SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY 
OF THE 
GENT HOSPITAL SOCIETY 
OF CONNECTICUT, 
WITH A 
HISTORY OF THE HARTFORD HOSPITAL, 
Being the Annual Address read before the State Medical Society 
at its session May, A. D. 1876. 
By P. A. JEWETT, M.D., 
President State Medical Society. 
Published by request of the Medical Society and of the General Hospital 
TUTTLE, MOREHOUSE & TAYLOR. PRINTERS 
1876. SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY 
OF THE 
GENT HOSPITAL SOCIETY 
OF CONNECTICUT, 
WITH A 
HISTORY OF THE HARTFORD HOSPITAL. 
Being the Annual Address read before the State Medical Society 
at its session May, A. D. 1876, 
By P. A. JEWETT, M.D.. 
President State Medical Society. 
Published by request of the Meyii^HIiafftqtx- the General Hospital 
tWtTrcuOy^ 
NEW HAVEN: 
TUTTLE, MOREHOUSE & TAYLOR, PRINTERS 
1876. HISTORY 
OF THE 
(famrat $oddt) of <£o««. 
At the annual meeting of the Directors of the General Hospital Society of 
Connecticut, held April 21st, 1876, Dr. P. A. Jewett was appointed to pre- 
pare a history of the Hospital for the first half century of its existence, 
which terminates in May next. Attest: 
C. A. LINDSLEY, Secretary. 
At the session of the General Assembly held in May, 
1826, a petition was presented for a charter of the General 
Hospital Society of Connecticut. As there is no record 
with reference to this, the date cannot be given. The 
1 . . ® 
first recorded action found to exist is that of the Medical 
Association of this city ; and is in the following words, 
in the handwriting of Dr. V. M. Dow. 
At a meeting of the Medical Association of New Haven, 8th May, 1826, at 
the house of Dr. J. Skinner, 
Voted, That a committee of six be appointed to solicit subscriptions for 
the hospital, and that said committee consist of Doctors J. Skinner, Eli 
Ives, S. Punderson, T. P. Beers, J. Knight and V. M. Dow. 
Art. 1. The hospital shall be styled the General Hospital of Connecticut. 
Art. 2. The hospital shall be a charitable institution, and no physician or 
surgeon shall receive any compensation for his services. 
Art. 3. Wealthy patients shall not be received to the exclusion of charity 
patients ; and when received, shall pay to the hospital funds as the board of 
managers shall direct. 
Art. 4. It shall be the duty of the committee to ascertain the sum paid by 
seamen of this port as hospital money, and to solicit the government of the 
United States to establish a marine hospital, to be connected with the gen- 
eral State Hospital. 4 
Art. 5. Every individual or corporation paying one hundred dollars, may 
at all times name one individual, who shall be received into the hospital and 
receive medical and surgical advice and attendance and operations, gratis, 
for three weeks annually, and in the same proportion for a larger sum. 
Art. 6. A society.or corporation shall be formed consisting of those sub- 
scribers whose donations shall amount to the following sums, viz: Those 
who pay $20 shall be members for life, and those who pay $12 shall be mem- 
bers for ten years; those who pay $2 shall be members of the society so long 
as they continue to pay that sum annually. 
Art. 7. Every person subscribing $2 shall be entitled to one vote, and 
for a larger sum in proportion. 
Art. 8. The President and Fellows of the Medical Society of Connecticut 
shall be ex-officio members of this society. 
Art. 9. Any person subscribing $100 shall be a Vice President for life ; 
any person subscribing $50 shall be a Director for lile. 
V. M. DOW, Clerk. 
Fifty years ago, on the 26th day of May, the General 
Assembly of the State of Connecticut passed the follow- 
ing Act to establish a State Hospital: 
CHARTER OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL SOCIETY OF 
CONNECTICUT. 
At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at Neu> Haven in said 
State, on the first Wednesday of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and twenty-six. 
% 
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STATE HOSPITAL. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly 
convened: That Nathan Smith, Thomas Hubbard, Eli Todd, John S. Peters, 
Benjamin Silliman, Thomas Miner, William Leffingwcll, John Skinner, Eli 
Ives, Jonathan Knight, and all such persons as are, or from time to time 
may be associated with them for the purpose of establishing and maintaining 
a General Hospital in the city of New Haven, and their successors be, and 
they hereby are incorporated for said purpose, and made a body politic by 
the name of the “General Hospital Society ok Connecticut,” and by 
that name shall be capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being im- 
pleaded, and may purchase, hold, sell and convey estate, real and personal, 
to an *amount not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, to be holden by said 
society, at any time ; may have a common seal, and the same may alter and 
change at pleasure ; and may make and execute such by-laws and regula- 
tions, not contrary to the laws of this State, or of the United States, as shall 
be deemed necessary for well ordering and conducting the concerns of the 
Society. 
Sec. 2. That said society shall be governed by the principles of the Con- 
stitution, comprised in the following articles : 5 
CONSTITUTION OT THE GENERAL HOSPITAL SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT. 
