The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-27
COLLEGE MERGER /
|. MAY Be DEFEATED
BY c|TY'S DELAY
Citizens Asked to Help
Unravel Kink in Hos
pital Offer.
CHAMBER CALLS
SPECIAL MEETING
DR.. George Ben Johnston Clearly
Sets Forth Condition Which
Jeopardizes Plan to Make
Richmond Great Medical
Centre-Says Umlauf
Amendment Unwise.

Plans for an adequate free hospital
for the INDECENT sick OF Richmond, and
for bringing the medical department or
the University of Virginia to this city,
are In serious jeopardy because OF
the city's delay in accepting the use
of the Virginia Hospital. according to
DR.. George Ben Johnston Tho ANAL
SRmation OF tho two medical schools,
owned and controlled by the State.
must be authorized by the General
Assembly Quibblng over the details
/ OF hospital management may give the
/ impression that Richmond is not in
n receptive attitude toward becoming
the great medical centre OF the South
} Chamber Calls Meeting.
An important meeting OF the Cham
Der or Commerce has been called for
Tuesday afternoon at o'clock to con-
Slder the city's acceptance OF the Vtr-
ginia Hospital The call states that
the matter Is vital both to tho INDECENT
sick and to the development of Rich
tnond as a medical centre steps for
which have reached q critical stage.
mo meeting is not TO raise money,
but to give expression to public opin-
ion on an issue OF deep concern TO
the whole city
special meeting or the Business
Mems Club has been called for Mon
DAY at o'clock. Councilman jacob
umlauf will discuss his amendment To
the pending ordinance for opening the
hospital To the free use of all practic-
ing physicians. Eppa Hunton. Jr, will
discuss the question as 1t Affects the
Medical College OF Virginia
Pnrt of WcI-Considered PInn.
THE offer OF the Virginia Hospital
10 the city was not n sudden or spo-
radio thing said DR.. Johnston yes
terday 1T was n definite step in a
carefully y-consldered plan, both fer the
care OF the poor of Richmond, and Tor
Of
Years ago the city abandoned the pIan
or having one man at the head of the
CITY Home Hospital and chose reg
ular staff. Since then the movement
has steadily grown for n city hospital
absolutely separated from the aims
house.
The consolidation Of the medical
colleges here was a long step forward
and has put an end to much bitterness
and controversy. The University Col.
lcGe of Medicine and tho Memorial Hos
pital were formerly private corpora
tons, owned and controlled by trus-
tees. Their buildings and properties
have been absolutely decided over to
the Medical College OF Virginia n
state Institution. do not know
whether the people OF Virginia real
.zc that the State has received In this
more than 100000. over and above
all charges against it, The University
College decided absolutely TO the con
solidated college. the trustees OF which
are named by the Governor. not only
tho college buildings. but the plant
known as the Virginia Hospital.
The OHcr 40 the CITY.
The college has offered the Vir-
ginia Hospital to the city, absolutely
rent free. to be used as n public free
hospital for the poor of the city, thus
meeting want long recognized In
~
meeting an Immediate Humanitarian
demand or the community in the relief
or suffering. but is also doing n larger
work In the instruction OF those who
Will go out to the very ends OF the
world and there use their knowledge
for the relief OF human suffering. Tho
hospital was offered to the city with
out strings. The Administrative Board
is to appoint the superintendent, the
steward and all OF the employees, and
have absolute control OF all it's buai-
ness affairs.
ITO combine the local Humanitarian
idea with tho teachin. idea. 1t was
necessary to specify that the faculty
OF the Medical College of Virginia
should be the STAFF OF the hospital
hat faculty has oeen chosen by
state board from the best available
medical talent in the state.
If the consolidation is effected, and
Is located here, the faculty will be
| greatly strengthened. The hospital will
! then have the services without any
J cost. not only of the best physicians
in general parctice in Virginia, but it
/ Will also have the free services of the
, college professors in bacteriology, "
ray. blood analysis and laboratory
work. which might otherwise cost large
! sums. The poor man in such hos
/ pital as Is proposed Will not have mere
I ly the advice OF a general practitioner,
/ hut Will be under the Immediate charge
of the professor. who is the specialist
/ in that particular disease Obscure
cases can be examined by various ex-
/ perts until the disease is diagnosed,
; thus giving free 70 the poor of tho
! community services for which wealthy
! men would be charged enormous sums.
Umlnuf's Plan ImpracticnbIe.
Tho Umlauf amendment allowing
I each patient to call in his own family
physician. seems TO me 10 be i'm
/ practicable. 1t is not done in any other
! institution that | know of. and I havo
! inquired as TO the fact 1T Bellevue and
| allied hospitals in New York. where a
! regular hospital stan Is In charge We
I have never allowed family physicians
10 attend patients at the almshousa
! since there was a regular staff in
! charge OF the hospital.
Suppose for n moment that p man
were brought to the hospital suffering
from gunshot wound In the abdo-
men. and were 10 ask to be treated by
! his family physician. The umlaut
amendment admits any reputable phy-
sician OF good character. The practi-
! TONER in this case might be n most
/ estimahle man of excellent character,
! but OF poor professional ateainmspta
| To have such a man operate would be
! moro dangerous than the wound itself.