REPORT 
U F 
SPECIAI. COMMITTEE 
O N 
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(Kramtrtial Hospital 
PRINTED BY ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL 
January 2nd, 1901. 
CINCINNATI: 
GAZETTE COMPANY PRINT, CORNER FOURTH AND VINE STREETS. 
19 0 1. EEPOET 
0 F 
SPECIAL COMMITTEE 
0 N 
PRINTED BY ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL 
January 2nd, 1861. 
CINCINNATI: 
GAZETTE COMPANY PRINT, CORNER FOURTH AND VINE STREETS. 
186 1. REPORT. 
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 
Wednesday Evening, January 2d, 1861. 
Mr. Hirst, from the Special Committee, to whom had been 
referred the petition of Students in Cincinnati College of 
Medicine and Surgery, asking the privilege to attend Hos- 
pital practice in the Commercial Hospital, made the following 
REPORT. 
To the Honorable, the City Council of the City of Cincinnati: 
Your Committee, to whom was referred a Petition of Stu- 
dents in Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, and 
asking privilege to attend Hospital practice, respectfully 
submit the following Report: 
The subject is one which has occupied the attention of the 
medical men of the city for a number of years, and is of 
very great importance, not only to them, but to citizens 
generally. 
The discussion upon the justice and propriety of one medi- 
cal school having control of the Hospital, to the exclusion of 
all others, has been carried on by the Doctors for some time, 
with a great deal of warmth, and until our citizens outside 
the medical profession have become deeply interested in the 
question. Without entering into the controversy, we pro- 4 
pose in as brief a manner as possible, to present the connect- 
ion of the different Medical Colleges of our city with the 
Hospital, with such suggestions as the Committee may have 
to make. 
The first singular fact presented in this investigation was 
this, that, while the city of Cincinnati has to assume the res- 
ponsibility of the management of the Hospital, is compelled 
to furnish all the supplies and pay all its expenses, it still 
has no control over the most important part of the whole in- 
stitution-namely, the medical department. The State of 
Ohio, while contributing but a small amount towards its con- 
struction, nevertheless retained the entire control of this and 
transferred it to the Medical College of Ohio. By a law, 
passed January 22d, 1821, entitled "An Act establishing a 
Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asylum for the State of 
Ohio," there was appropriated by the State Legislature, the 
sum of ten thousand dollars, for the erection of said Hospital 
and Lunatic Asylum. But the sum thus appropriated was 
composed of such peculiar funds, that but about four thous- 
and dollars were realized from them. This fund was placed 
in the hands of the Trustees of Cincinnati Township, and 
they were required by the law to provide grounds, not less 
than four acres in extent, and to erect suitable brick build- 
ings for the reception of all patients who might be brought 
there. They were to assume the responsibility of the man- 
agement of the Hospital, and provide for its future support 
by taxes upon the citizens of Cincinnati. But the Trustees 
were debarred from exercising any control whatever over the 
medical department, which, by Section 8th of said "Act," was 
made the duty of the Faculty of the Medical College of Ohio, 
who were to furnish all the medical and surgical services 
necessary, and have the privilege of admitting the students 
of their College to the Hospital practice, upon such terms as 
they might choose to prescribe. The Faculty were also given 
the power to appoint an apothecary or house surgeon. This 
control of the Medical College of Ohio, over the Hospital was 5 
again confirmed by an Act passed December 31, 1825, enti- 
tled "An Act to incorporate and establish the Medical Col- 
lege of Ohio." 
Thus it will be seen, that to this College was given the en- 
tire control of this department of the Hospital, and to it their 
students alone were admitted for the purpose of witnessing 
surgical operations and the practical treatment of the various 
diseases there to be found-a practice of incalculable benefit 
to the student of medicine. After some time, other medical 
colleges were established, and an effort made to have their 
students admitted to the Hospital upon the same terms with 
the Ohio College. Accordingly, an Act was passed by the 
State Legislature, February 26, 1839, authorizing the Trus- 
tees of Cincinnati Township to admit the Faculty of Cincin- 
nati College to an equal participation in the medical and sur- 
gical supervision of the Hospital, with the Ohio College; also 
providing for the admission of other Colleges upon certain 
conditions. 
In consequence of the Cincinnati College failing to carry 
out the provisions of this law, or rather their failure to ac- 
cept its terms, the law has become a dead letter, and the 
Ohio Medical College still continues to enjoy all the benefits 
of Hospital practice, while all other Medical Colleges in our 
city, are deprived of that very great advantage of a medical 
school. A large and very respectable portion of the physi- 
cians of the city protest, and have for a number of years 
protested, against the exclusive monopoly of the Hospital. 
In a discussion on the subject, carried on through the newspa- 
pers with a great deal of energy, in the latter part of the yeai' 
1858, a physician of considerable note wrote as follows: 
" While the medical claims to be a liberal profession, it will 
not tolerate a blind, misguided and destructive monopoly." 
Again, in a few days afterwards, he writes : " One of their 
own number and a lecturer in the Hospital, has proclaimed 
to the public, through the columns of the Lancet and Observer, 
that they cannot discharge their duties both to the College 6 
and the Hospital." Three days afterwards, in reply, a writer 
in behalf of the College says : " When the Directors of the 
City Infirmary shall have complained of the oppression or 
expensive relation of the College and the Hospital, it will be 
time for the citizens to look to it." 
These extracts are admitted here merely for the purpose 
of showing with what interest this subject has been regarded 
in times past, as well as to show that the present petition to 
the City Council, does not arise from any sudden ebullition of 
feeling on the part of other schools against the Ohio Medical 
College. 
As it is undoubtedly the duty of the legislative authorities, 
to encourage the institutions of learning, so also is it their 
duty to encourage all alike, making no invidious distinctions. 