Art. I. The General Hospital Society of Connecticut shall be composed 
of those subscribers whose benefactions amount to either of the subsequent 
sums: Those who pay twenty dollars, shall be members for life; and those 
who pay twelve dollars, shall be members for ten years ; those who pay two 
dollars shall also be members, and shall be required to pay the same annu- 
ally, until (heir names are withdrawn from the subscribers’ list, on applica- 
tion to the Secretary. The President and Fellows of the Connecticut 
Medical Society, shall be ex-officio members of the society. 
II. The members of the society shall meet annually for the choice of 
Directors, and for the transaction of any other business not delegated to its 
officers. 
III. There shall be two classes of Directors, one to hold their office 
for life, the other annually appointed. Those subscribers who pay one hun- 
dred dollars, or an equivalent annuity, or twenty-five dollars annually for 
five years, shall be Directors for life. At least ten Directors shall be annu- 
ally chosen by the society by ballot, and in all cases as many as shall equal 
the number by subscription. 
IV. There shall be an annual meeting of the Directors, at which six 
shall constitute a quorum to choose a President, Vice President, Treasurer, 
Secretary, Prudential Committee, Visitors, attending Physicians and Sur- 
geons, and such other officers as may be necessary. 
V. The elected Vice President shall have the privileges of a Director. 
Those persons who pay two hundred dollars, shall be Vice Presidents for 
life. 
VI. The Treasurer having given adequate security for the faithful dis- 
charge of his duties, shall receive the funds of the society and pay the same 
to the order of the Prudential Committee. He shall present a copy of his 
accounts every quarter to the Prudential Committee, and every year present 
a financial report to the society. 
VII. The Secretary shall keep an accurate register of the members of 
the society for each year, and record the transactions of both society and 
Directors ; he shall also report at each meeting of the society the names of 
those, who, during the preceding year have become members of the Society, 
and also of those who have withdrawn their patronage. 
VII. The Prudential Committee shall consist of three ; they shall be 
subject to the regulations of the Directors : manage the economical and 
financial concerns of the hospital, and shall meet as often as there may be 
occasion, to regulate the admission and discharge of patients, and for the 
transaction of the ordinary business of the hospital. They shall audit the 
Treasurer’s accounts, and report accordingly at the annual meeting of the 
Directors. 
IX. The Visitors shall be six in number, of whom two at least, shall 
visit the hospital every month, and as frequently as they may deem proper. 
They shall inquire into the economical and moral concerns of the hospital ; 
suggest improvements, and designate abuses, in a report every two months, 
to the Prudential Committee. 6 
X. A Board of Physicians and Surgeons, consisting of six in number, 
shall be elected by the Directors at their annual meeting. The attending 
physicians and surgeons shall receive no compensation for their services. 
XI. Admission of Patients.—The hospital shall be a charitable institution, 
and patients belonging to this State shall in all cases be preferred. 
XII. Any subscriber, town, corporate society, or association of indi- 
viduals, paying one hundred dollars, may at any time name one indigent 
person who shall have the benefits of the hospital, free of expense, during 
six weeks each year. 
XIII. The Directors shall, from time to time, make regulations for the 
admission of patients, and for the discharge of such as are deemed incura- 
ble, or such others as are not considered proper subjects for hospital privi- 
leges. 
Sec. 3. That the first meeting of the society shall be held at the State 
House in New Haven, at such time as shall be appointed, by Nathan Smith, 
Thomas Hubbard, Eli Todd, John S. Peters, Benjamin Silliman, Thomas 
Miner, William Leffingwell, John Skinner, Eli Ives and Jonathan Knight, or 
a majority of them, and by them notified by advertisement in a newspaper 
printed in each of the towns of Hartford, New Haven and Middletown, at 
least three weeks before the time fixed for such meeting ; and the annual and 
other meetings of said society shall thereafter be holden at such time and 
place, and be warned in such manner as said society shall from time to time 
direct. 
Sec. 4. That said society shall have power, with the assent of the Commis- 
sioners to be appointed under this act, by their vote in legal meeting, warned 
with express notice of that object, to fix the location, and to approve or pre- 
scribe the style and extent of the buildings and other accommodations for 
the use of the hospital : and no expenditure of the funds of said society 
shall be made by the officers thereof, in the purchase of lands, or in the 
erection of buildings, but in pursuance of such vote or votes of said society. 
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Governor for the time being, 
with two other Commissioners to be appointed by the General Assembly, 
shall superintend the general concerns of said hospital ; make such occa- 
sional visits as they may deem expedient, and report to the Legislature from 
time to time concerning the affairs of the hospital. Provided, nevertheless, 
that this Act or any part thereof, may be altered or repealed by the General 
Assembly. 
Samuel A. Foot, Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
David Plant, President of the Senate. 
May 31, 1826. 
Approved, Oliver Wolcott. 
A true copy of record. Examined by Thomas Day, Secretary. 
It will be seen from the above that the names of 
gentlemen prominent in the medical profession, were 
early enlisted in the enterprise ; and that the hospital 
from the first beginning has been directly, until within a 7 
short period of time, connected with the State Medical 
Society. Out of the ten names as corporators, nine were 
members of the medical profession, and of the State 
Medical Society. Commencing as the hospital did, under 
the direct management of the physicians of the State, 
aided materially by gentlemen of other professions, it has 
continued to the present time under the same manage- 
ment. While those of other professions and callings 
have been ever ready to aid in the administration of its 
affairs, still the medical profession hasalwavs “borne the 
brunt of the battle,” for obvious reasons, they being more 
directly interested in the management of the institution. 
