COLL CAT. C ^/ L Vvf A' p., V PRINCIPLES CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS California jltate Woman'a Jovial, FOR THE TREATMENT OF Diseases Peculiar to Women. Inaugurated, Organized, May, 1867. May, 186S. SAN FRANT CISCO: TURN BULL & SMITH, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 516 Sacramento Street. 1863. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Bethesda, Maryland M*v ? 19B2 P R I N C I P L E S CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE Qfalifornia j&tate Woman's hospital, FOB THE TREATMENT OF Diseases Peculiar to Women. Inaugurated, - - May, 1867. Organized, - May, 1868. SAN FRANCISCO: TURXBILL & SMITH, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 516 Sacramento Street. 1868. s MEDICAL OFFICERS. $ut}geon in (JJhatige. JOHN SCOTT, M. D.. Fellow Royal College of Surgeon's, Ireland; Fellow Eth- nological Society, London, etc. Assistant $utjgeon. \V. H. Daviks, M. D.. Member of Royal College of Surgeon's. Edinburgh. i OFFICERS FOR 1868. Board of (tiocernors. JOS. A. DONOHOE, GUSTAVE TOUCHARD, R. F. MORRISON, R. B. SWAIN, L. B. BENCHLEY, CYRUS PALMER, WM. LANE BOOKER. REV. H. D. LATHROP. REV. DR. H. M. SCUDDER, GEO. H. EGGERS, JAMES LINFORD, E. B. MASTICK, ANNIS MERRILL, J. W. STOW. M. J. O'CONNOR, IRa. P. RANKIN, A.J. RALSTON. Ladies' Board ot' Supervision Mrs. M. J. O'CONNOR. Mrs. J. KMERIC. Mrs. R. B. SWAIN, Mrs. I. P. RANKIN. Mrs. E. C. liUIiNETT. Mi:s. H. M. HEUSTOX Mrs. A. E. THOMAS. MRS. J. EASTLAND. Mr's. E. BEACH. Ml Mrs. H. D. LATHROP, Mrs. H. M. SCUDDER, Mrs. J. B. HARMON. Mrs. A. H. CUNNINGHAM, Mrs. JOS1AH BELDEN, Mrs. R. J. WALSH, Mrs. G. A. EASTON, Mrs. E. H. BRYAN, Mrs. J. P. BUCKLEY. LUfTEN HERMANN. l^FMNCII^LES. This Hospital is founded upon the only true theory of Charity, viz : " Assistance exactly com- mensurate with the existing necessity; assistance extended at the right moment, and withdrawn when no longer imperatively demanded;'' for that is not true charity which, by its dispensations, encourages disuse of one's own abilities, and a dependence upon the ability of another. Based upon this theory, and accepting as its motto, " full help to the helpless and aid to all," this Hospital, to the extent of its capacity and means, will be open to all classes of patients. T<> the destitute it will afford its help " without money and without price;" to those who can partially re- compense it for services rendered, it will extend its benefits, receiving in return according to their sev- eral ability, and at the same time its doors will be open to such as can bear the full expeuse of a Hospital treatment, although not able to defray the usual charges of private practice. To carry out 8 PRINCIPLES. this theory, the Hospital will be divided into two \ departments—the one for free beds and the other I for paid beds. The case of each applicant will be j duly considered by the Board of Supervision, who j will be charged with the duty of fixing the terms ! of admission in all cases, subject to such rules as may be adopted for the government of* the Institu- tion. Such patients oidy shall be admitted whose diseases come clearly within the prescribed limits and purposes of this Charity, and the claim for admission, so far as the character of the disease shall affect such claim, must be decided by the Surgeon in charge, to whom all applicants must be referred for such decision. This Hospital will be open to all, irrespective of creed or nationality. The Necessity of a Woman's Hospital for California. The remarkable prevalence of Female Diseases upon this coast, from whatever cause it arises, is a fact not to be questioned even by those outside the medical profession, but only by the practising physician can the extent of this evil be fully known, PRINCIPLES. 9 or the sufferings arising therefrom be fully realized. To his observation alone comes or can come, the frightful revelation of human sorrows consequent upon the well-nigh universal derangements resulting from female diseases. To no community can a Woman's Hospital be a greater boon than it will prove to be to California, not alone in the cure of diseases and the alleviation of human sufferings, but also because of its still more important service as a School for instruction in that branch of medi- cal science which Dr. Emmet, of New York, de- clares " was, until within a few years, an unexplored | field." The most worthy members of the profession readily admit that but few of their number can j claim the possession of that special knowledge, [ which alone can qualify the physician for the1 suc- cessful treatment of these intricate diseases, and they confer honor upon themselves and