Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 32 text:

TIHIE JEWISH IHCSIPIITAIL “If HE Jewish Hospital first appeared as a small building situated at Westminster II Avenue, Haverford Road and Fisher Avenue—now 56th Street, in West Phila-delphia, in the latter part of September 1865. The capacity of this place was soon outgrown, so a tract of land consisting of 23 acres was acquired at York and Tabor Roads in North Philadelphia—the present site. The first of a series of buildings was dedicated during the year of 1873. The following inscription, found over the Men's Surgical Ward, states the purpose for the erection of the great institution. It reads as follows:— v Thi$ Hospital was erected by the voluntary contributions of the Israelites of Philadelphia and is dedicated to the relief of the sick and wounded without regard to creed, color, or nationality under the management of a Board of members of the Jewish Hospital Association. And so it is—those that seek relief from suffering are admitted without regard to creed, color, or nationality under the management of a Board of Members. The Hospital has a bed capacity of 426 beds with a resident staff of 12 and a Chief Resident. It has 115 student nurses, 35 supervisors, one Chief Nurse and an Assistant, and an Educational Director and an Assistant. Its doors were thrown open to the Medical Students of Temple University during the year of 1928 through the kindness of the Board of Managers. Six hours a week are spent in Ward Walks under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Joseph C. Doane, formerly Superintendent of the Philadelphia General Hospital but now Medical Director of the Jewish Hospital. We are deeply indebted to the authorities who have granted us the privilege of its wealth of clinical material. Twenty'tight

Page 31 text:

Time Philadelphia GENERAL H CAPITAL |J HE Greatest of all Hospitals of its kind where we as Juniors and Seniors had the II privilege to learn an abundance of material wealth relative to the Aesculapian Art has been situated at its present location since 1834—the old buildings of which few remain were built between 1830 and 1834. The Philadelphia Almshouse was first located at Third and Pine Streets and was commonly spoken of as “The Green Meadows. According to Agnew, “Green Meadows' was the oldest hospital in the country, having been founded in 1731. In 1767 the institution was moved to Tenth and Pine Streets and was called the “Bettering House. The Legislature in March, 1828, authorized the purchase of a site and the erection of buildings suitable for a hospital, an almshouse, children's house, and other departments. The site was located in Blockley township, and from the township the hospital has derived a name, which, while not official, has nevertheless clung to it persistently. There arc some who thnk this name should be abolished entirely, but most of those who have served as Internes and as members of the staff still prefer that old name. Dr. Gerhard, whose careful investigation established the distinction between typhus and typhoid fever, suggested to the board of guardians that the name “Philadelphia Hospital be adopted. The Philadelphia Hospital for the Insane” and the hospital proper was known as “The Philadelphia General Hospital. T iventyseven

Page 33 text:

MUNICIPAL HCSIPIITaVL PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL FOR CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. ]■“HIS institution, which has done so much for the preservation of the lives of our II younger generations, so as to also afford them an opportunity of reaching the point where they might be of service to community, city and incidentally nation began as the “Pest House at 9th and Spruce in 1726 and then disappearing only to reappear again in time of need, at some place more remote from the daily haunts of Philadelphians. The hospital in 1865, found a home at 22nd and Lehigh, crude to be sure, but serving its purpose until 1909. This was the year of completion of the present group of thirty' one separate buildings built at a cost of about two million dollars and embodying the last word in hospital construction. The year previous our friend Dr. Samuel S. Woody took up his duties as Medical Director and Superintendent which he has discharged with so much credit to the hospital and himself ever since. The distant situation was chosen because, as Dr. Woody says, “with everyone holding the misconception that in' fectious diseases were disseminated through the air it was that no more isolated spot could be found than this which was, and is, bounded by farm land, a brick yard, and two cemeteries, now we know that the institution could stand at Broad and Chestnut Streets with perfect safety to the community. Equipped to take care of 1150 cases in case of an epidemic and regularly treating 5000 patients a year “Municipal is the largest hospital for contagious diseases in the Western Hemisphere and probably has more acute cases than any other such hospital in the world. Since 1909, 85,000 patients have been cared for under her roofs most of whom have been suffering from “scarlet and “diphtheria. Every case must be brought in the hospital ambulances, a requirement of the law. T wenty'nine