The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-06
Meeting Accomplishes Purpose

The meeting was intended by the eN-
ecutive committee to be educational. l.
was. Its purpose was to tell the peo-
pie of Birmingham what the dispensary
is and what 1t wants to be; how and
why it Is needed in Birmingham. That
purpose was accomplished and the sue
cess with which it was accomplished
could only be told in the cheers and
enthusiasm with which the information
was greeted.
The campaign leaders, Dr. Denny and
all interested in the movement for n
free dispensary have said in the past
that they knew there was no doubt OF
success IL the people of Birmingham
once learned the facts. They did 1t last
night.
Culpepper Exum. chairman of the
committee. made u short speech IN
which he outlined the work that his
committee has already done "in Sc
cret" and said that November IL tn.
campaign to raise the money would b,
launched. Mr.. Exum said that he want
ed to get the men of Birmingham be-
hind the movement for the establish
ment of a free dispensary. we want
also the assistance of the good women
of Birmin gham," said he. 1--WE have
their Endorsement and when you get
the Endorsement of the Birmingham
women you might as well get ready
TO put up Tree dlspenSary.
DIR. Harrison Speaks
Mr.. EXum introduced DR.. Harrison
who spoke for 15 minutes, outlining
the work that has been done since the
establishment of the present dispen-
sary, which, he said. was woefully In
adequate for the demands made upon
1t. He said that during the last month
no less than 1900 patients had called
for treatment and that the physicians
Were using the front and back porches
of the building which they occupy as a
reception room.
"At first" said Dr. Harrison. "the
patients were almost entirely made up
of the white people. but now the ne
groes make up at least three-fourths OF
those who apply for treatment and they
are elbowing the whites out. We should
have larger quarters with a separate
reception room for the sexes and the
races.
THE need of a free dispensary is fur
ther emphasized by the fact that we
have free hospital in our city. Many
people think that because this is so we
should not have the dispensary. But con-
trary to that belief the hospital ONLY
makes the need more plain. The Hillman
hospital is low filled to capacity. with
patients, many of them too poor to pay
the fees, but too sick to walk The
hospital takes ony such cases where the
patient Is absolutely unable to walk What
of the thousands of cases of people who
have diseases that do not place them
in a bed? Many of these diseases are
contagious. These people eat at the same
restaurants that you do and the disease
is contagious Why, your servants might
be infected with it. and yet you per-
nit them to cook your food and minister
to your household wants | think that
I.,e.t
to this city would be the establishment
of bureau at which applicants for po-
sitions as servants could be sent. and II
they are found to be infected with any
contagious disease sent to a free clinic
where they might secure help in eradi-
eating the disease. q DIR. Harrison was
here interrupted by applause.
Wood Introduces DIR. Denny
Sterling A. Wood introduced DR. Denny
and the college president arose and was
received with enthusiasm. He began thus
Il labor under some embarrassment to-
night in undertaking to make this ad-
dress. I come against my physicians
! orders, who told me that did not have
the voice to make this address. An
other thing, | realize that many of you
have come here to hear the distinguished
speaker who Is to follow me-"
DR.. Denny said that the dispensary was
q matter which affected every man, WON.
an and child in Birmingham. He pointed
out that Birmingham needs many things
but claimed that paramount among then
was free dispensary; for, said he, tn,
| health of the community means the lii,
| of the city. He said that Birmingham
was behind many other cities in TIL,
| SOUTH and named New Orleans, Atlanta
| Richmond, Nashville, Memphis and Mo
| bile as some of the cities that were ia
| in advance of Birmingham in this respect
| The university head paid a high trib
ute to the medical schools and hospital
| of Mobile. He said that that city wa
distinguished for it's splendid hospital
and dispensaries and that 1t has be
come a great medical center, notwith
] standing some statements to the con
trary. He said that the medical school,
of that city were rated in class "a" an
had been. for some years.
Is Good Investment
He said that there could be no bette
investment for Birmingham than for it
citizens to put their money into tn
building of this dispensary. Every dol
1 lar that is put into this dispensary wi
/ be worth $1,000 TO the economic life G
| this community" he said.
He gave as a third reason why Bir
mingham should build the dispensary
! that 1t would protect the homes of tn
city from disease and suffering.
DR.. Denny said that be had heard tha