The act of incorporation was signed by Samuel A. 
Foot, Speaker of the House of Representatives; David 
Plant, President ot the Senate, and approved by Oliver 
Wolcott, Governor of the State; examined and attested 
as a true copy by Thomas Day, Secretary of State. Of 
those above named and of the original incorporators, not 
one survives. 
The first meeting of the General Hospital Society was 
held, April 30, 1827. John Skinner, Chairman, and A. S. 
Monson, Clerk. The meeting not being full was ad- 
journed to meet May 1, at 2 o’clock, p.m., at the house of 
Dr. J. Knight. 
The meeting was held as per adjournment, May 1, 1827, 
Dr. John Skinner, Chairman. The following gentlemen 
were elected Directors: Nathan Smith, M.D., Thomas 
Hubbard, M.D., Eli Todd, M.D., John S. Peters, M.D., 
Benjamin Silliman, M.D., Thomas Miner, M.D., William 
Leffingwell, Esq., Dr. John Skinner, Eli Ives, M.D., 
Jonathan Knight, M.D., Timothy P. Beers, M.D., and 
Alfred S. Monson, M.D. It will be seen from the above 
that but one gentleman outside of the medical profession 
was a member of the first board of Directors. It is also 
worthy of remark that the medical gentlemen on the 
board were almost to a man, eminent in their profession ; 
in proof of this it is only necessary to repeat the names 
of Smith, Hubbard, Todd, Peters, Silliman, Miner, Ives, 
Knight, Beers and Monson. 8 
At the above mentioned meeting, Drs. J. Knight and 
John Skinner were appointed a committee to frame a code 
of By-Laws, and report the same at the next meeting. 
At a meeting held May 13th, 1827, the By-Laws were 
reported and adopted. 
The first meeting of the Directors of the Society was 
held at the house of Dr. J. Knight, May 1, 1827. A. S. 
Monson was chosen Secretary pro tan, and the following 
officers were elected: William Leffingwell, Esq., Presi- 
dent; John S. Peters, M.D., Vice President; Dr. John 
Skinner, Treasurer, and Charles Hooker, Secretary. Drs. 
Silliman and Knight were appointed a committee “to 
form a petition to be presented to the General ” 
lor aid in behalf of the hospital. “ The Fello.ws of the 
Medical Society from New Haven Co. were appointed a 
committee to intercede in behalf ol this object,” and Dr. 
Thomas Hubbard was added to the committee, he being 
at that time a member of the General Assembly . 
At a meeting held May 2, 1827, the petition prepared 
by Drs. Silliman and Knight was read, approved and 
ordered to be forwarded to the General Assembly. 
Prof. Silliman was requested to address a letter, accom- 
panying this petition to Dr. Thomas Hubbard. 
A special meeting of Directors was held Dec. 19, 1827. 
The long time intervening between the two last meetings, 
from May to December, was, as 1 have been informed, in 
consequence of the General Assembly having tailed to 
make the appropriation called for in the petition ol May 
2, and from the consequent lack of the necessary pecu- 
niary means to carry out the designs ol the Directors. 
At this meeting a letter addressed to the Hon. R. I. 
Ingersoll was prepared by Prof. Silliman, relating to the 
money collected from seamen in this port, and to a direct 
appropriation from Congress, was read and approved. 
It was voted that the signatures of the officers of the 
society, and of the Professors of the Medical Institution 
of Yale College, and of the Medical Faculty of this City, 
be annexed to this letter. Drs. E. Ives and J. Knight 
were appointed a committee to correspond with our rep- 
resentatives in Congress. 9 
The Directors having tailed in their application to the 
General Assembly, did not hesitate to take broad ground 
in the matter and make their wants known to the Con- 
gress of the United States in asking for a direct appro- 
priation. This action shows that they considered the 
hospital as a great charity, one for which they would 
leave no stone unturned to accomplish their object. 
January 2, 1828, at a special meeting of the Directors, 
two letters from the Hon. R. I. Ingersoll, dated Wash- 
ington City, Dec. 28, 1827, were read as follows: 
Washington, 28 Dec., 1827. 
My Dear Sir:—Your favor reached me yesterday. I had previously re- 
ceived the Communication from the officers of the Hospital, which, at their 
request, 1 handed over to our Senators for their perusal. 
I have been this morning with Mr. Foot at the public offices to ascertain, 
in the first place, the actual condition of the marine hospital fund, or rather 
to look more particularly into the receipts and disbursements of hospital 
money at our port. For the last ten years the receipts have ranged from 
three to six hundred dollars per annum, and the expenditures during that 
period (the whole period) go a little over six hundred dollars. (I write from 
recollection, as I have not yet taken transcripts from the books. The differ- 
ence between the receipts and expenditures are paid by the collector into the 
Treasury ; but our sailors of course are but remotely benefited by these pay- 
ments. It appears so reasonable that the money collected at our port from 
sailors should be all expended there, and not the greater part of it, as here- 
tofore, paid into the Treasury,—that I cannot but believe that we can bring 
about some arrangement which will accomplish so desirable an object, 
through the agency of the State Hospital, as proposed by you. It may be 
more difficult to get a direct grant of money to aid in building a hospital— 
though it would seem reasonable that what the sailors have already paid into 
the Treasury should at least be given by the United States toward the build- 
ing proposed. The principal object of my now writing is, to ask whether 
the State Hospital would be willing to engage to take care of all the sick 
seamen of the port, on receiving annually the amount of hospital money 
that may be collected at the port ? I should think that you might with safety 
make such an engagement, though as to that you are the best judge. At 
any rate, I should be pleased to know as nearly as convenient whether this 
proposal could meet with your views, if nothing better can be done. I will 
only at present add that you may rely upon my best exertions to aid you and 
the other gentlemen in the laudable object you have in view—and I believe 
I may say the same for every member of our delegation in both houses. 