While it may have been perfectly proper to have given to the 
Medical College of Ohio, the supervision of the Hospital she 
now enjoys, at the time of its establishment, and the early 
days of the College, times have changed-the same reasons 
do not now exist. Other schools have grown up, and are at 
present filled with students striving to acquire the knowledge 
necessary to alleviate the sufferings of mankind, and to them 
the experience acquired by Hospital practice, is as essential 
as to the students of the Ohio College. In this the public 
generally are equally or more interested than the Colleges, 
for the reason that if a physician starts out upon his practice, 
without having had the experience of a practical treatment 
of diseases, acquired in a hospital, patients who are so unfor- 
tunate as to require his services, must suffer until he acquires 
that experience he should have at the commencement. No 
student of medicine should ever receive his diploma, without 
having first had a certain amount of hospital instruction. In 
some parts of Europe, every physician is required to have 
several years' hospital experience, before he is allowed to 
commence practice, and it should be so in this country. Our 
hospitals should be free to every student of medicine, under 
proper restrictions, of course, for in them they would receive 
the most important part of their instruction. 7 
There has been no intention in the suggestions just made, 
to find fault with the Ohio Medical College or its manage- 
ment of the medical department of the Hospital. They have 
performed their duties there as well, and it may be better, 
than any other college w'ould have done. But we take the 
broad ground, that the Hospital should be open to all the 
schools. It is not right that the Legislature should foster 
one college to the injury of the rest. Especially when the 
people of not only our own, but other communities, are inter- 
ested in the result, and so much of human suffering and 
misery are at stake. Your committee, entertaining these 
views, considered what steps should be taken to arrive at the 
desired result. A communication was addressed to the City 
Solicitor, enquiring the extent of the legal control of the city 
over the Hospital, and -what legal steps were necessary to be 
taken to acquire complete control. He replied promptly and 
cheerfully in a communication marked A, accompanying this 
report. Council will find in it matters of much interest per- 
taining to this subject. 
Accompanying this report, will also be found a paper 
marked (B,) being a history of the subject given by the Di- 
rectors of the City Infirmary, and showing the inconvenien- 
ces that arise from a conflict of authority in the different 
departments of the Hospital; also, the evil effects such diver- 
sity of authority has upon the prosperity of the Institution, 
as well as the actual loss to the city. It will be found well 
worthy a perusal. 
After due deliberation, it was decided that it is but right 
and proper, as well as for the best interests of all concerned, 
that the City of Cincinnati should have the entire control of 
the Institution, and would therefore recommend the adoption 
of the accompanying resolution. 
SAMUEL B. HIRST, 
THOMAS H. WEASNER, 
JACKSON M. NOBLE, 
J. F. CUNNINGHAM, 
Committee. 8 
Resolved, That the City Solicitor is hereby authorized, on 
behalf of the city, to petition the Legislature of the State to 
grant to the city of Cincinnati full and exclusive control of 
the Commercial Hospital now located in said city. The So- 
licitor is further requested to attend at the meeting of the 
Legislature, and press the subject before that body. 
C^.") 
Cincinnati, Nov. 21, 1860. 1 
City Solicitor's Office. J 
Samuel B. Hirst, Chairman Special Committee: 
Dear Sir-Your note of yesterday contains three inqui- 
ries in respect to the Commercial Ilosptal which I will notice 
in the order in which they are stated by you. 
1. " What control has the city over the Hospital?" 
The Directors of the City Infirmary have, by law, the ex- 
clusive management of said Hospital, except in so far as the 
medical supervision of said institution has been given to the 
Faculty of the Medical College of Ohio, by the following pro- 
visions of law: 
Section seven of an act to incorporate the Medical College 
of Ohio, passed Dec. 31, 1825, is as follows : 
"It shall be the duty of the Faculty of said College to visit 
and attend to the patients in the Cincinnati Hospital and Lu- 
natic Asylum for the State of Ohio, located in the township 
of Cincinnati, and to render to said patients such medical and 
surgical advice and service as their cases may respectively 
require, without any charge or pecuniary compensation there- 
for ; in consideration of which the said Faculty shall have 
liberty and power, under such regulations as they shall think 
fit and proper to prescribe, to introduce the students and pu- 
pils of said College into said Hospital and Asylum to witness 
the treatment of diseases and such surgical operations as 
may be performed therein." 
Section nine of an act to incorporate said Hospital, passed 
Jan. 22, 1821, provides "that the trustees of the township 
of Cincinnati shall have the exclusive management of said 9 
Hospital and Asylum, with full power to appoint a steward, 
matron, and such other servants as may be deemed necessary, 
with the exception of the assignment of the days on which 
the said Faculty shall visit said Hospital and Asylum, and 
of the appointment of the Apothecary or House Surgeon, 
which shall be made by the Faculty of said College." 
£ By subsequent legislation, the duties and powers of the 
Trustees of said township have been transferred to the Di- 
rectors of the City Infirmary, so far as concerns the question 
here considered. Both of the sections above quoted have re- 
ceived judicial construction in cases decided by the Superior 
Court of Cincinnati. Under Sec. 7, it was held by Judge 
Spencer, that the Directors of the Infirmary have no right to 
admit medical students to the privileges of said Hospital, 
without the consent of said Medical College. Under said 
Sec. 9, it was held by Judge Gholson that whatever resident 
physicians were required in said Hospital, should be ap- 
pointed by the Medical College and paid by the city. 
2. " What steps are necessary to give the City complete 
control of said Hospital ? " 
The object referred to can only be obtained by a radical 
change in the laws creating and regulating the Hospital, un- 
less in the contingency referred to in your third inquiry, the 
Medical College should lose its right to the medical super- 
vision of the Hospital. 
