obtain control Of the adminis-
tration Of the annual appropriation made
to 1t by Congress. Whether with the
view of destroying the hospital or not.
that would have been the result had 1t
not been for the liberal donation by our
citizens.
ton of a determination on the part OF
the board Of charities to take from the
several boards OF directors the manage
ment OF their respective hospitals. not
withstanding such change must prove
detrimental, both to the efficiency and
economy of management. testified to by
number of our most distinguished ply
sicians. as to draw from several distin-
guished senators quite natural comments,
quoted in the annual report of the Column
bia Hospital for 1911, to wit:
Senator Hale then offered several
amendments, one of which provided that
all appropriations to hospitals should be
spent under the authority and direction
of the officers of each Of said charities
thus taking from the board Of charities
all control Of the appropriations
Instruction and Operating.
Speaking Of combining medical instruc-
ton with emergency work. the report
says:
1T Is hardly necessary to add. that the
patient lying on the operating table. I'M
dergoing a capital operation. demanding
all the skill and absolute attention of the
operator. would hardly be willing that
the latter should from time to time stop
work to instruct students. 1t may be
taken for granted that each Of said in
situations Is well enough equipped to
perform operations not requiring great
promptnsss. and emergency hospitals that
are - busy - the Emergeucy IL would
gladly turn such cases over to the educa-
dona1 instttutions.'