In great haste I remain, very faithfully yours, 
R. I. INGERSOLL. 
Dr. Knight. 10 
Washington, 13 Jan., 1828. 
Dear Sir:—I have conversed fully with the Secretary of the Treasury in 
regard to an arrangement that might be made between the State Hospital and 
the United States, for the accommodation of sick and disabled seaman in the 
port cff New Haven. In order to bring our conversation into an official 
shape, I addressed a note to the Secretary, requesting to be informed whether 
such an arrangement (the State Hospital to have all the receipts of hospital 
money taken at the Custom House) would be recommended to the President 
for his approval. Mr. Rush promptly replied, and by way of answering sent 
me the enclosed copy of a letter from the Treasury Department to the col- 
lector at Portland, by which I am to understand that a similar arrangement 
would be made with you. Be pleased to show the enclosed to the gentlemen 
associated with you in the establishment of the proposed Hospital, and let 
me know when convenient, if such an arrangement would be agreeable. 
I do not believe that any appropriation for building could be obtained. 
The surplus hospital money (and Congress will not appropriate from any 
other fund) has all been used up, or engaged, in the erection of buildings in 
the larger ports, arid the money collected in our port for several years past 
which has not been expended there, has all gone into the general fund, and 
cannot now be reclaimed. My own decided opinion, therefore, is for the 
present, to make an arrangement with the Department to provide for the sea- 
men, and have all the hospital money that may be hereafter collected, under 
‘your own control. Indeed, it is possible that in attempting to do better than 
this, we might fare much worse. For, should the subject be agitated, those 
opposed to such an arrangement would make use of such language as this: 
‘ Why let the port of New Haven have all the hospital money to be collected 
there hereafter, when the books at the Treasury show that for the ten years 
past that port has not required to be expended there one-fourth of the money 
collected ?” 
I write in much haste, and must therefore ask you to excuse my ragged 
penmanship, which I hope you will be able to decypher without too much 
trouble. 
Very respectfully and faithfully yours, 
R. I. INGERSOLL. 
Dr. Jonathan Knight. 
It was then voted that this society will engage to sup- 
port all seamen who may be proper subjects of hospital 
privileges in this port, on condition that the United 
States will pay over to the society all the hospital money 
hereafter collected in the collection district of New 
Haven. A copy of the resolution was forwarded to Mr. 
Ingersoll. 
At the meeting held January 2, 1828, the first action 
was taken by the Directors with reference to a site for 11 
the hospital. Nothing definite was done. A simple com- 
mittee of inquiry was appointed. This appears to have 
been done in consequence of the prospect of receiving 
something from the United States for the care of seamen. 
At a meeting, March 20, 1828, Dr. Knight reported that 
Mr. Bishop, the Collector of the Port, had received a 
letter from the U. S. Treasury Department, which ren- 
dered it probable that the proposition of this society, 
voted at the last meeting of the Directors, would be 
accepted. It was immediately voted that the committee 
appointed to make inquiry concerning a site for a hospi- 
tal, be authorized to rent a building for a hospital. Dr. 
Knight was authorized to make a contract with the U. S. 
Government in behalf of the society, concerning the sup- 
port of sick and disabled seamen. At this meeting the 
first action was taken with reference to subscriptions for 
the benefit, of the hospital, and Dr. John Skinner was 
appointed agent to solicit subscriptions. 
At a special meeting held March 26, 1828, the commit- 
tee to procure a site for the hospital, was authorized to 
rent a building of Abraham Bishop for one year, for 
sixty dollars. Prof. Silliman and Dr. E. Ives were ap- 
pointed to draft and circulate a handbill to inform our 
citizens of the objects of the society, and of its pecuniary 
need. At an adjourned meeting held April 2, 1828, at 
Mr. Leffingwell’s, “several gentlemen of the town, by 
invitation, attended the meeting.” April 4, a meeting 
was held at which it was voted to invite a meeting of 
citizens of both sexes for the purpose of calling public 
attention to the subject of a hospital, and that several 
gentlemen be requested to address the meeting—the pub- 
lic meeting to be held in the North Church Wednesday 
evening, April 9. At a subsequent meeting held April 
6, the object of the public meeting was explained and 
some arrangements for the meeting were made. No fur- 
ther mention is made of the meeting at the North Church. 
Whether the meeting was held is a matter of doubt, as 
no mention is made of the results of such meeting. 
April 10, a meeting was held at Mr. Leffingwell’s, at 12 
which arrangements were made for collecting- subscrip- 
tions, by dividing the town into twelve districts and 
appointing a person to each district. At the next meet- 
ing, April ii, “some further arrangements were made 
with regard to procuring subscriptions.” There is nothing 
to show what these arrangements were. 