3. il Has not the Medical College of Ohio forfeited its right 
to the medical control of the Hospital, by a failure to perform 
its duties under the law ?" 
If the Medical College shall refuse or neglect to perform 
the services, in consideration of which its Hospital privileges 
were granted, such refusal or neglect will work a forfeiture 
of said privileges. As to the facts in regard to the conduct 
of the Faculty of said College, the officers in charge of the 
Hospital will probably be able to give you the information 
you seek. I have no personal knowledge about it. 
Respectfully, 
R. B. HAYES, City Solicitor. 10 
("*•") 
Office of the City Infirmary./ 
Cincinnati, Nov. 21, 1860. $ 
To the Chairman of the Hospital Investigating Committee : 
Sir: We beg leave to direct your attention to the fact that 
the Superior Court has lately decided that this Board has no 
authority under the law of the charter of the Medical College 
of Ohio, to sell tickets of admission to students of medicine, 
who frequent our city in large numbers from many States to 
attend our medical schools, and observe the treatment of the 
sick in the Commercial Hospital. The privilege of selling 
tickets to students, other than those of the Medical College 
of Ohio, is one that has been exercised for years by this Board, 
and has been a source of very considerable revenue to our 
funds ; but it is now entirely cut off, and the expense which 
this Board was under some years past in fitting up ample ac- 
commodations for the seating of two hundred students, is so 
much money wasted; for the class of the Medical College of 
Ohio is only about fifty in actual attendance, while the other 
schools number nearly four times as many, the sale of tickets 
to whom, as in former years, would increase the fund where- 
with to purchase medicines for the Hospital. 
The resident physicians have heretofore been recent grad- 
uates, but now two of the three are mere students of medi- 
cine, while the third, who is a graduate, is acting in a position 
in the College that must necessarily absorb largely his time. 
A recent appointment made by the Faculty, predicated up- 
on the letter of the charter, wherein it says that the Faculty 
shall appoint " an apothecary or house surgeon," has been 
filled by three persons-one professor and two medical stu- 
dents, while this Board recognizes, and the law provides, that 
it be one person. 
There is now a door open for a large expenditure on the 
part of the Faculty and their appointees, the house students, 
over whom this Board can scarcely exercise any restraint. 11 
The City Council will understand that one of the greatest 
interests of our city, of a strictly local character, is under 
the government of the Legislature of Ohio. The law which 
has so united the College and the Hospital, was passed ma- 
ny years ago, under a state of things which no longer ex- 
ists, and the most urgent public interest require its repeal, 
a position in which we are sustained by the urgent and long 
labors of the present Dean of the Faculty. The members of 
this Board know full well that no one has ever taken so much 
interest and used so much exertion as himself to effect this 
dissolution of the partnership of the College and Hospital. 
The Board is not satisfied with the present arrangement and 
management made by the Faculty at the Commercial Hos- 
pital. 
First. They have been debarred from selling tickets to 
outside medical students, thereby diminishing the fund for 
Hospital purposes. 
Second. The Faculty have appointed three persons to at- 
tend to the duties of Hospital apothecary, while the law says 
they shall appoint an apothecary or house surgeon. 
Third. Two of the appointees now acting as house phy- 
sicians are mere students of medicine, while the third one, a 
graduate, is employed a portion of his time in a capacity oth- 
er than of physician. 
This Board is of the opinion that the present arrangement 
for medical and surgical treatment, to patients at the Com- 
mercial Hospital, is very far from what it should be, nor does 
it feel justified in remaining quiet while so important a trust 
as the duties of resident physician, to an institution of this 
kind, numbering nearly two hundred patients, is entrusted 
to medical students, or even graduates deficient in experience, 
whose stay is intended as an introduction to the active duties 
of theii' profession, rather than as a benefit to the patients. 
It is claimed by this Board that a resident physician is in- 
dispensable in the Hospital, and that it is equally important 12 
that he should be a physician of skill and experience, and not 
a " medical student." 
The welfare of the patients as well as the interests of the 
city, requires such a change at this institution as shall secure 
skill and experience at the constant command of the suffering 
inmates of the Hospital; and, judging from the past, we have 
but little reason to hope this important reform can be effected, 
except by such legislation as shall dissolve the unnatural and 
unmanageable relation now existing between the Faculty of 
the Ohio Medical College and the Commercial Hospital. 
The Faculty seem to assume the position that they can 
employ as many persons as they think necessary to act as 
druggists or house surgeons in the Commercial Hospital, and 
the Directors must pay for their services, which position, we 
think, is entirely untenable according to the spirit of the 
charter. 
JACOB B. WYMAN, Chairman. 
By order of the Board. 
Cincinnati, December 24, 1860. 
To Samuel B. Hirst, 
Chairman Special Committee, ^c.: 
Dear Sir,-Your letter is before me, and with great 
cheerfulness I shall proceed to answer its contents. For a 
more perfect understanding of the subject to which your let- 
ter more directly refers, allow me to present a few general 
preliminary remarks : 
1. The Origin and Objects of the Hospital Charter. 
During the early navigation of the Ohio river, the boat- 
men and stranger were often placed on shore at Cincinnati, 
sick and disabled, without shelter, and destitute of means. 
A physician of great forethought and untiring energy, pro- 
cured from the legislature a Charter for the establishment 
of the " Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asylum of 
Ohio." The project was actively opposed by many promi- 13 
nent citizens. To meet the more [serious objections, the 
Charter provided for the permanent organization of a corps 
of medical attendants, who, from their varied ability and 
experience, would be able to discharge all the duties apper- 
taining to hospital practice. It was deemed important also 
to remove the appointing power as far as possible from po- 
litical and medical contentions. Again, the pecuniary ob- 
jection to the establishment of a hospital was removed by 
requiring professional services to be rendered without com- 
pensation. 