benefit up- I on their calling by such frank admissions. To the profession itself, then, a properly organized hospital t ably conducted, and offering access to all who desire to observe its processes or consult its re- j cords, cauuot but be a boon of almost inestimable ! value; while to the husbands and fathers and 1 brothers of our coast; to public teachers—yea! to woman herself, this Hospital revealing, as it must, the relation which this branch of medical science 10 PRINCIPLES. bears to the dearest interests of our hearts and homes, must prove a blessing whose value, great in the present, will only augment and expand as the years go by. We need a Woman's Hospital, and for the follow- ing reasons: First, because of its great importance. Having already alluded to the remarkable pre- valence and severity of female diseases in Californiaj we need hardly do more than call attention to that fact. We may, however, remark that female dis- eases are the real causes of what passes for general ailments. Striking at the very citadel of female existence, these diseases unhinge and disjoint the whole animal economy, and make all the wheels of life go wearily or wildly. Such being the case, the good accomplished by the Woman's Hospital can hardly be over-estimated. Secondly, because it is a need not now even partially provided for by any public charity, while fair provision already exists for the care of both males and females suffering from the common ills of life. Numerous institutions variously endowed and well conducted afford asylum and assistance to the afflicted and the unfortunate. And beside this, the State Legislature is now about authoriz- ing the Supervisors of this city, to organize and endow an extensive General Hospital for San Fran- PRINCIPLES. 11 cisco, which is intended to be of the most modern construction and afford the best facilities which medical science can suggest. True, that Hospital will not be devoted exclusively to females, nor is there need that it should be. For the diseases common to both sexes, and for the common ailments of females, the General Hospital affords all need- ful accommodation. The California Woman's Hospi- tal, which we now organize, is the only institution which exists upon this coast for the special treat- ment of diseases peculiar to females. The foregoing considerations first moved to the establishment of the Hospital which is now adopted and organized as the California State Woman's Hos- pital. Under the skilful care of its founder, it has already wrought a great good—prophetic, we trust, of still larger usefulness in its character as a public institution. We set forth its organization and prin- ciples and the necessities which gave rise to its existence, and commend these to the thoughtful consideration, and the Hospital to the generous support of the benevolent. CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. This Society shall be known as the Woman's Hos- pital Association of California. article ii. The object of this Association shall be to estab- lish an Hospital for the treatment of diseases pecu- [ liar to women, to be called the California State Woman's Hospital. article hi. Each subscriber shall be considered a member of this Association. article IV. Tin; officers of this Association shall consist of a Board of Governors, a Ladies' Board of Super- vision, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding | Secretary, and ;i Treasurer. The Board of Gov- 14 CONSTITUTION. ernors shall consist of seventeen members, live of j whom shall constitute a quorum for the transac- tion of business. article v. The Board of Governors and Ladies' Board of Supervision shall be chosen at the annual meeting, and shall appoint their own officers, enact their ; own By-Laws, and fill all vacancies occurring in their respective bodies, between the annual meet- ings. article VI. The Governors shall have power to hold stated meetings, and to adopt measures to conduct the affairs of the Institution. article vii. The domestic affairs of the institution shall be entrusted to the Ladies' Board of Supervision, and they shall exercise a general superintendence over the moral and domestic management of said insti- tution. They shall also have power to visit the Hospital at any time, and inspect all its apart- ments; to appoint or remove all matrons, nurses or other female attendants necessary for such an in- stitution, provided, however, such appointments or removals are not against the expressed wish of the Surgeon in charge. CONSTITUTION. 