The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1954-08-31
Sunday Exercises Dedicate New Hospital
Wing TO john Peter Mcttaucr, Pioneer
Surgeon, 10Th Century Medical Genius
Abbitt'S Dcdicat0ry
Address Halls
End Paternalism'

The John Peter Mettauer wing
OF SoUthside Community Hospital
was dedicated Sunday afternoon
with exercises on the front lawn
attended by nearly 400 persons
who were among $500 persons
who had contributed to the half
million dollar venture in health
and life.
The Hon Robert X Brock. Of
HampdenSydney, presided as the
exercises unfoldcd on a platform
built especially for the dedicatorv
program, opened vii hin an in
VOCATION bV he Rev h. r. Bru-
ner, Farmyilc Baptist Minister
Dr. Charles l. Baird. radio
loglst on the hospital medical
staff. presented his wifes portrait
Of John Peter Mcttaucr to honor
"a distinguished citizen and
areat physician
Descendants Present
a great many direct descendants
OF the coJmtys pioneer surgeon
watched from seats of honor near
the platform as little Ann Eliza
beth Merlc, Of New Orleans. great.
treat granddaughter of DR.. Met
tauer, tugged at the thread which
unveiled the striking painting
The art work is a gift to the
hospital by the artist.
Senator Brock acknowledged the
gift OF a bronze plaque placed in
a prominent spot in the main
hallway Of the wing. given by the
Medical Society Of Prince Ed
ward County 1t is dated August
1854 and is the gift of The hospi-
tails medical staff
DIR. Blanton Speaks
The plaque was presented hv
DR. Wyndham B Blanton, Rich
mond physician and biographer of
Dr. Mettauer, who traced the
great surgeons life. with its 10th
century contributions to the ad-
vancement OF medicine and
surgery II was a life DR. Blan-
ton SAID. Of grit. wit and glunp-
ton carried to great heights by
Dr. Mettauer'S daring. inventive
ness with surgical Instruments.
and deXtrouS skill
Attributing to the pioneer surg
con so articles OF outstanding
merit that are now historical
documents. and pioneer studies in
the discovery Of typhoid fever. Or.
Blanton said You do Well TO pre-
serve the record and memories of
this 10Th Century Prince Edward
genius
Or. Blanton SAID Or Mettaucr's
contributions to medicine are UNI
told due TO his achievements as
teacher and founder of Prince
Edward Medical Institute where
generations of students and as
to so patients we're attended at
one time for As years.
Thanks Expressed
w c. Fitzpatrick, president of
the hospital board of managers.
accepted the portrait and plaque
on behalf of the hospital COM
mending the artist for her
generosity Of time and effort"
and the medical staff for its con-
tributions TO the operation of a
great medical center"
In his dcdicatory address.
Fourth District CONGRESSMAN
Watkins NJ Abbitt praised the
public effort which brought about
the wing because future genera
tons will remembcr us for the in
situations We leave behind. not
what We have said or done
The legislator said our hospi-
tails, schools and orphanages
measure our faith IN American
idealism, and declared he was
deeply impressed and encouraged
because the impetus for this fine
project was not generated in
Washington, but right here
. t'i'f'ifN N'i kfNRi'A'
Sees Tide Turning
He SAID he viewed it as part Of
general move that leads me to
feel that recent events have
shown that the tide of pater-
nalism Of recent years has been
turned back
Too many Of us" he declared.
take our rights and privileges
for granted If We are to preserve
the heritage from the past. each
Of us must contribute his share
TO the common labors and exer-
else his responsibilities in the
public welfare.
No threats to our way of life
Will materialize whether they
come from legislative. executive
or judicial sources, if we hold to
these truths" Abbitt declared.
After benedicton by the Rev.
James r. Kennedy. Farmville
PRESBYTERIAN minister. those at
tending the bicentennial event
were provided refreshments. serv-
ed on the spacious lawn by mem
bers Of the Southside Community
Hospital Auxiliary.
BACK AFTER VACATION