To accomplish all this it became necessary to unite legal 
compulsion with professional ambition. Hence the connec- 
tion of the Commercial Hospital with the Medical Institu- 
tion of the State. Forty years have elapsed since the union 
between the Hospital and College was perfected, and the 
question may be asked, Have the representatives of the 
College devoted that attention to the sick which their cases 
required and the public had a right to demand? To this 
question my answer will be brief and direct. 
During a period of twelve years, anterior to 1850, I was 
a Professor in the Medical College of Ohio, and conse- 
quently one of the medical attendants at the hospital. The 
good of the hospital and the welfare of the sick were the 
prominent topics of conversation and solicitude. Each pro- 
fessor was emulous of success. In their regular labors the 
professors were assiduous and prompt in responding to every 
emergency. I should not say more of the present Faculty, 
I could not say less. 
There is not a public charity in our midst about which so 
little is known as the Commercial Hospital. How many 
of the present Council have ever been within its wards ? 
They contain at this time over two hundred patients. Who 
has attempted to form an estimate of the amount and value 
of the labor necessary in the examination and treatment of 
their cases ? The Directors of the Infirmary themselves, 
not being present at surgical operations, have no knowl- 14 
edge of their number, magnitude or importance. Not to 
multiply words, I may say, that no class of citizens receives 
more anxious and careful attention than the inmates of the 
Commercial Hospital. 
Pecuniarily, from the State, what amount has been derived, 
directly and indirectly, by the Hospital, in consequence of its 
connection with the College ? 
It received about four thousand dollars in aid of its erec- 
tion ; it received one-half the duties from sales at auction, 
in Cincinnati, from 1821 to 1853 inclusive, amounting to 
one hundred thousand dollars. It has received in medical 
services through the Institution of the State not less than 
one hundred thousand dollars. Thus has the State con- 
tributed largely to the support and welfare of the hospital. 
It has been^said, on the one hand, that the hospital could 
have been supplied with medical attendants outside the Col- 
lege, without compensation. On the other hand, the ques- 
tions have been asked : Why, if medical men are so anxious 
to serve the public gratuitously, are they rewarded for at- 
tending the Lunatic Asylum, the County and City Infirma- 
ries, the Jail and City prison, the Orphan Asylum and City 
poor ? What are the reasons for believing that the Hospital 
will be any more successful in urging her claims upon the 
affections and generosity of the profession ? 
The Guardians of the Hospital and the Faculty, during 
the twelve years to which allusion has already been made, 
extended towards each other respect and good will. Their 
consultations were free and frequent, and designed for pub- 
lic good. While they endeavored to be faithful in the exe- 
cution of their respective duties, they were always willing 
to receive suggestions the one from the other. Thus was 
every department of the Hospital harmoniously and success- 
fully managed. The present Faculty would gladly co-op- 
erate for the same important end. 
In 1855 it was claimed by the Directors of the Infirmary 
that the Faculty were compelled, under the law, to act as 15 
" House Surgeons " as well as attending physicians and 
surgeons; consequently they refused to compensate the 
"H cse Surgeons." A member of the Faculty fearing a 
difficulty in obtaining competent " House Surgeons" with- 
out some remuneration, agreed that the Directors might sell 
tickets to students out of the Medical College of Ohio, to 
assist in paying said " House Surgeons." The Directors 
were not sustained by the courts, and they were duly noti- 
fied not to sell any more tickets. They persisted, and the 
Court was again called upon to arrest further proceedings. 
They were accordingly arrested, and the following corres- 
pondence followed: 
Office of the City Infirmary, 
Cincinnati, October 31, 1860. 
M. B. Wright, M. D., 
Dean of the Faculty of the Ohio Medical College: 
Sir-As the Court has decided that the Directors of the 
"City Infirmary" have no right to issue tickets to the Med- 
ical students not connected with the Ohio Medical College, 
to attend the medical lectures at the Commercial Hospital, 
it is therefore expected that no student will be admitted 
other than those belonging to that institution. 
2. The Board are of opinion that the Faculty has the 
right, aud it is their duty, to appoint an " Apothecary" or 
House Surgeon. The Board therefore expect that the Fac- 
ulty will discharge the present House Physicians forthwith, 
and perform themselves the duties prescribed by the Charter. 
3. The "Pest House" being one of the wards of the Hos- 
pital, it is expected by the Board that the Faculty, for the 
future, will render all the medical service necessary for 
that ward. 
By order of the Board, 
Respectfully, JAMES F. IRWIN, Clerk. 16 
Office of the City Infirmary, 
Cincinnati, November 3, 1860. 
M. B. Wright, M. D., 
Dean of the Ohio Medical College: 
Dear Sir-This morning the Board of Directors re- 
ceived inclosed communication, signed M. B. Wright, as a 
reply to an official communication addressed to M. B. 
Wrighp Dean of Ohio Medical College. As we should like 
to treat the subject referred to, in both communications, as 
an official matter only, we respectfully ask if this answer is 
to be taken as such. If so, we wished it signed by the 
Dean of the "Faculty'1' of the Ohio Medical College. 
By order of the Board, 
JAMES F. IRWIN, Clerk. 
Medical College of Onio, 
Cincinnati, November 6,1860. 
To the Directors of the City Infirmary: 
Gentlemen-Please receive the following as a brief re- 
ply to your letter of recent date, October 31st, 1860. 
