Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-02
Interesting Report by Dr.. George I.
Klipstein to Bo ard Of Managers
of Local Institution.
NEW ADDITION IS URGED.
History Of Founding of Hospital and
story of its Growth From Small Be
ginning is Interestingly Told--Actlon
on Report Expected.

At the regular meeting or !ne
Board of Managers of the Alexandria
Hospital, held Dec. 14th, a paper was
read by DR.. G. l.. Klipstein showing
the growth of the Institution, and the
need of a new and larger building.
The Board ordered it TO be placed on
the minutes and printed in the Al
exandria Gazette, with the hope that
many may feel inclined to contribute
literally to this worthy cause and
great necessity.
By order of the Board.
To the Board of Managers.
Ladies:
am asking you this morning to
consider the propriety of establish
ing an entirely new Institution in an
entirely new location. This year of
service places me. as the physician
longest in membership upon the
medical staff of the Alexandria Hos
pital.
Miss Whittlesey, in her sweet lit
tie book Of Poems entitled Dew
DROPS from Memory's Urn," recalls
with great pleasure and enthusiasm
the incidents and events that stand
out in bold relief during the years
that have gone. So with myself, the
scenes. the incidents and the condi-
tions that surrounded our dear old
Alexandria Infirmary in the years
that are past are indeed precious
dew drops in memory's urn.
Especially vivid is my first ac-
quaintance with the hospital when
occupying the building known in
ante bellum days as the slave pen, but
when occupied by the hospital, known
as the Alexandria Infirmary. No title
was ever more appropriately applied
to an institution than that applied to
this when we called it an Infirmary.
Everything about the establishment
both inside and out bore the appear
ance of the infirm. The building was
dirty and decayed. The inmates.
both male and female, were Of the
old, worn out, infirm type. 1t was
nothing more or less than an old
folks home No surgery of any
kind had been done when I started
on the staff.
Shortly after my association with
the Infirmary q most remarkable in
dividual was selected TO assume the
reins of government. A most re-
markable woman, Cicero's ideal. "a
sound mind in q sound body" but
it was more an educated mind in 4
consecrated life. Then the whole ten
or Of affairs changed. The house
that was formerly dirty became scru-
pulously clean. She painted the en-
tire building on the inside with her
own hands. She brought linen from
her old Virginia home for the table
and tray. Under her indefatigable
energy and zeal there was an entire
change of conditions. New life en-
tered into my department.
On Dec. %. 1882 I spent half the
day getting consent from the lady
board Of managers 10 be allowed to
violate the rules and amputate a
mans leg within the building that had
that morning been crushed beneath a
passing train. FRom that time on
surgery began to be done within its
precincts. The work rapidly en-
larged and we then moved to our
present location.
To try to tell of the enormous work
done by this magnificent specimen
Of Virginia womanhood would require
volumes, for her term of service eX'
tended over eleven years.
After her retirement the hospital
under new administration began rap
idly to retrograde. Fortunately the
condition lasted but a short time
Then there came upon the scene an
other most remarkable character en-
tirely different from the first. a
woman, also. of indomitable energy
quick of comprehension, bold think
er and equally bold executor. A
Roosevelt without his weakness; 6
Jennings Bryant with his ,brillian,
conception and magnificent philan.
thropy. Of exceptional mental and
physical vigor. fitted by nature and
educated for the highest type of the
professional nurse; possessed OF grea
executive ability with great store o
knowledge both of men and things