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

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The Philadelphia General Hospital AT this hospital, the first institution founded on this continent expressly for the care of the sick and homeless, the senior and junior classes are heir to clinical instruction in all branches of the healing arts, given in the spirit of the proudest traditions of American medicine. In 1712, stimulated by the action of the Society of Friends in setting up provisions for the care and comfort of its impoverished members, the Council of Philadelphia voted for the creation of a workhouse. The Mayor and Commonality borrowed 5000 pounds from the Legislature, in 1729, to pay for “the erection of an Almshouse or Hospice for use of the poor of the city. A year later, “The Green Meadows, a square bounded by 3rd and 4th, and Spruce and Pine Streets, was purchased. The Philadelphia Almshouse was opened on this site, in 1732. The development of the Almshouse was paralleled by that of the Pennsylvania Hospital, which was established in 1753. About 1772, the managers of the Almshouse were asked to place its clinical material at the disposal of the students of the Medical School of the College of Philadelphia, later to become the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania. Thus, in its earliest years, the Almshouse became allied with medical instruction. The institution was moved to Tenth and Pine Streets in 1767, and was renamed the “Bettering House. Its growth was rapid and finally, in 1828, the State Legislature granted a large sum of money for the acquisition of a larger site for the hospital, almshouse, and associated departments. The choice of a site in Blockley Township on the west side of the Schuylkill River bestowed upon the hospital the unofficial name of “Bleckley , a name which is cherished in the annals of American medicine. And, in the words of Sir William Osier: “Here, far out in the country, the indigent, poor and afflicted, the alcoholic and the insane of Philadelphia came to be housed— ‘went over the hills to the poorhouse.' The name of “Philadelphia Hospital was proposed by Dr. Gerhard, famous for his work in differentiating typhus from typhoid fever, and, in 1902, this became the official title of the hospital. Its three main divisions became known as “The Philadelphia Hospital and Home for the Indigent, “The Philadelphia Hospital for the Insane, and the hospital proper, “The Philadelphia General Hospital. In 1906, a large tract of land was acquired in Byberry, and modern buildings were erected for the care of the insane and feeble minded. Ait present, only 20 remain of the original 187 acres purchased in 1928. Few of the old buildings remain standing, their places being occupied by modern edifices. The hospital has 2,515 beds and 60 bassinettes, and manages a large out-patient department. Its medical Superintendent is Dr. Win. G. Turnbull. And its influence on American medicine, strikingly shown in the fact that 29 major medical schools were founded by men who received training in “Old Blockley , continues. 29

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The Philadelphia General Hospital 28

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2 ; ' |j | II The Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children T’HE Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children—six short words—yet how they J- combine to spread their comforting message of hope and cheer from east to west, from north to south—falling like music on the ears of hundreds and thousands of suffering and tortured little souls, calling them down the road to health and happiness. This haven of hope for the crippled was established as a fraternal organization in 1926. Its buildings, located on Roosevelt Boulevard, Pennypack Park, are splendid examples of cheerful hospital architecture. It has 100 beds and is fully equipped for orthopedic surgery. Its operating rooms are lighted by daylight, its wards are bright and sunny, and its X-ray department is completely modern in every respect. The chief surgeon is Dr. John Royal Moore, Professor of Orthopedics at Temple University School of Medicine. It is under his guidance that groups of senior stU' dents are shown the application of the principles of orthopedic surgery, due to the kindness and consideration of the Board of Governors of the Hospital. 30