1. In the sale of tickets to students to attend the Lectures 
of the Faculty in the Hospital, we shall endeavor not to 
encroach upon the privileges of the Directors, nor to vio- 
late any provision of the Charters of either College or Hos- 
pital. Are we to construe the language of the Directors to 
mean, as a fixed principle, that no student of medicine shall 
be admitted into the Hospital to receive instructions from 
the Faculty, unless they (the Directors) become the recipi- 
ents of the fee ? 
2. The Directors concede the right and duty of the Fac- 
ulty to appoint House Surgeons to the Hospital, and yet 
they present the most singular claim, that the duties of the 
House Surgeon shall be performed by the Faculty. Will 
the Directors inform us what duties, in their view' of the 
case, are to be assigned the House Surgeon ? 17 
In the selection of House Surgeons for the Hospital, the 
Faculty were governed by what they deemed the best inter- 
ests of the sick, and their appointments were sanctioned by 
the Directors. If the Directors will present charges against 
the House Surgeons, whether of incompetency, inattention, 
or immorality, such charges shall receive due attention, and 
all concerned shall be awarded full justice. The Faculty, 
however, are unwilling to incur the fearful responsibility of 
depriving the unfortunate inmates of the Hospital of that 
daily and hourly attention their conditions may require. 
The Faculty take great pleasure in assuring the Directors 
that they will not only perform all the duties required of 
them by law, but they will cheerfully respond to every call 
of humanity. They cannot, however, interpret either the 
law or common sense to mean that they shall perform the 
offices of higher or lower nurses. 
Inasmuch as it is no part of our wish to engage in dis- 
cussions, profitless to ourselves and threatening injury to 
the sick, allow us the pleasure of referring to the decision 
of Judge Gholson, in the case of Dr. Alexander, one of the 
Hospital physicians, against the City of Cincinnati. It may 
be found in the 8th volume of the Superior Court Records. 
The duty of the Directors respecting their recognition of 
House Surgeons, and the mode of payment, is there clearly 
and fully set forth. 
In addition, the advice of Judge Storer in the claim of 
Dr. Carey, as House Surgeon, against the Directors, may be 
instructive. The views of these learned Judges amount 
simply to this: The Faculty have the right to appoint, and 
the Directors are under obligations to pay. 
3. The Faculty have not refused to attend any patients in 
any ward on the Hospital lot. The Directors have assumed 
authority to appoint their own physician to attend the small 
pox patients, and to pay him out of the City Treasury. If 
there has been any illegality in this, and the appointment of 
an apothecary with a separate salary, it rests with the Di- 
2 18 
rectors. The Directors have not informed us when their 
physician to the Pest House will be discharged. The Di- 
rectors are, doubtless, impressed with the importance of 
having all the departments of a great public charity con- 
ducted not only with wisdom and vigilance, but with re- 
ciprocal good will. While the Faculty and Directors in 
their separate departments should assert their independence, 
and vie with each other in a faithful discharge of duty, they 
should always feel at liberty to make such suggestions, the 
one to the other, as may seem best for the common welfare. 
In conclusion, the Faculty would express their ignorance 
of any just cause, originating with themselves, for the pres- 
ent hostility of the Directors towards them. 
Respectfully, M. B. WRIGHT, Dean, ^c. 
Office City Infirmary, 
Cincinnati, November 7 th, 1860. 
M. B. Wright, 
Dean of the Faculty of the Ohio Medical College: 
Dear Sir-At a meeting of the Board of Directors of 
this Institution, held this day, I was directed to notify you 
that they will, on Saturday next, the 10th inst., discharge 
the physician of the Pest House ward, and also the apothe- 
cary of the Hospital, now' employed by them, and they ex- 
pect you to have their places supplied in accordance with 
the Charter and laws governing this Institution. 
Very respectfully, yours, 
JAMES F. IRWIN, Clerk. 
Cincinnati, November 12th, 1860. 
To the Directors of the City Infirmary: 
Gentlemen-Your letter in which you state that the phy- 
s ician of the "Pest House," and the apothecary of the Com 
mercial Hospital had been notified that their services were 19 
no longer at your disposal, was received and submitted to 
the action of the Faculty. 
The Faculty will make all necessary provision for attend- 
ance upon the "Pest House." They deem it proper, at this 
time, not to appoint an apothecary, but to add to the duties 
of the House Surgeons those which have been discharged by 
your apothecary. 
This arrangement will increase the labors of the House 
Surgeons, but as they will be cheerfully and correctly per- 
formed, it is to be hoped that the Directors will allow them 
such additional compensation as their services may justify. 
Allow me to add that most of the young men who have de- 
sired place in the Hospital, have been poor and unable to 
live without some compensation for their services. 
To secure those of talent and industry is important at al- 
most any cost, but especially as it can be done with such a 
trifle. By the present arrangements several hundred dollars 
will be saved to the city, a part of which may very justly 
be applied to the payment of the House Surgeons. 
We respectfully request an early attention to this point. 
Respectfully, M. B. WRIGHT, Dean. 
Office of the City Infirmary, 
Cincinnati, Nov. 20th, 1860. 
M. B. Wright, Dean, ^c.: 
Sir-Your note announcing, amongst other matters, that 
the "Faculty deem it proper, at this time, not to appoint an 
Apothecary-but to add to the duty of the House Surgeons 
those which have been discharged by your Apothecary.'' 
Do you intend this Board to understand that you decline a 
compliance with the distinct stipulations of the charter, 
thereby rendering it proper and necessary for this Board to 
supply this omission ? 
This Board declines concurring in any such arrangement 
as indicated in your note of the 12th inst., in relation to the 20 
appointment of an 11 Apothecary or House Surgeon." Your 
charter says an Apothecary or House Surgeon, a single ap- 
pointment only, and so says this "Board." And now, again, 
you are requested for reasons heretofore assigned, to indi- 
cate your appointee to the position of an "Apothecary or 
House Surgeon." Your communication of the 5th inst., 
being followed by so extraordinary a method of filling the 
vacancy occasioned by the discharge of the "Hospital Apoth- 
ecary " this Board deems it proper to reply briefly to some 
portion of that letter. 
