Evening star., 1951-04-29
Emergency Hospital
Old Central Dispensoy Makes PIons
To Celebrate Its Eightieth Birthday
By John CIoqett Proctor

the latter undertook to add to its
staff a few German-speaking ply
sicians. In May, 1877, the dis
pensary was removed to 514 Sixth
street NV. Three years later an
emergency department was added,
with headquarters at 416 Tenth
street. The institution then be-
came known as the Central Dis
pensary and Emergency Hospital"
Federal Appropriations
In March, 1886, mainly through
the labors Of the secretary, Fran
els B. Mchun. the hospital pur-
chased No. 521 Twelfth street,
and remained there Until the COM
pletion Of a new hospital In
March. 1892. In 1890 the Gov
eminent appropriated $4,000 to-
ward the erection Of the new hos
pital, located on the corner Of
Ohio avenue and Fifteenth street,
which had a capacity for II pay
patients and % ward patients.
This appropriation, together with
$25,000 from the sale Of the
Twelfth street property. consti-
tuted the building fund. Congress
also made an appropriation of
$4,500 toward maintenance; and
every year by year the appropria-
tion has been increased to meet
the increase in service given. In
1926 the appropriation was $23,-
900. In addition, Congress has,
from time to time up to 1918, con-
tributed amounts totaling to $1o3,-
708 toward the building funds Of
the hospital. This includes an
appropriation Of $4,000 made IN
1918 toward the erection Of a new
hospital on New York avenue, be-
tween Eighteenth and Nineteenth
streets, the change having become
necessary because the Government
had condemned the Ohio avenue
hospital for Government pur-
poses.
On the New York avenue site the
hospital was erected and AZ its
opening it had a capacity Of ITO
beds. The cost Of construction
was about $350,O0o. At this time
the hospital authorities decided to
open part of its accommodations
for pay patients, and this plan has
ever since been followed. In 1926
the capacity of the present hos
pital was as private rooms,
80 seniprivate wards for pay
patients and SO for ward patients.
The new building was completed
and opened July Is, 1915. In 1915
the Government appropriated
$4,000. In 1925 new nurses
home was erected, at q cost Of
$120. .0oo.".
The Present Home
In this connection, when the
Government condemned the Ohio
avenue property to make way for
the Federal Triangle, the erection
of a new Emergency Hospital at
New York avenue between Seven
teenth and Eighteenth streets
began. The cost was $3.50, 900.
With the opening Of the new
hospital it was decided to use part
of the accommodations for private
patients admitted by their own
physicians. Woodbury. Blair. eld-
est son Of Montgomery Blair. Pres
ident Lincoln's Postmaster Gen.
eral, was elected president of the
Board of Directors in 1918, serving
until his death in 1898.
The present hospital has always
attempted to increase the range
and caliber Of service. In 1927 q
social service department was
begun to help alleviate the prob
lens of the many charity cases.
In 1887 a physiotherapy depart
ment with the most modern Of
equipment became a part of the
hospital. Two years later spe-
cial eye operating room enhanced
the surgical department.
In 1928, plans for a nine STORY
east wing were drawn, and a four
story addition to the nurses home
on the west side was built. At
this time, the main unit was re-
modelled and the three units tied
together. bringing the hospital to
a 270-bed total.
This concluded the building
program. but today, there is q
continual program Of mainte-
nance. redecoration and repair.
Emergency" continues to fur
nish Washington with the best Of
hospital care. In 1850, 72,906 pa
tient days Of care were recorded.
The dispensary had 16,940 pa
tients, while the emergency de-
partment cared for 1900 persons.
The Emergency ambulance sped to
answer $500 calls during the year.