Evening star., 1919-02-23

n appreciation of the work of the
American medical profession dur
ing the war, Congress has been
asked to authorize the building
up around the Walter Reed Hospital,
which Is the principal general hos
center which VIII be equal to any es-
tablishment of its kind in the world.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
transmitted to Congress two esti-
MAIDSTONE of $3.50. 600 for the pur-
chase of land to the north of the
present Walter Reed site, and the
other for $l0.o00O0O for the erection
Of buildings These estimates We're
recommended by M. w. Ireland, sur.
geon general of the Army, and carry
the Endorsement OF Secretary Baker.
priations were started last week with
the appropriations committee In a
sympathetic frame of mind
There are three principal units in
the contemplated medical center--the
Walter Reed Hospital the Army Medi-
cal School and the Medical Museum
and Library. These are now widely
separated. in Inadequate quarters. and
to attain their highest efficiency
should be brought into one compre-
hensive medical center. the officers
of the medical corps of the Army be-
lieve. and in this plan they have the
heartiest CO. o-operation of the entire
medical fraternity OF the United
States and the allied governments.
u
1t la nr0nOSnd to purrhas the land
north of the present site, lying be-
tween 10th street and Georgia ave-
nue., as far as Alaska avenue and
Fern street. This will give an addi-
tion Of about two-thirds of the pres
ent site.
The walter Reed Hospital was de-
signed from Its inception. about ten
years ago, to be the principal general
hospital Of the Army; place where
any member OF the military forces
could at all times secure the best at.
tention and care the country affords
in scientific medicine and In skillful
and expert surgery, including the
necessary dtagnostic examinations
and special forms of treatment. Up
to the beginning Of the war the hos
pital had developed satisfa ctorily.
Since then expansion has been rapid,
but the new buildings are all OF a
temporary nature and must neces-
sarily be replaced by more suitable
permanent type of construction.
In urging this appropriation upon
Congress the Medical Corps has en-
phasized that "a general hospital of
the best type Is characterized by
team work" Each department of
medicine and surgery, including the
established specialties, is represented
The great success of American gem
eral hospitals Is principally due to
this group or team" system. In
which about twelve departments of
medicine are represented on the hos
pital STAFF. so that each patient with
out delay. receives whatever special
Or general examination and treatment
is necessary.
The recognized medical authorities
favor the teaching" or university
form of hospital, and the second part
OF the medical center project con-
Germs the ftture OF the Army Medical
School, which should be closely as
sociated with the hospital. The Army
Medical School was founded in 1899
by Gen. George Sternberg. and Maj,
Walter Reed was the first officer de-
tailed to 1t. The sessions were then
held in two or three rooms of the
Army Medical Museum building. 1t
was moved In 1910 to a rented build
Ing on 18th street, and In 1915, when
that location had been outgrown. to
it's present location In another rented
building at &S2 Louisiana avenue. The
disadvantages of the present situation
are many, but the principal one Is tho
distance between the school and the
hospital. which makes 1t impossible
to give the student the proper bed
side training or to utilize the students
in the hospital In a way to improve
the character of the treatment given
the patients The same obstacle pre-
cludes the use of the faculty of tho
school as an integral part of the con-
sulting staff of the hospital, so that
neither the hospital nor the school
are getting efficient development un-
til they can be brought together.
The same reasons apply In lesser
degree to the school of the Dental
y Corps, and In the medical center
project provision has been made for
To-. a