Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-07
Development of City's In
stitutions to Aid Suffer
ing Humanity.
TENDER CARE, BUT LITTLE
MEDICINE, IN THE SIXTIES
Captain Sallic Tompkins Used
Air, Water, Turpentine and
Whisky, Home Products.
BY VERA

and with the now home OF tho Retreat
for tho Sick due to opc within a
few weeks. the mind OF the public IS
not only kccnly alive to the develop
ment or the community. and happy to
think OF the added facilities placed
within reach OF the suffering, IL
is also in 4 reminiscent mood. One
hears so much today OF how the city
needs moro holds for the INDECENT
sick: Of the terrible lack OF accom-
modaticns for the t~ubcrculous, and
the difficulty in finding hospital
space for persons of moderate means.
Hospitals. now so essential n part
of every municipality and township,
were unknown to Richmond n half
century ago. except those brought
into being during the OF the
Wa Between tho States. and it Is
surprising that the death rate was
no higher thar the records show, for
many people had a decidedly rying
inc when i'll. their maladies being
encouraged, rather than checked. by
surrounding additions. But there
l. always 4 consolation in not know
ing any better method. and this must
have been the chief comfort to the
afflicted in q day that has passed,
and. fortunately. taking with IL many
OF the tcrrors Of life. as well as part
OF it's sweetness, dignity n a
C~himborano Hill Hospital
In war times. OF course. there wa.
tho great hospital on Chimborazo I'M
where the precious lives OF hundreds.
and probably thousands. OF soldiers
W-prp snlrc1 IN rnt,rn IN MO In,,,n
line and help to keep the Stars ana
liars uIi0at. Tho medical and surE,-
cal care was crude, Of course, ac-
cordinE to tho standards OF tho TWEEN
ticth century. but Notwithstanding
the difficulties in the way. many re-
mnrkable cures were brought about.
Regardless of tho terrible scarcity
OF focd the ~Chimborazo Hospital had
n wonderful reputation for it's chick
en- broth, which was served to the
soldiers with great care for economy
and f~orcthought. The story goes
that the unique and frugal recipe
used demanded that the soup be made
daily NJ noon and. according 10 Il
local Physician who has been prac-
ticing man years. At that hour the
water would be put in Il huge Do,
over an open-air fire. and to this
was added any seasoning available.
Then, just as the sun was at It's
zenith. Il hen would be induced 10
ily over h stca1iing caldron, casting
ITS shadow OH the contcntS--tilc re-
suit was chicken broth. The same
authority has heard tina tho rccipc
has ever since been in demand bv
c~hurcN"s, irrespective OF denomina-
ton, ana in the process of time oys-
ters have been substituted for fowls.
Either in tho closing years of the
war or Immediately after there was u
hospital in Paramount for the care
Of 500 free negroes simultaneously,
anu much surgery OF q kind vas done
thcre and more than one Richmond
DOCTOR utter ranking with tho high
est in the city served his intcrnship
In the oid-fash!oned place which has
long been only a memory.
First Civilian Hospital
Few people remember, probably.
that the first civilian hospital IN
Richmond was conducted on tho top
floor OF the Medical College of yir-
ginia in very undesirable circum-
stances. The patients were Amos,
entirely negroes n it is 10 be sus-
pccted thai. their presence was for
demonstration purposes equally rs
much as IN the cause OF idins suf-
ier!ng humanity. The students did
their best, however. for those darkics
and 1t is likely that many or them
otherwise would have died earlier.
Nut II was O until 1876. Jus, a
century after the birth OF the rcpub-
nc, That Tho late DR.. Hunter II. Nc.
Cure, seeing in his practice the tire
~ih"ndous need for greater care OF III.
SICK ;Ain many were able to Oh
TAIN IN their homes. appealed Ia the
consecritcd Mrs. Annabc!ie Ravens
croft jenkins TO found a suitable in
st.tution. That IN measured IN 70
his expectations has long been prov.
Cd, but 4; the beginning there was
nothing with which TO start cxc"p;
me earnest prayers OF a small hand
OF women n tho gold piece Of g
Ittt'c cA!ld, from which cmana,cG tn,
Retreat Tor the Sick.
rms Kind OF work had been In,
cream az Mrs. Jenkins for many years
and SD" obtained use Of the buillins
az l!25 i:as, Marshall street iron
'hr Medical College OF Virginia In
which to start her hospital. wh!s.
rom 'hat day % this has been con.
trolch largely by women. 1t opcna,
Tor patients March /. 1877. and not.
wiihSiand!ng The lack OF equipment
Inc hrs; annual ropor: showed thaO
lis cases had been treated. irrespcc.
i've Of creed or race. which ever ha,
been one OF tho principal condition.
under which the Retreat for the Sicl
has operated through nearly a hal,
century OF service, making Il tho old
es' nonsectarian hospital IN IN,
Sonth.
ON Historic Ground.
because The medical collage rc.
puiTcI the use OF the space. the hos
pi'aI was compelled to move in 1851
50 j purchased tho building at o..
North Twelfth street. and entered on
"a long Ies!dence on historic ground
TINS house. which was bull; man,
years & ny "a Mr.. Eus;ice. stand
on the site OF The old R1cnmou.
Theatcr. whcrc The convention me,
which ratified tho Constitution o.. IA,
United States. Il was 'hcre. TOO. =.
the carly days. that tic iiielnnou,
Academy Wac s.taatci. when tina