In relation to the sale of tickets to medical students, not 
connected with your College, the Board intended to be under- 
stood as objecting entirely to the admission of medical stu- 
dents and pupils to the Commercial Hospital by the Faculty 
of the Ohio Medical College, except such as said Faculty 
are, by law, authorized to admit, deeming the charter under 
which they act, sufficiently explicit to prevent any mistake 
on the part of the Faculty. 
You say the Directors concede to the Faculty the right 
and duty to appoint "House Surgeons." They concede only 
what a fair construction and plain reading of your charter 
bears, and that is to appoint an "Apothecary or House Sur- 
geon." You will observe that the appointment is a single 
one, and not a multitude. The duties of an "Apothecary or 
House Surgeon" are presumed to be known by the parties 
having the right by law to appoint, without information from 
this "Board." 
You say in the selection of "House Surgeon," the Faculty 
consulted the best interests of the sick, and their appoint- 
ments were sanctioned by the "Directors." In this para- 
graph, the "Board" is of the opinion that you have made 
two somewhat important mistakes. You continue the plural 
number as applied to your appointees, while this Board ac- 
knowledges only the right on your part to appoint an "Apoth- 
ecary or House Surgeon." The Board has never sanctioned 
your appointments of Resident Physicians at the Commer- 
cial Hospital. 21 
You ask, can these (your appointees) be discharged with- 
out cause. Before this Boar I is called upon to answer this 
interrogatory, or make "charges" against your appointees, 
it claims to know from you by what authority these appoint 
ments are made, and the appointees placed in the Hospital 
an 1 supported at the expense of the City ? 
By order of the Board. 
JACOB B. WYMYN, Clerk. 
Cixcixxati, Nov. 21st, 1860. 
To the Directors of the City Infirmary: 
Gextlemex-I am not the proper person to be constantly 
consulted in respect to your duties as officers of the city. 
Allow me, therefore, to refer you to the City Solicitor for 
his opinion touching the several points contained in your 
letter. 
I sign this individually, for the reason, that in my former 
letters the views of the Faculty were fully expressed upon 
every point to which you wish a reply. 
Respectfully, M. B. WRIGHT. 
It will be observed in one of the above letters written by 
the Dean, that the Directors were requested to present any 
objections they might have, to the Resident Physicians of 
the Hospital, but none have been received either by the Dean 
or the Faculty. An anonymous communication, however, 
appeared in the Gazette, charging the Faculty with having 
appointed incompetent persons as resident physicians. The 
truthfulness of these charges, and the objects of the writer, 
may be inferred from the following letter:- 
Commercial Hospital, Dec. 20, 1860. 
Professor M. B. Wright : 
Dear Sir-About three weeks ago, we noticed a paragraph 
in the columns of the Daily Gazette, complaining of mis- 22 
management in the affairs of the Hospital, and charging the 
Resident Physicians with incompetency and lack of attention 
in the drug store. This article was signed a citizen. Feel- 
ing interesed in the matter, we called upon the editor, who 
informed us that the author was Mr. Wyman, one of the 
Board of Directors. We then called upon that gentleman, 
who expressly disclaimed any intention of making any charges 
against us personally, or as Resident Physicians-and stated 
that the object of his attack was the Faculty of the Ohio 
Medical College. Respectfully, 
John's, billings, 
ALEXANDER INGRAM, 
Resident Physicians of Com. Hospital. 
Subsequent to this, no official communication was received 
from the Directors, nor did the Faculty know that any objec- 
tions had been made officially to the appointment of the Resi- 
dent Physicians, on the ground of disqualification, until your 
letter of the Committee was received. The columns of a 
newspaper are too often used to propagate abuse, but, the 
guardians of a great public charity, should seek some other 
channel for the correction of errors, real or imaginary, espe- 
cially as the Resident Physicians are their appointees, as 
well as of the Faculty. 
Complaint has been made, that, by the late decision of the 
Superior Court, the Poor fund has been deprived of several 
hundred dollars annually, that might have been received from 
the sale of Hospital tickets. Can it be said that a man has 
lost that which never belonged to him ? Any and every man 
in this community, had just as legal a right to sell hospital 
tickets as the Directors of the Infirmary, and will it be said 
that they have all lost money because they were not privi- 
leged to exercise this right ? 
The students of an Institution, known in medical circles 
as "Baker's College," appeared before the City Council, and 
asked that some action might be taken by which they could 23 
obtain hospital privileges. It was generally supposed that 
the Faculty had refused to sell them hospital tickets, and to 
give them clinical instruction. This charge demands an un- 
qualified denial. No student outside the Medical College of 
Ohio, has applied for a hospital ticket, consequently, none 
could have been refused. 
Suppose, for a moment, that the students of the so called 
"Baker's College" had been refused admission into the hos- 
pital to hear lectures delivered by the Faculty of the Medical 
College of Ohio, would it have been unjust? Because one 
college is deficient in instruction, should another college be 
called upon to make up the deficiency ? If the dissatisfied 
students enter upon practice with imperfect knowledge, should 
their patrons hold us responsible for their failures ? 