At the special meeting, Ma)r 13, 1828, the first evidence 
of pipe-laying on the part of the Directors’ is shown. 
By vote of the meeting Dr. Reynold Webb, a member of 
the Legislature, attended by invitation, and the Hon. 
John S. Peters was requested to confer with the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, on the appointment of 
a committee on the petition of the General Hospital 
Society, continued from the last session of the Legislature. 
At the annual meeting, May 15, 1828, for the election 
of officers, no changes were made. Some members of 
the Legislature having requested information concerning 
the hospital, Dr. Knight was appointed to favor them 
with a statement of facts on the subject. At a special 
meeting June 7, 1828, it was voted that the President be 
requested to advertise for proposals for a site for the hos- 
pital. June 31, 1828, the President of the society was 
authorized to employ an agent to collect subscriptions 
throughout the State, for the benefit of the hospital. Dr. 
John Skinner was appointed. Dec. 2 he reported pro- 
gress. Dec. 3 the Directors met at Dr. Nathan Smith’s 
and proceeded to view several lots which had been offered 
as sites for the hospital. Several meetings were held for 
the same purpose, but resulted in no final action. At the 
meeting held Feb. 6, 1829, the Medical College was “spoken 
of" for a hospital. This did not seem to be favorably re- 
ceived. At an adjourned meeting, held April 3, 1827, it 
was voted that it was inexpedient to purchase a site for a 
hospital at an expense of from $4,000 to $6,000, but that it 
is expedient to obtain an eligible situation, at such a price 
for the land as shall not seriously entrench upon the funds 
of the hospital. It was also voted that it was expedient 
to open a temporary hospital as soon as it can be done. 
Dr. Skinner was requested to ascertain whether the Peck 13 
house can be had for a hospital, and at what price. 
April 7, 1829, Mr. Wyllys Warner and Mr. Forrest Shep- 
ard were authorized by the Directors to solicit and 
receive for the benefit of the General Hospital, such con- 
tributions as benevolent persons are willing to make for 
the purpose of carrying into immediate operation a most 
important public charity, which is located in New Haven, 
but is designed for the benefit of the State at large and 
of such strangers as Providence may throw upon our 
hands. 
At the annual meeting, June 9, 1829, no change was 
made in the officers. The meeting was adjourned to 
June 13, and the first Prudential Committee was elected, 
viz: Wm. Leffingwell, James Brewster and Virgil M. 
Dow. B. Silliman and T. P. Beers were appointed to 
confer with the Collector of the Port relative to the 
Marine Hospital Agencv. At. the meeting Aug. 15, the 
board voted to approve of the proceedings of Dr. Skinner 
as Treasurer and agent of the Hospital Society, and ten- 
dered the thanks of the board for his services. James 
Brewster, Prof. Silliman and Dr. Knight were appointed 
a committee to consider the expediency of purchasing a 
site for the hospital, and for opening a temporary estab- 
lishment. 
August 29, the subject of a site for the hospital was 
under consideration. Committees were appointed to 
examine the land near the Hillhouse lot, and one offered 
by Mr. Prescott. September 23, of the same year, Drs. 
Knight, Beers and Hooker were appointed a committee 
to consider the expediency of contracting to take charge 
of the sick seamen in this port, for the hospital money 
collected at this district. The Medical Association were 
requested to express their opinions concerning the loca- 
tion of the hospital. On the 8th of October a vote was 
taken relative to a location. The Bacon lot was chosen 
by a majority of one, seven Directors being present. 
Notwithstanding this vote, on the 29th of October it was 
voted to proceed to view the Whittlesey lot, in new 
township, and other lots proposed for the hospital estab- 14 
lishment. Nov. 3 a ballot was again taken for a site, 
resulting in six for the Beecher lot and three for the 
Whittlesey. Several offers of lots were made as a pres- 
ent to the society, on condition that the hospital should 
be located thereon. The thanks of the board were pre- 
sented to Messrs. Sidney Hull, Abraham Bishop and Col. 
Punderson, for their generous offers of land for the hospi- 
tal. It was voted that Drs. E. Ives and Dow be appointed 
a committee to state to the meeting of the society the 
proceedings of the Directors relative to a site. At the 
above mentioned meeting of the society, on proceeding 
to a ballot for a site, the Whittlesey lot was chosen, after 
three ballots, by a majority of eight votes. At a subse- 
quent meeting of the society held Dec. 17, 1829, it was 
voted that the buildings for the General Hospital Society 
be located upon the hill on the southwesterly side of the 
city of New Haven, and northwesterly of the road lead- 
ing from the foot of Church street to West Haven, upon 
a part of the Beecher lot so called, or upon a part of 
said lot and of any lot or lots adjoining thereto, to be 
designated by the Directors of said society with the 
assent of the Commissioners. 
Voted, That if the Commissioners shall approve the 
above general location of the hospital, then the Directors 
of said society be authorized, with the approbation of 
said Commissioners, to determine the quantity of land 
and the particular site, style and extent of the buildings 
to be erected thereon, provided the expense of said build- 
ings shall not exceed the sum of $15,000. 
