The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-10
ASK FOR FUNDS FOR
C0LORfO HOSPITAL

When the general assembly convenes
next month an appropriation OF $40,
COO Will be asked by the Medical Col
lege Of Virginia for use In completing
the equipment for the colored hospital
| at Twelfth and Marshall streets, which
has been under the course of construc'
ton for almost three years. The build.
ing. seven stories in heighth. fireprooi
and one of the most modern in Rich
| mond. will. when completed be the only
exclusive general negro hospital In ths
United States.
! Constructed with an eye to every de
tail known to make for efficient hos
I pital facilities, the new hospital Is ex-
4 pected to be the center OF medical
treatment for the colored race In vir.
/ ginia and throughout the South. The
| hospital VIII be operated under the di-
rection of the Medical College bf vir-
ginia and as an adjunct to. Memorial
hospital.
AS the institution now stands. IL
could be opened within week, ex-
cept for the lack of funas with which
to equip II with beds. and other facili-
ties. The building proper la completed
and already the heating system, light
| Ing system. water and elevator ar
rangements arc installed as well as the
most complete sterilizing equipmsn I
in the South. The state will be asked
to appropriate the necessary money
Tor putting the institution in imme
diate operation as already there is a
daily appeal from physicians urging
opening of the hospital.
Several unusual features arc being
worked out in connection with the hos
pital aside from the purely medical
treatment which will be given there.
Colored nurses will be trained under
the direction of white graduates. These
nurses win also be given courses in So
cial service work in order that they
may instruct negro patients to better
their home conditions. From among
these nurses will be chosen colored wo-
men particularly adapted to social ser-
vice work and they will be given fur
ther training along these lines and he
sent out to work among the colored
population, not only of Richmond, but
eventually throughout the entire state.
BY this means II is hoped to solve
many of the race problems, particularly
those pertaining to health.
From the seventh floor OF the new
building, on which two operating rooms
are located, to the basement whero the
complete kitchen lis situated. every de-
tail which has been found best for
medical treatment has been arranged.
There are childrens wards. private
rooms and wards for obstetricai pa
uents. special bathing apparatus for
abes and children and scores Of other
features of recent invention.
This new hospital will be under the
direction Of the state. through its 7pe-
ration by the Medical College OF yir-
gtnia, which is state institution. It
viii be under the management OF Me
aNorial hospital and the medical star
of Memorial hospital will serve as the
medical STAFF for the negro hospital
The staff eomposes the faculty of the
Medical College Of Virginia. compris-
ing some OF the most eminent special
lists in the South. Many Of these CUR
geons are serving on the college fac
uity without pay and the others at low
salaries. and are subject TO call at any
time to give treatment at the hos
pitfalls
Colored patients will be under the
care of these physicians. Charity pa
TENTS as well AS those who may pay.
viii be cared for at the institution and
IL is planned to make the hospital self
sustaining within a short while.
Opening of the pooley hospital for
contagious diseases. situated adjoining
the negro hospital. depends as well
upon the appropriation by the general
assembly. Money for the erection OF
the hospital for contagious diseases
was contributed by Major Dooley. but
additional equipment Is necessary to
place the institution in operation, This
hospital viii care for from thirty TO
nifty patients and the building has been
so arranged that smallpox, measules,
scarlet fever and patients afflicted with
similar diseases may be cared for with
out danger of complication.
The negho hospital has been erected
at cost of less than 100000 the ma
jority Of the money having been sub
nod ,s. yfnt witt
the state although the institution be-
comes a part of the states assets. Be-
tween 200 and 500 patients can be
comfortably cared for in the hospital