The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-06


intendent in charge and his highly
cultured wife, who It Matron.
All credit for this splendid change in
the treatment of the Negroes, de-
serving, sick and poor should be
given to Hon. Thos. M. Finn, the
big-hearted and broad-minded Presi-
dent Of the Hospital and Health
Board, and his associates, Hon.
Bailey Steele and MIR. Widemann, as
we'll as Henry L. Jost, who is indeed
a Mayor of All the people.
1t was the pleasure of the editor on
last Thursday, along with Secretary
r. B. DeFrantz of the Y. NJ. c. A., and
International Secretary Hamln to
visit the Old City Hospital in COM
pany with DR.. Thos. c. Unthank, one
of the operating staff of physicians.
We were ushered by the genial doctor
into the reception room of the institu-
tion, where we met DR.. VIM. ]. Thomp-
kins. superintendent of that division
and were by him escorted to the diff
ferent departments of the building. To
say that we were surprised is putting
it mild, for to one who has seen the
old building in it's former condition,
unsightly and unsanitary previous to
the induction of DR.. Thompkins, it is
little short of marvellous in the won
derful change for the better that has
been made in this structure in the
four months he has been in charge
And we want to say right here that
DIR. Thompkins measures up to the
most exacting requirements of this
position as superintendent both in
physique, in energy and in intellec-
tuality. And Kansas City Negroes are
to be congratulated upon having in our
professional ranks young man Of
such splendid professional and execu-
tive ability as our own DR.. VIM. j.
T hompkins. DR.. Thompkins is grad
uate of Howard University and the
University of Colorado and saw much
active service at the great Freedmans s
Hospital in Washington, d. c., of
which at one time, so rumor has 1t,
he was slated to be surgeonin-chief
As a skillful and successful surgeon
he has few superiors and has in his
wife, Mrs. Thompkins, helpmate Pc
culiarly adapted by heredity, ability
and accomplishment for the position
that she fills so capably as Matron in
charge of the institution. Mrs. Thomp-
kins isCa graduate of the Ohio State
University and held for several years
the chair of English in the West Vir-
ginia College and brings to the institu-
tion fitness, insight and conception
of hospital needs that is truly remark
able.
Since his induction in office, Dr.
Thompkins has succeeded in installing
as information clerk, Mr.. o. ]. Brooks
and as head nurse Miss Mary X
Hampton, who formerly held a posi-
tion of head operating nurse at Prov
ident Hospital, Chicago. He has also
increased the quota of nurses from
fourteen to twenty; the internes from
four to six; has eight orderlies, one
operating room attendant; one head
janitor and janitress; laundress; a
waitress and three cooks. The visit
ing staff consists of. thirty of the fore
most physicians ,of the city, fourteen
of whom are colored. DR.. Thompkins
has succeeded in having electric
lights installed in the hospital build
ing; had the old contagious ward, a
building separate from the main hos
pitaI, remodeled, painted, with steam
heat installed as a nurses dormitory,
taking them out of the attic where
they had been cooped UP during the
past, and has installed a rigid system
of management that makes for the
best interests of all concerned.
One significant thing connected
with this institution is that all Mex
ican patients are sent to this hospital
and Dr. Thompkins fluency in speak
ing the Spanish language peculiarly
fits him for treating this class of pa
tients and they invariably go away
showering benedictions upon him.
The Sun does not believe in segre-
CATION in the strict construction of
the term, but it believes, as does all
other progressive and fajr-minded Ne
groes, that that day was blessed when
Thomas M. Finn was made president
of the Hospital and Health Board and
the old City Hospital was turned over
to Negroes.
At present there are one hundred
sixty-eight patients in the Old City
Hospital with a death rate lower than
any other institution of similar char
acter in the city.