After spending a great deal of time, the question of a 
site was at last determined, and at a meeting of Directors 
held Nov. 4 it was voted that the Secretary be directed 
to write Gov. Tomlinson, inquiring what time His Excel- 
lency can meet the other gentlemen of the Commission 
to consider the site of the hospital. Nov. 12, 1829, the 
Secretary reported that Gov. Tomlinson had appointed 
Tuesday, the 17th inst., for the meeting of the Commis- 
sioners on the subject of the location, and that notice had 
been given Messrs. Gunn and Pond. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, 15 
Gov. Tomlinson and Mr. Pond being" present, a statement 
was made of the proceedings of the Directors and of the 
society relative to a site for the hospital; and the Com- 
missioners with the Directors visited the several sites 
proposed. Several meetings were held between Dec. i, 
1829 and June 21, 1830, at which the long continued sub- 
ject ot a site lor the hospital was the chief matter of 
interest. At last, at ihe meeting held on the 21st day of 
June, 1830, Drs. A. S. Monson, Virgil M. Dow and John 
Skinner, were authorized to complete the purchase of the 
Beecher lot and the Allen lot, so called, for the use of the 
hospital; and the Prudential Committee were “author- 
ized to draw an order on the Treasurer for the purchase 
money ol the same.” It was also decided to accept the 
offer of the Secretary of the Treasury with reference to 
“sick and disabled seamen of this district,” bearing date 
June 1, 1830. Drs. Tully and Knight were authorized 
“ to provide for the sick and disabled seamen until further 
measures are taken.” 
July 10, 1830, Dr. John Skinner was appointed agent 
“to solicit further funds for the hospital,” at the rate of 
$2.00 per day and expenses. 
At an adjourned meeting held July 16, 1830, “the sub- 
ject of the style and extent, &c., of the hospital buildings 
was discussed and a committee was appointed for the 
purpose of obtaining estimates of the expense of the 
buildings and a plan of the same.” July 30, the plan for 
the hospital building was submitted to the meeting of 
Directors. August 18, the plan drawn by Mr. S. M. 
Stone was accepted. The building “ consisting of three 
stories, to be built of stone after the manner of the Epis- 
copal Chapel in this city,” on the corner of Chapel and 
Olive streets. 
September 9, the action at the meeting held on the 
18th of August, accepting the plan presented by Mr. 
Stone, was reconsidered, and it was voted to accept the 
plan drawn by Mr. Howard. The building to be two 
stories above the basement, with a Grecian portico. 
Length of building, one hundred feet; fifty feet deep in 16 
the center; the center projecting in front ten feet, in the 
rear two feet. The committee appointed to obtain a plan 
were authorized to advertise for proposals for the erection 
of the building. Sept. 27, it was decided to reconsider 
the vote passed August 18, to build after the manner of 
the Episcopal Chapel, and it was voted to build of “ red 
stone and stucco.” Mr. Ithiel Town, a celebrated archi- 
tect, at that time, was requested to draw an elevation ot 
the ground plan already adopted. It was, undoubtedly, 
through the influence of Mr. Town that the stucco plan 
was adopted, as that seemed to be a favorite with him, as 
will be seen from the quondam State House and his own 
residence in Hillhouse avenue, and other buildings erected 
under his supervision. 
October 11, it was voted to rescind all former votes 
accepting of plans for the hospital building, and it was 
agreed to accept the plans presented by the committee at 
that meeting. 
Several meetings were held subsequently, at which 
the plans and specifications were considered. On the 9th 
of November the building committee were authorized to 
make an agreement with Mr. S. M. Stone in relation to 
the contract for the hospital buildings. Nov. 12, Gov. 
Tomlinson and the other commissioners were requested 
to give their consent to the style and extent of the build- 
ing, as follows:— 
The undersigned, Commissioners to superintend the general concerns 
of the State Hospital to be established in the City of New Haven, having 
examined the printed “Specifications for the Hospital Building,” hereto 
annexed, and having received an assurance that a responsible person has 
proposed to contract with the Directors of the General Hospital Society of 
Connecticut for the sum of twelve thousand and eight hundred dollars, to 
erect and finish the Hospital Building and its appurtenances conformably, in 
all respects, to the plan therein specified, do hereby signify their assent to 
the style and extent of the building and accommodations for the Hospital, 
as particularly described in the afore-mentioned specifications. 
Given under our hands this 22d day of November, A. D. 1830. 
Gideon Tomlinson, 
Chas. H. Pond. 17 
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE HOSPITAL BUILDING. 
The Hospital, consisting of a centre and two wings, shall be of the fol- 
lowing dimensions:—The centre to be forty-six feet from front of main walls 
to the rear, and forty-eight feet in width. The pediment to project twelve 
feet in front of the whole. The height to be forty-three and a half feet from 
the top of the water table to the top of the walls, in the line of the eaves. 
Each wing to be thirty-live feet in front and thirty-five feet from front to 
rear, and to be thirty-one and a half feet in height from the top ol the water- 
table to the line of the eaves. 
It shall be built from the foundation throughout of that kind of red stone 
of which the new State House is constructed, and obtained from the same 
quarries ; all the walls to be laid solid in the best lime mortar, and each 
stone, of dny considerable size, to be laid in such a manner as will con- 
tribute most to strength and durability. 
