Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-29
NEW YORK HOSPITALS
HEAD NEW PRESIDENT
OF NATIONAL SOCIETY
Superintendent Wilson Elected
at Closing Session--Dr. Walsh,
Philadelphia, Chosen
as Secretary
DELEGATES ENTERTAINED

The eighteenth annual convention OF the
Amcrican Hospital Association was official
~ closed at noon today following the cleo
tion OF officers for the ensuing year Many
deicxntes took a trip down the Delaware
River. including n visit TO League Island.
The remainder OF tho members left for
valley Forge. and will be the guests of
the University Hospital at n supper given
1T the King Of Prussia Inn
The newly elected ofifiicers are: Presi-
dent. DR.. Robert J. Wilson. superintendent
OF hospitals OF the New York Department
Of Health; frst vice president. Dr. A. r.
warner. superintendent OF Lakeside Hospi-
tal. land: second vice president, DR.
A. p Richardson. superintendent Of the
CITY Contagious Hospital, Providence, r.
-, third vice president Miss Georgia NJ
Nevins superintendent Of Garfield Memo
rial Hospital, Washington, ID. c.; secre-
tary. DR. William NJ. walsh, OF Philadel-
phia; treasurer, Asa Bacon. superintendent
OF Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago: trus-
tees. DIR. Richard E. Borden. president of
ths board Of trustees of the Memorial Hos
pttal, Fall River, Mass. DR.. wilford Smith,
superintendent Of Johns Hopkins Hospital.
baltimore. and Miss Mary s, Keith. Of
Rochester, NJ Y.
1t Ia very likely that the national head
quarters OF the association will be in Phila.
delphia, according to a number of the ply
sicians attending the convention. The or
ganixaton has approved plan to establish
salaried ONCE for a permanent secretary
and that the hedquarters of the society
be established In the city where the secre-
tary shall reside. II is thought by many
that DR.. William H. Walsh. of this city, the
present secretary, will be chosen to fill
tho new Office
DR.. Richard Il. Borden offered an ex.
preston of special thanks to Philadelphia
and to the Mayor for the many courtesies
extended TO the society during the conven-
ton.
Delegates are Indignant over charges
made by DIR. John J. Bowman director
Of the American College OF Surgeons
who said that many operations were
performed when there was no necessity for
them. He also said that patients were
hustled on to the operating tables without
proper diagnosis. and that there was rivalry
between surgeons in some hospitals to get
the operation fees and that patients were
not kept in the hospitals a few days to
watch their progress for fear they will
get well. no operations will be necessary,
surgeons will get no fees and the hospitals
viii get sore"
Some of the hospital authorities say psuch
statements may mean the loss of many
lives which might otherwise be saved. They
say many persons fear operations because
they do not know of the wonderful and
comprehensive diagnosis system in use in
many hospitals.
American hospitals rank among the best
and the most conscientious in the whole
world. according to Miss Kleonike Klonare.
superintendent Of the Childrens Hospital at
Athens Greece She is here to attend the
meeting at the Bellevue.Stratford roof gar
den Although she did not say much con.
cerning the statements made by Dr. Bow
man, she did not seem TO approve what he
had said to the delegates yesterday after
noon
BOSTON WOMAN, OBJECTS
Miss E A. Anderson, superintendent of
the Baptist Hospital at Boston, took issue
with. Doctor Bowmans statements and
drew attention to the fact that hospital
such as he talked of rs one in thousands" f"
ut is too bad that any such statement
ss Doctor Bowman's should be made"
Miss Anderson said. TT may be true In
some isolated cases, and the members of n
hospital association would understand
but II Is dangerous for such information to
be sent to the public which does not under
stand. People might believe that 1t is a
general custom In all hospitals to cut pa
tients open without proper diagnoses. Many
lives which musht be saved by operations
may be lost a direct result of the re-
marks made by Doctor Bowman and
printed broadcast throughout the country"
Pew persons realize or know with what
infinite care most OF the American hospitals
diagnose the cases" added Miss Anderson.
in most OF the hospitals they do not even
operate any more on the diagnosis of any
enc man. The surgeon is no longer su-
preme in his statement that an operation
is needed. We cannot tell without many
precautions whether person is really suf-
fering with appendicitis OF not. x-ray
pictures are taken, patients are put under
nurses and doctors for days, and there is
very seldom chance In the hospitals of
this country that operations are Just per-
formed for fees"