Again, the question of injustice may be answered by view- 
ing these colleges in another aspect. The "College of Medi- 
cine and Surgery," ("Baker's College,") is a free college- 
the Professors lecturing for the pleasure of lecturing, or to 
"annihilate" some neighboring college. The Medical College 
of Ohio, in her charges, is placed on a footing with the re- 
spectable institutions of the country, fully possessed of facil- 
ities for teaching. In mercantile transactions, the man who 
sells for nothing, and expects to grow rich by multiplying his 
customers, cannot receive his supplies without great loss to 
very indulgent creditors. What would be the conditon of 
the Medical College of Ohio, if her students were charged 
full fees, and the students of other schools were educated by 
her Faculty gratuitously ? The State has often decided, that 
she will not sanction any policy calculated to destroy her 
own institution, to subserve the interests of a would-be 
rival. 
Not only wras no application made to the Dean for hospital 
tickets, by the students of "Baker's College," but, the Dean 
has ample reason to believe, that for ulterior objects they 
were advised, not to obtain them. In a conversation with 
one of the Faculty of the above school, the Dean of the Med- 24 
ical College of Ohio was thus interrogated: "If our students 
buy tickets of you, what do you intend to do with the money?" 
Receiving as an answer, that is a matter belonging exclu- 
sively to us, not you-he continued, "our students shall not 
buy your tickets. I have gone into that free school for no 
othei' purpose than to break up your monopolizing concern, 
and I intend to do it!" 
After the Directors of the Infirmary had been relieved of 
all extraneous considerations, and looked to the good of the 
hospital only, they said in their communication to the Dean, 
"it is therefore expected, that no student will be admitted 
other than those belonging to that Institution," (the Medical 
College of Ohio.) 
It is for others, who may be interested in the welfare of 
the hospital, to determine the wisdom of the instruction thus 
given by the Directors. That your committee may form an 
opinion as to the probability of peace in the hospital, by uni- 
ting the students of "Baker's School" with those of the Ohio 
Medical College, I herewith place in your hands the Novem- 
ber No. of the "Medical and Surgical News." This monthly 
is edited and published by Professor Baker, the Chief of the 
"College of Medicine and Surgery." On pages 256 and 7, 
are editorials, to which I invite your attention, not so much 
on account of the misstatements they contain, as the malig- 
nant spirit which pervades them. Will they tend to allay 
contention ? Will they bring additional quietude to the sick, 
and peace to the profession? So far as the personal inter- 
ests of the Faculty of the Medical College of Ohio may be 
concerned, they are willing to bear meekly any amount of 
reproach, but. they are bound in every possible way to pro- 
tect the interests of the hospital. 
The following hospital regulations have been transcribed 
from the records of the Faculty : 25 
THE RIGHTS OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE CITY 
INFIRMARY. 
The Faculty of the Medical College of Ohio fully recog- 
nize the right of the Directors of the City Infirmary to de- 
termine what persons or patients may be admitted into or 
discharged from the Commercial Hospital, and that they have 
the entire control and management of the Institution, with 
the exceptions hereinafter stated : 
"The right and duties of the Faculty of the Ohio Medical 
College." 
The medical supervision of the Commercial Hospital is 
given by law to the Faculty of the Medical College of Ohio, 
and in order the better to perform the duties thus assigned 
them, they adopt and establish the following rules : 
The Hospital shall be divided into the following 
wards, viz: Male Surgical, Female Surgical, Female Syphi- 
litic, Male Medical, Female Medical and Obstetrical. 
2nd. The Faculty shall appoint three of its members to 
render service as follows: One for the Male and Female Sur- 
gical and Syphilitic wards; one for the Male Medical, and 
one for the Female Medical and Obstetrical. 
?>d. It shall be the duty of the Surgeon and Physician 
to visit their respective wards at least once a day, and it is 
advised that they make their visits as early as possible at 
the same hour each day. 
" Duties of Resident Physicians." 
1st. It is required when any patient is admitted into any 
of the wards, the Resident Physician of that ward shall, as 
soon as practicable, record an accurate and complete history 
of such case, and that therefore he shall keep written note of 
any change that may occur in its progress, such treatment 
as may be directed, and also such comments as the attending 
Physician or Surgeon may dictate. 
2nd. In all cases where it is wished to make a post mortem 26 
examination, the Resident Physician in the ward in which the 
death occurred, is required to send to the Directors of the 
City Infirmary a written statement of the name, age and time 
of admission of the deceased, and obtain their consent to 
make such examination. 
3rd. Resident Physicians shall make no " autopsy" with- 
out the consent of- the Directors of the City Infirmary, and of 
the Physicians or Surgeon of the Hospital. 
^th. Resident Physicians are not permitted to prescribe 
for any patient, or perform any surgical operation, unless in 
case of great emergency, where delay might be dangerous to 
life, and in every such case of dangerous sickness or acci- 
dent, it shall be the duty of the Resident to notify forthwith 
the attending Physician or Surgeon of the same. The same 
is especially enjoined as to the Obstetrical Department, and 
the Resident Physician in charge is expected to give notice 
to the Professor of Obstetrics or his substitute, of the com- 
mencement of labor in any case. 
5th. The Resident Physicians are not permitted to absent 
themselves from the Hospital, for any considerable length of 
time, without the consent of the Faculty. They are expect- 
ed to visit the wards often, be assiduous in the performance 
of their duties, exercise a careful supervision over the nurses, 
and report any delinquencies on their part to the Faculty. 
It will be observed that, under the general arrangement, 
three of the Faculty are to be in constant attendance. Seven 
members, however, compose the Faculty, all of whom are 
ready to take places in turn, or in a body, as circumstances 
may require. At this time four members are in attendance. 
The patients in the Hospital are all under the direct charge 
of the medical attendants. Resident Physicians have been 
appointed as assistants to enforce the instructions of the 
attending members of the Faculty, to watch carefully the 
changes in disease and the effect of remedies. The places of 
" House Surgeon," are assigned to those who are deemed 
best qualified after a rigid examination. Although the pres- 27 
ent " House Surgeons" are subordinate to the Faculty, they 
have been well tried, and are considered qualified to dis- 
charge any duty that may devolve upon them. 