All the exterior walls of the building, including the entablature, &c., &c., 
unless otherwise specified, to be plastered and finished in the same manner 
as the new State House, or like Mr. Hillhouse’s new house, as may be pre- 
ferred, excepting the first three feet from the surface of the ground, all 
around the building, which shall be pointed and finished like the north-west 
side of the basement of Mr. Ralph I. Ingersoll’s new house, but instead of 
Chatham stone, to have a water table formed on the top of the red stone, 
beveled off and projecting three inches. The water table, or belting, of the 
front part and sides, under the pediment, to be of Chatham red stone, and 
made to receive the pavement; the stone to be seven inches thick and fif- 
teen wide, surmounting the other red stone, extending from one side around 
the platform to the other side—the whole making but three feet in height as 
around the rest of the building. The walls of the centre building to com- 
mence three and a half feet in thickness at their foundation, and to set off 
or lessen in thickness by degrees, until they reach the basement floor, there 
to be twenty-six inches, thence through the basement story to be two feet, 
and thence through the first story to be twenty-one inches, and through the 
second story to be eighteen inches, and all above the top of the second story 
to be sixteen inches in thickness. 
The main wall of the east wing to be three and a half feet from the bottom 
of the deep cellar to one fool in height, thence setting off to thirty-two 
inches at the pavement of the other cellar, thence to the floor of the base- 
ment twenty-six inches, thence to the floor of the first story twenty-one 
inches, and through the first story eighteen inches, and through the second 
story to the top of the wall sixteen inches. 
The main walls of the west wing to be two feet eight inches at the base, 
commencing three feet below the bottom of the joist of the basement, and 
proportioned above like those of the other wing. 
The division walls of the building to be built of brick, laid in good lime 
mortar, but all below the basement floor to be of stone laid in good mortar 
beginning level with the foundation of the main walls, and to be twenty 
inches in thickness, lessening to sixteen at the joist of the basement. 
The thickness of all the brick walls to commence eight inches at the base 18 
ment floor, and all of them carried up to the floor of the attic story eight 
inches in thickness. 
The basement story floor to be about eighteen inches above the natural 
level of the ground’s surface. The earth to be removed beneath the building, 
in that part where there is no cellar, for two feet in depth, and the foundation 
to the main walls laid one foot below these two feet, and the foundation of 
the partition walls the same. 
Enough brick, consisting of half merchantable and half soft, may be used 
for these walls and the chimneys, selecting such as are appropriate for each. 
These division walls to extend the whole length of each hall, and on each 
side of the same except in the east'wing, to be omitted on one side, and all 
to extend from the main walls of the building through the centre and wings 
to where said halls intersect each other. All parts of said walls forming 
parts of rooms, chambers or closets, to be furred, lathed and plastered, 
except the sides of the brick walls in the halls, which may be plastered 
directly on the bricks. 
All the stone wall of the interior of the building to be furred, lathed and 
plastered, excepting the cellar and that part of the attic not finished, like- 
wise the ceiling overhead, throughout, to be furred contrary way to the lath- 
ing, with furring pieces one inch thick and three wide, and sixteen inches 
from centre to centre. 
The east and west walls of the centre building to be of the same materials 
and thickness as the north and south walls from their foundation below the 
bottom of the cellar, and from front to rear. 
The two fluted pillars supporting the pediment, to be of hard brick and 
plastered. The two square columns to be of stone, like the main walls, and 
plastered. 
The lower cellar to be divided from the other cellar by a stone wall about 
thirteen feet long and eighteen inches thick, to the surface of the other cel- 
lar ; thence to the floor of the basement, of brick eight inches thick. This 
division wall is represented by the dotted lines on the draft, occupying the 
corner of the east wing. The cellar under the basement shall occupy all 
the east wing, and be six and a half feet deep, in the clear, and the deeper 
cellar in the corner of the same to be six feet deeper in the clear, and to 
have a closet in it of rough boards about ten feet by six, with shelves, a bat- 
ten door and lock. The cellars and deep cellar to be paved with hard brick. 
To have a cellar also under the whole of the centre of the building, six and 
a half feet deep, paved like .the other cellars. To have in all eight cellar 
windows, fixed after the manner of those in Mr. Ralph I. Ingersoll’s new 
house, with grates: the openings to be two feet by four, glazed and to open 
with hinges. Each cellar to have doors with locks. There shall be one flat 
outside cellar door, flagging stone steps laid in mortar, with one red stone 
at the top. 
The floors of the first and and second stories any of the attic to be of 
Norway or Egg Harbor boards, and all the floors in the building shall be 
planed, grooved and tongued, properly seasoned and dry when laid ; the 
heads of the nails sunk below the surface. The floors to- the kitchen and 
washing room in the basement to be similarly made and finished, except to 
consist of oak of one inch and a quarter in thickness, and not exceeding 19 
six inches in width. The remaining basement floors to be like those of the 
first and second stories. * 
The best floor boards shall be selected for the first and second stories. 
The floor of the main hall in the centre building to be of narrow Southern 
pine. 
The outside front principal steps and buttresses to be of hewn red stone 
as drafted. All other steps to the Hospital out side, shall be made of clear, 
thoroughly seasoned white pine plank, one and a half inches thick ; likewise 
all the platforms, &c., connected with said steps. The inside steps, how- 
ever, in the large hall, to consist of yellow pine one and a half inch thick. 
