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

Page 31 text:

The Municipal Hospital THE Municipal Hospital, or, the Philadelphia Hospital for Contagious Diseases, had its origin in the “Pest House founded in 1726 at Ninth and Spruce Streets. From that time until 1865 it disappeared and reappeared many times, each time at a site more remote from the center of the rapidly expanding city. In the latter years, it was housed in the crudest of quarters at Twenty-second Street and Lehigh Avenue, where it served the city until 1909. In 1909, the present group of about 31 separate buildings was erected at a cost of approximately $2,000,000. The distant spot at Second and Luzerne, upon which the buildings stand, was selected because, in the words of Dr. Samuel S. Woody, who became Medical Director and Superintendent in 1908, “with everyone holding the misconception that infectious diseases were disseminated through the air, it was thought that no more isolated spot could be found than this, which was, and is, bounded by farm land, a brick yard, and two cemeteries. Since 1900, the wards of this large hospital have been open for the clinical instruct tion in contagious diseases of the medical students of Philadelphia. Of 7000 students who availed themselves of the clinical material at the institution only five contracted a contagious disease, according to a survey by Dr. Woody. The hospital can take care of 1,100 patients at one time and is probably the largest hospital for contagious dis' eases in the Western Hemisphere. Under the able guidance of its present youthful superintendent, Dr. Pascal F. Lucchesi, small groups of senior students are clinically introduced to the study of contagious disease. 27

Page 30 text:

The Jewish Hospital ALTHOUGH the hospital was founded in 1865 by the Jewry of Philadelphia, it is strictly non-sectarian, “dedicated to the relief of the sick and wounded without regard to creed, color, or nationality. It was first established in West Philadelphia, the original small building being located on Westminster Avenue at Haverford Road and Fisher's Avenue, now Fifty-sixth Street. The greatly expanded institution is a general hospital, now situated at York and Tabor Roads and occupying 23 acres. Among the more recent improvements and additions is the Hachenburg Building, which was opened in June, 1928. It provides 50 beds for maternity cases, and also medical and surgical facilities and nurses' quarters. The most modern structure of the hospital is the Fridenberg Memorial Surgical building erected in accordance with the terms of the will of Mone Samuel Fridenberg, in memory of his parents and two brothers. The building has a 51 bed capacity and was opened in July, 1934, replacing the outmoded surgical wards and operating facilities previously in use. The present capacity of the hospital is 426 beds including bassinettes. In 1928, the hospital became associated with Temple University and has been utilised, since that time, for clinical instruction of the senior classes. The extensive section work in medicine, pediatrics, and neurology is under the direction of Dr. Joseph C. Doane, director of the Jewish Hospital, who is assisted by an able staff of physicians. 26

Page 32 text:

The Philadelphia General Hospital 28