15 article viii. The Medical Board shall consist of the Surgeon in charge of the Hospital, an Assistant Surgeon, a House Physician and a Board of consulting Phy- sicians and Surgeons. article ix. The Surgeon in charge shall be elected by the Board of Governors, and shall have power to ap- point the Assistant Surgeon, the House Physician, and Board of Consulting Physicians and Surgeons annually, subject to the approval of the Board of Governors. article x. The Surgeon in charge shall be required to make an annual report to the Board of Governors of the medical and surgical management of the institution, and special reports whenever required by the Board of Governors. article xi. No patient shall be admitted into the Hospital who is not affected with some disease peculiar to women. article xii. No person holding an appointment under the 16 CONSTITUTION. Board of Governors, (unless it be honorary,) shall be a member of that body. ARTICLE XIII. The annual meeting shall- be held in the month of May, at such time and place as may be desig- nated by the Board of Governors. ARTICLE XIV. This Constitution may be altered or amended by the vote of two-thirds of the members present at any annual meeting, or at any special meeting called for that purpose, and of which.due notice shall have been given. BY-LAWS. SECTION I. The Ladies Board of Supervision shall appoint from their own members a President, Vice President, Secretary, and an Executive Committee, to manage the household affairs of the institution, and to do all things necessary to promote the objects thereof; subject nevertheless to the control of the Board of Governors, to whom they shall report their proceed- ings at every monthly meeting. SECTION n. The monthly meeting of the Board of Governors, shall be held on the first Tuesday in every month. SECTION III. All applications for admission must be made to the Secretary of the Ladies' Board of Supervision. and the Surgeon in charge must be consulted as to the applicability of such ease for admission. 18 BY-LAWS. SECTION IV. The Ladies' Board of Supervision shall carefully investigate the circumstances of each applicant, ! and shall decide whether they are to be admitted free, or what'amount they shall pay per month to the funds of the institution. SECTION V. The Executive Committee of the Ladies' Board of Supervision, shall meet at the Hospital at 10 A.M., once a week. SECTION VI. The Treasurer of this Association shall pay out the funds thereof, only upon the order of the Presi- dent (or Vice President) and Secretary of the Ladies'jBoard; of Supervision/countersigned by the President of the Board'of Governors. RULES AND REGULATIONS, BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS. Board shall be paid a fortnight in advance on entering. n. Board bills shall be presented for payment every fortnight. in All persons received as boarders, shall have their washing done out of the house IV. Those articles which may be requested by the patients and not provided for on the diet scale shall be considered as extras, and must be obtained at the patient's own expense; provided such articles are sanctioned by the surgeon in charge, or assis- tant surgeon. 20 RULES AND REGULATIONS. v. Patients who are well enough to take their meals at table, will be required to do so. VI. Patients will retire to rest at 9 P. M., when the ights will be extinguished except such as are spec- ially allowed. VII. Anything injured or destroyed by the patients, j must be restored by them. VIII. I Immediate male relatives, known to be such by the Matron, may be allowed to visit patients daily, from 1. till 4. P. M., in a separate room, provided they do not visit oftener than three times a week; and female relatives or friends, at the discretion of the Matron. No male visitor, except he be a Clergyman in the discharge of his duty, shall be permitted to enter the wards; in case of severe ill- ness, relatives may be admitted at the discretion of the House Physician, and must leave when request- ed by the Matron. IX. Any patient leaving the Hospital without per- mission, will be discharged. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 21 Patients guilty of insubordination or disregard of Hospital rules, maybe reported to the Executive Committee for dismissal. XI. Upon notice of the attending Surgeon that all medical or other aid possible has been conferred upon any patient, it shall be expected that such patient shall leave the Hospital on a week's notice from the Executive Committee. XII. All patients desiring to leave, shall give a weeks' notice to the Executive Committee. XIII. Amy complaints against the internal manage- ment of the Hospital on the part of the patients, are to be referred to the Ladies' Executive Commit- tee. XIV. Patients must strictly conform to the