New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
Model Hospital for Moscow
Funds Needed for Work Of American
Medical Aid for Russia
the Editor ne Th. wr;h,,,a

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In the City Of Moscow. some
TWO miles from the Kremlin, is hos
pftag which promises to be the scene of
one Of the most important and benefi-
cent chapters In the history Of Ameri-
can relief In Russia. This IL the historic
Old Catherins Hospital which had
fts beginnings In the reign Of Cath
erine II. 1t was my happy fortune,
thia past summer, 60 visit this institu-
ticn az member of a committee of
the American Medical Aid for Russia.
! found 1t to consist of several large
buildings- administration and dispen-
sary, surgical, obstetrical, etc.--to-
gether with smaller buildings. all on a
plct Of ground eighteen acres in area,
consisting Of beautiful park land, with
trees, grass, flowers and open passur-
age. .
The hospital had somc 400 beds. with
Ateon modations for AGO workers. In
happier days it provided for total pop-
ulation-patients. physicians, nurses,
ederiies, servants, ete.-of more than
1000 persons. The grounds are now
rough and unkempt and the buildings
in dfsrepair, several of them mere
raina Equipment is old and broken
and supplies inadequate. In the OBJ
stetrical wards saw scores Of mothers
lying on bent and rusted iron beds,
without sheets or pillow-cases, and
covered only with strips Of burlap, old
shawls, porticres, and what not.
During the last year the American
Medical Aid for Russia, organized under
the direction Of a group Of distin.
guished American physicians, raised a
fund sufficient to purchase hospital
equipment adequate for a hrst-class
institution. The society has sent to
Russia in equipment and donations in
kind approximately 100000.
Under on agreement formulated be-
tween the Moscow health authorities
and the society, the Old Catherine
Hospital is now being put in first class
repair by the Soviet authorities and
placed in charge Of the American Medi-
cal Aid for period Of one year. Hav-
ing already equipped the hospital as de-
scribed, the society agrees to provision
both patients and staff, meet ell the
running expenses of the institution,
supply it with an abundance Of first
class material install American
methods of administration, nursing
and treatment, and in general MAIN
tain the institution as modern hospi-
tai of the highest standard. AT the
end Of one year IT will be returned to
the Soviet Health Commission OF Mos
cow as the model hospital of the city.
For this great work the sum OF
100000 is promptly needed. My col
leagues and are agreed that such an
undertaking. initiated in the name at
once of American science and beneH-
nence, will make an Irresistible appea!
TO our fellow citizens and enlist their
generous support. It is to be noted
hatthe Russians are doing their part
in placing buildings and grounds, fully
restored, at our disposal. We, in turn,
bring to the relief of people just
emerging from years of cold, starvation
and disease, and still In dire distress,
the full equipment and personnel OF
modern hospital. To thousands of
men, women and children we shall give
immediate health and healing, and by
our example of model hospital admins
tration set loose an influence in Rus
sian life which will be blessing for
generations TO come.
Local groups of the American Medi-
cal Aid for Russia are being organized
in the great cities Of the country for
the raising of funds. The officers Of
the organization are: Mrs. Henry
Willard, chairman; Arthur s. Leeds,
treasurer; Frances Witherspoon, execu-
tive secretary. The national advisory
committee of scientific men includes
such distinguished names as those of
DR.. Charles H. Mayo. DR.. NJ. j. Rosenau,
DR.. Lewellys F. Barker, DIR. Haven
Emerson, Or. Harvey Cushing, DR.
Morton Prince. DR.. NJ. w Ireland, DR.
r, Joseph Goldberger, DR.. Walter h
Cannon and DR.. Jacques Loeb. Individ
= ual contributions are solicited an,
may be sent to the American Medica
Aid for Russia 1oS Park Avenue, New
York. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES.
New York 0rt % 1000