The Washington herald., 1917-01-06
mo HOSPITAL WALKOUT,
SAYS EMERGENCY HEAD
Woodbury. Blair Takes Exception to
Statement in Newspapers.

Taking exception to a report published
In local newspapers that four members
OF the surgical stan of Emergency Hos
pital had left that institution as a pro-
test against the management. WOODBURY.
Blair president of the hospital, addresses
letter to the Washington Herald as fol-
lows:
Editor The Washington Herald: re-
port has been published to the effect that
-FOUR OF the surgeons OF the surgical stan
I OF the Emergency Hospital walked out Of
the hospital at midnight, December 81,
as protest against the appointment Of
Dr. Paul Putski as medical director and
Mr.. Anthony Tall as business manager
OF the hospital, leaving only three sur
geons on duty at the hospital"
1 do not undertake to assume from
what source this erroneous statement
could emanate or who would be SO mali
cious and unjust as to deliberately mis-
lead our public press and cast such seri-
GUS reflections upon the professional eth
les and humanity Of the four young gen.
tlenen referred to, who arc virtually ac-
cused of walking out Of the hospital
at midnight without notice or due regard
for the serious consequences which might
ensue to the public.
As a matter of fact, not one Of the doc
tors who are accused OF walking out
OF the hospital was on the attending staff;
they were all interns on the house star.
The fnterns OF the hospftal-whose prin-
cfpel duties are to 30 out with the am
bulanoe. give hrst aid in emergency
cases. and execute the instructions Of
the attending physfcians-are. as q rule,
recent graduates from medical schools
who are selected by the attending star
on account Of their character, fitness and
aptitude. and are appointed for a definite
n ArtO dNtrI rIvao .l1k. IL. ~.
and services In exchange for the practical
experience and instruction obtained at
the hospital. 1t is always a matter of
record at which date a nintern is to ter
min tie his connection with the hospital
and in the cases referred to, three OF the
gentlemen had served the term agreed
upon between them and the attending
st; A. but the fourth-on his own request
had been given an additional term OF
three months. All Of the terms. including
the additional three months allowed to
the fourth intern. expired December 81
at midnight, when they left the hospital.
as was expected, without creating the
slightest Inconvenience to the house stan.
the patients or the ambulance service.
| The Emergency Hospital has always
been fortunate-and never more 80 than
today-in securing as itnerns young men
| Of exceptional ability and intelligence
|
duties; and no one appreciates more than
the interns the absurdity of the accusa-
ton that they would conspire to effect
walkout because the board of direc-
tors did not consult with them or defer
to their wishes in the matter Of appoint
mcnts and the administration Of the hos
pttal.
The Central Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital is largely a civic institution,
and 1t may be of interest to the general
public and our local press to know that
the present superintendent of the hos
pital Is Mr.. Anthony Tall, former assis-
tant superintendent of the Post-Graduate
| Hospital OF New York; that the chief
resident physician Is DR.. Paul s. Putzki,
who with DR.. Sidney Cousins. DR.. Austin
c. Conavay, and DR.. Louis c. McCanna.
took the place of the four whose terms
| expired On December 81
1 would add that never before in the
history OF the Emergency Hospital has
u rendered more general and eficient
fervfce to the public than at present.
u WOODBURY. BLAIR,
I President. Central Dispensary and Emer-
gency Hospital.