directions of the Matron, who will be held responsible for the enforcement of the above mentioned rules. BY-LAWS OF THE LADIES' BOARD OF SUPERVISION OF THE SECTION I. This Board shall consist of twenty-four members, five of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Should a vacancy occur in the Board, it shall be filled by vote of the majority present at any regu- lar meeting of the Board. SECTION II. The Officers of the Board shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Executive Committee, consisting of two members. These officers shall be elected by ballot, at the meeting held by this Board, on the first Friday following the annual meeting of the Association, and shall be chosen by a plurality vote of the members present. The President, Vice-President and Sec- 24 BY-LAWS. retary, shall be ex officio members of the Execu- tive Committee. SECTION III. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee; she shall make reports of the proceed- ings of the Board of Supervision, to the Board of Governors, at their regular monthly meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall discharge the duties of the office and be vest- ed with its powers. SECTION IV. The Secretary shall keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the Board, in a book reserved for that purpose; she shall enter upon a separate book, the names of the patients admitted into the Hospi- j tal, and the dates of their admission and dismissal. She shall make out all bills for debts due by patients to the Hospital, in accordance with the regulations for the same, made and provided by the Associa- tion, and hand them to the Matron for collection. She shall receive all moneys due the Hospital, and pay them over to the Treasurer of the Association, taking his receipt therefor; she shall keep an exact | account of all moneys received, and of all pay- ments made on account of the Hospital. i ! BY-LAWS. 2.0 I SECTION V. The Executive Committee shall purchase all supplies of provisions, furniture and all necessary articles for the use of the Hospital; they shall supervise the employes, see that they discharge their duties faithfully, and report any delinquency to the Board. They shall also have the power to discharge any deliuqnent attendant, and fill any vacancy occuring in the number of the attend- ants, until the next meeting of the Board. The Executive Committee shall in all things, be subject to the Board of Supervision, to whom they shall make a full report of all their proceedings at every monthly meeting. SECTION VI. The monthly meetings of the Board of Supervis- ion shall be held at the Hospital, on the last Wed- nesday of every month, at 2 P. M., and special meetings may be held at the call of the President. The order of business shall be as follows, viz: 1. Reading of minutes. 2. Report of Executive Committee. 3. Report of Visiting Committees. 4. Report of Special Committees. 5. Presentation and consideration of bills. 6. Payment of bills approved. 26 BY-LAWS. j 7. Miscellaneous Business. 8. Adjournment. All bills against the Hospital shall be presented by the Secretary, at each meeting, for the consider- ation of the Board. SECTION VII. At the monthly meetings of the Board, the Presi- dent shall appoint Visiting Committees for the Hospital for the ensuing month. Each Committee shall consist of two persons, who shall serve during one week; it shall be the duty of such Committee, to make at least one visit to the Hospital during the week for which they have been appointed; these Committees shall be chosen from the Board of Supervision, exclusive of the Executive Committee, and shall carefully inspect the condition of the Hospital, and make a written report thereon at the next meeting of the Board. SECTION VIII. The matron and subordinate attendants shall be elected by the Board of Supervision, who shall also affix their compensation; they shall faithfully carry out the instructions of the Surgeon in charge, and the Executive Committee. BY-LAWS SECTION IX. When an application for admission to the Hospi- tal is made to the Secretary, she shall give notice of the same immediately to the Surgeon in charge, and the Executive Committee. The Executive Com- mittee shall carefully investigate the circumstances of the applicant, and decide whether she shall be admitted free, or what amount she shall pay per month. SECTION X. Every patient shall have the right to have the services of a clergyman of her own denomination, should she so desire. SECTION XI These By-Laws may be amended at any monthly meeting of the Board, provided, notice of the pro- posed amendment be given at the previous monthly meeting. Zl o OS % ■