" Dietetic Regulations of the Hospital." 
House Diet.-1This is the diet on which the sick are to be 
placed until ordered otherwise by the physician in attend- 
ance. Gruel, farina, rice, arrow root, sago, tapioca, beef tea, 
beef essence, chicken water, rice water, barley water, mucila- 
genous drinks. 
Moderate Diet.-Tea, bread, crackers, broth, rice, mush, 
milk, potatoes, etc. 
Full diet.-Bread, tea, coffee, chocolate, meat, eggs, but- 
er, soup, potatoes, turnips, etc. 
The kind and quantity to be regulated by the attending 
physician or surgeon. 
In addition to the hundred thousand dollars paid by the 
State in actual cash to the- hospital, and the same amount in 
medical services, there is still to be added compensation for 
attendance on the United States' boatmen. The hospital 
charges for attendance upon them, and the compensation has 
gone into the City Treasury. Last year the hospital re- 
ceived from this source seven thousand dollars, not a dime 
of which has been paid the Faculty. 
It is now proposed to pay back to the State this amount 
of money that somebody may enjoy an increase of power, 
and be able to dispense a larger amount of personal favors. 
The friends of the College should not object to the refunding 
of the money as above contemplated, as it will relieve her 
of all pecuniary embarrassments. 
Again, for many years after the College and Hospital 
were united, the Lunatic apartments of the Hospital re- 
ceived patients from every portion of the State. The Hos- 
pital was compensated for their keeping and medical attend- 
ance. Not a dollar has yet been paid to either College or 
Faculty. 
For more than thirty years the County lunatics and sick 28 
paupers were attended by the Faculty, in the Hospital, for 
which the Hospital received full remuneration, while the 
Faculty have received no return for their labor, in the end, 
except abuse from the Directors. 
Thus, it will be seen, the Faculty have not only attended the 
patients properly belonging to the Hospital, as a great pub- 
lic charity, as they were bound to do under the Charter, but 
the pay patients likewise. I have not deemed it necessary 
to state the amount of money paid the Hospital on account 
of State and County patients; but, if at any time, your 
Committee desire to obtain it, for settlement, preparatory to 
an effort to separate the Hospital from the College, they can 
be gratified. 
It may be interesting, perhaps, to state a few of the sums 
contributed by the State for hospital purposes : 
Years. Amount. 
1835 $2,717 43 
1836 2,741 37 
1837 749 74 
1838 5,119 92 
1839 3,626 13 
1841 4,084 71 
1842 3,938 57 
1843 3,404 07 
1844 5,167 22 
Years. Amount. 
1845 $5,410 54 
1846 4,594 81 
1847 ... 4.594 81 
1848 4,381 67 
1849 5,135 14 
1850 4,968 67 
1851 2,997 26 
1852 1,005 63 
1853 3,664 06 
There are still fifteen years to be included. 
It may be proper to remind your Committee still further, 
that the State has not only contributed largely from her 
treasury in support of the Hospital, but that through her 
Faculty she has performed with scrupulous fidelity her obli- 
gations under the original contract. Not anticipating any 
faithlessness on the part of those who wore elected by the 
City to fulfill certain defined duties, nor on the part of the 
City itself, the State authorized the Trustees of the College 
to borrow money for the erection of a new edifice. Bonds 
were issued on which to obtain funds, and they were pur- 
chased at par, not by speculators but by innocent persons 
seeking safe investments. They were purchased with an 
understanding that the Hospital was one of the sources of 29 
income created by the labors of the Faculty. Deprive the 
College of its revenues and you depreciate her bonds and in- 
jure those citizens who have reposed confidence in the in- 
tegrity of the parties concerned. For what good ? 
Previous to the decision of the Court against the assumed 
authority of the Directors, they were respectful in their 
treatment of the Faculty, communicative and uncomplain- 
ing. They assented to the appointment of resident physi- 
cians, and seemed gratified with the contemplated hospital 
arrangements. They have employed a physician to attend 
one of the wards of the Hospital, and an apothecary to fill 
prescriptions, in violation of law and at the expense of the 
City. The Dean objected to this outlay ; and now, for the 
first time, they manifest displeasure at the loss of official 
power. 
The decision of the Court rendered them hostile, and they 
assumed the dignified position named in one of their letters; 
namely, that no interchange of sentiment would be granted 
or communication received, except in writing and signed by 
the Dean officially. They now assail us by writing anony- 
mous communications for newspapers, and arraign us before 
the Council on a charge of injustice to the Hospital. Nei- 
ther to the Dean, nor to the Faculty, nor to any member of 
the Faculty, have they expressed dissatisfaction, on any 
point, save our unwillingness to give them the money de- 
rived from our labors. 
It is presumed that your Committee have no disposition 
to undertake the profitless task of reconciling the conflict- 
ing interests of the ins and outs. On the other hand, the 
Committee are anxious to obtain, no doubt, all the facts re- 
lating to the Hospital and especially those bearing upon its 
interests. In addition to the above, it gives more pleasure 
to assure the Committee that nothing shall be wanting on 
the part of the Faculty to fulfil the just expectations of the 
public, and the requirements of the sick. For all this they 
ask nothing, they expect nothing, save the small privilege 30 
of instructing their students, in their own way, without an- 
noyance or hindrance. 
Respectfully, AI. B. WRIGHT, 
Dean Medical College of Ohio. 
Air. Walker moved that the Report, with accompanying 
documents, be printed in pamphlet form for the use of mem- 
bers, which motion was decided in the affirmative. 
Attest: SAMUEL L. CORWINE, City Clerk.