Evening star., 1914-06-05
Senator Ga|Iinger, at Laying of
Corner Stone, Reviews
Emergency's History.
BESPEAKS HIGH IDEALS
FOR NEW INSTITUTION
Wants Good Name Preserved and
Record Made Beyond Possibility
of Questioning.

"A hos pital that cares for those who re-
quire immediate attention whether it be
from sickness accident. is imperatively
needed in community like this, and the
quality of the service rendered should be
of the highest possible order
Such was the statement made by Sen
ator Gallinger of New Hampshire in an
address delivered yesterday afternoon at
the ceremonies in connection with the
laying of the corner stone of the new
Emergency Hospital building on New
York avenue between 18th and 18th
streets northwest Other speakers were
District Commissioner Siddons. who re-
viewed the history of the hospital, and
Woodbury. Blair. president of the hos
pital, who made brief address of well
come.
1T is a matter of qualification to those
of us who have felt an interest in the
charities and benevolences of Washing
ton to know that this hospital has full
filled very high mission in that regard
said Senator GallinSer.
Urges High Ideals.
Tt may be questioned whether or
not 1t is my privilege on an occasion
ever that may be- I will venture to
express the hope that those who are
connected officially with this great hos
pital may so conduct themselves that
the best possible service will be rem
dered and the highest ideals reached.
Whether 1t be surgeons. physicians,
nurses or those connected with the
institution who are not professionals,
1t II important that the good name of
the institution shall always be pre-
served. and the history that it makes
be beyond the possibility of question.
The physician, whether in private
practice or in hospital work. should
be an illustration of everything that
is manly and noble. and never tolerate
anything that will lessen the respect
and confidence of the people IN his
work.
In the spring of 1871 Dr. G. l.. Ma
gruder, who had been rendering val
liable service at the Columbia Hos
of extending the charity there en-
5oyed by women to the needy of
Washington suffering from all ailments.
He. with five other young doctors of
organized the Central Dispensary.
which afterward was to develop into
the magnificent institution soon to
be housed in the beautiful structure
rooms were secured at 10th and F
streets and equipped with a stock of
drugs.
First Subscriber to Fund.
The name of w. H. Baldwin appears
as the first subscriber. with a donation
of 81. For the first five years Of its
existence the dispensary enjoyed the
hospitality of Georgetown University
1n whose building its rooms were To-
Gated, but in 1876 it moved to quar-
fers OF its own at 514 6th street north
west, when its organization was per-
fected. house physician and three
assistants engaged, and boards Of Wis
itors appointed.
These changes were made necessary by
the great growth in the work of the dis
pensary during the first seven years, there
being In the year ending May z, 1872, 511
patients treated, while in the year ending
March 81. 1873, there had been 3.677 pa
Gents admitted to treatment Shortly
after these extensions the institution met
with financial difficulties. and in the early
part of 1879 the first presentation in this
country by amateurs of the opera Pima
fore was given for the benefit of the dis
pensary. Over $1,000 was realized from
this production, which gave the project a
new lease of life.
''In 1880 the first patient was admitted
for operation and treatment. Due to the
recommendation of the staff the munifi-
cent sum Of $50 had been set apart for
Lie utllHS up Ol d IOOIu tuS dlllC dS
an operating chamber. In 1881 the cry
ing need of an accident hospital in the
central part of the city was realized. and
a committee, composed of members of the
staff, was appointed to investigate the
proposition. For this extended service
more capacious quarters were needed.
and accordingly a building was secured at
416 10th street, to which the dispensary
was removed. and facilities provided for
the care of accident cases. About this
time the name of the institution was
changed to Central Dispensary and
Emergency Hospital. July 8, 1881 it was
ordered that the Commissioners Of the
District and the major of police be noti-
fed that the Emergency Hospital Is now
ready to receive and care for patients
Efforts to Raise Money.
During the years from 1851 to 1856
many benefits were given in the shape of