Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-12
MARYLAND-VIRGIN NEWS
Montgomery County's
DR.. Bird to Be Honored
By G. o. HERNDoN

DR.. j. w. Bird of Sandy Spring
Md, is a living legend at 10
Still hard at work as the chic
of staff at the hospital he or.
gained SO years ago, he is the
apotheosis of all the Odysseys o.
rural general practitioners-anc
more.
He has practiced the healing
arts in Montgomery County
longer than any doctor there
46 years. He has delivered some
1000 babies.
When he first arrived in thu
peaceful Quaker community al
Sandy Spring in 1909, he hae
been advised to guard his health
and take things slow in the
country. The gloomy prognosi!
was belied and the prescription
ignored.
He has survived epidemics anc
personal tragedy. He has worr
out several horses and IS auto.
mobiles. In his case, the old say
ing in connection with medica
men-"He has never refused tt
answer call day or nigh" is
true.
One of his many patients re.
Gently said of DR.. Bird that hi
didn't know chow the community
could have gotten along without
him"
Was Graduated in 1907
DR.. Bird was born in 1885. He
was graduated from the Univer-
sity of Maryland Medical School
in Baltimore in 1907. He interned
for two years and came to Sandy
Spring in 1909. That was about
the end of the so-called horse
and-buggy days for doctors.
In a few months, the young
doctor was using two-cylindel
Maxwell roadster on his calls
Then a Ford. Four more Max
wells. A Lexington. Two Saxons
Twenty-six Dodges. But for years
after the first motorcar, he hao
to keep a horse for use in bac
weather or over impossible roads
During the influenza epidemics
Of 1858, DR.. Bird was virtually
a one-man field hospital. Several
members of his staff died of in
f1uenza. His wife died in the cpl
demic. The doctor reared their
three children for II years, re-
married in 1885 and has two sons
by the second marriage.
During those years, the need
OF and the plan for a community
hospital was born.
II invited is men to my house
in April, 1917" DR.. Bird re-
called.
At the meeting, he had little
to say. He had arranged for an
Episcopal minister to present
the case for a hospital.
A Hospital Is Born
At the end of the meeting
there was a newly formed hos
njtal committee, $4,000 and 9
site.
The hospital - Montgomery
County General Hospital
opened in 1920 with % beds. Ar
addition now under construc.
ton will provide a modern ma
ternity wing. The hospital viii
soon have go beds.
During more than As years Of
practice, DR.. Bird has been ar
lndefatigable organizer.
He helped organize the coun-
tvs Social Service League ane
was it's president for 81 years
He aided in the organization Of
the State Health Department
prior to 1920. He was one of the
hackers of the county's frs
Juvenile Court.
Also, he has served as presi'
dent of the Medical and Chiru'
gical Faculty Of Maryland. Fol
six years, he was a State dele
gate to the American Medica
Association and for over q
years he served as secretary
treasurer of the County Medica
Society. He served for 10 year.
as president of the Children
Aid Society of Maryland and il
an active member of the Mont
gomery County tuberculosis AS
ISOLATION. He is a member of tn,
Washington Academy of Medi
cine.
Other Positions Listed
And. he is former member o
the State Board of Health, tn
States Medical Care Commission
and Is years ago was membe
of a special governors committe
which surveyed health. education
welfare, finance and public safet,