The steps and stairs of the whole establishment, outside and inside, shall 
be about seven and a quarter inches rise, and thirteen inches width, as may 
be preferred.* The front stairs to be of Southern yellow pine ; the other 
stairs all to be of the best Egg Harbor. 
All the stairs and wooden steps to have a rail on each side to hold on bj' 
in descending, including scuttle stairs. The front stairs to have a round 
rail on each side, of cherry, two inches in diameter, placed two inches from 
each partition ; and likewise the same to the inside steps in the main hall. 
All the window sills of the hospital shall be made of white Sing Sing 
marble, and all the door sills of hewn red stone. 
Hearths to be of hewn red stone. 
The one in the kitchen to be four feet by ten, and in three parts. 
Another to be three feet by eight, and in two pieces ; three others be five 
feet and a half by two, and thirteen others similar, each to be four and a half 
feet by twenty inches, and all other hearths except these to be of the best 
hard tile, eight inches square or more. Six of the stone hearths to have a 
semi-circular piece cut out where the fire would lay, and a whole piece fitted 
to its place to prevent its cracking by fire. 
The fire places shall be built to each chimney in every room throughout 
all the stories, of proper size for the rooms, larger or smaller, as may be 
preferred. The inside of all the chimney flues, throughout their whole 
length, to be plastered. 
Three rooms on the floor of the first story shall have hewn and faced red 
stone jambs and mantles. 
The timber to be of oak and chestnut. The largest timber and the trimmer 
joist to be of the best of oak, the rafters of spruce. 
The attic story to have trusses of spruce, and to be constructed on a 
principle similar to the attic of our churches. 
The attic of the wings to be framed similarly or on the best mode of fram- 
ing dwelling houses. 
The joist shall be of proper thickness ; such of it as is seventeen feet in 
length or thereabout to be three inches thick by ten wide. Such of it as is 
♦Where this phraseology is used, the words “by the Building Committee,” are under- 
stood. 
Note i. In this contract, the first story above the basement we designate as the first 
story ; the one next above that the second, and the next the attic ; and that the cellar which 
is beneath the basement. 
Note 2. When hewn red stone is mentioned, the Chatham stone, of which our best kind 
of step stones are made, is intended. 20 
much less than seventeen feet to be two and a half inches thick by ten wide. 
All fhe joist, trimmers, etc., to be but sixteen inches apart, from center to 
center. 
No chestnut timber shall be used in any part of the building where any 
water might leak in to communicate a stain to any part of the building. 
All the cornices shall be of white pine painted three coats of white lead 
paint. 
The shingles to be the best of Connecticut River shingles. 
The roof boards to be of spruce closely laid. The lintels over the doors 
and windows to be of proper size and of timber that has been for some time 
thoroughly seasoned. 
The doors shall be panel doors throughout the building except in the 
cellars, and these to be batten doors, stock locks and latches. 
The outside doors as drafted, and the two to the centre of the building to 
be three and a half inches thickness, with large knob latches, made on pur- 
pose, unless such as are thought suitable by the committee can be purchased, 
and to have inside bars to the same. The outside door to the east wing to 
have a good knob lock of proper size. 
The inside doors to the four largest principal rooms on the first story to be 
two inches thickness. The same on the second floor one and three quarters 
inches thickness. The remaining inside doors, all except closet doors, to 
be of one and a half inches thickness. Closet doors one and a quarter 
inches thickness. All said inside doors to be six panel doors. The outside 
doors to be eight paneled doors except the front door, and this to have ten 
panels. The doors in the first story throughout to be eight feet long, and on 
the second story seven and a half feet long. Hinges to be of six and seven 
inch butts to outside doors, to other principal doors five inch butts. The 
rear centre hall door and the rear basement door to have side lights like 
Mrs. Whitney’s, but plain sash. 
To have the best English mortice locks to four inside doors ; the best 
close door locks and handles to closets ; to eight other doors of the building 
knob locks ; the best that can be obtained for the price of one dollar each, 
and to the remaining doors, thumb latches and bolts. 
The window sashes to be ovelo—sashes one and three quarter inch in 
thickness. The large one over the operating room to be as thick as its size 
requires for strength. The glass to this to be eight by ten, six panes in 
width by ten high, to be made water tight, and the upper sash to move down 
and to open and shut by pullies. Six other windows in the roofs each to be 
eight by ten glass, each twenty-four lights and with one sash to move down 
by pullies. The glass throughout the building to be of the best of second 
quality of New England crown glass. 
All the windows of the centre building to be on the first story ten by 
fifteen, on the second story ten by fourteen glass, and five panes wide. The 
windows in the wings on the first story to consist of glass nine by thirteen, 
on the second nine by twelve. 
All the windows to be made to rise by weights, and the upper sashes to 
move down in the same manner, except in the basement, to have the best of 
Scott’s springs. The gable end of the attic, back side, to have a semi-elliptic 
window, eight feet long, and made to slide up and easy to raise. 21 
The mantel-pieces to eight rooms to consist of columns and carved wood 
caps, and the remainder to consist of pilasters. 
The casings to the doors and windows on the first and second story of the 
centre building to consist of pilasters, surmounted by plain square blocks. 
The casings to be six inches wide throughout the first story and five through 
the second. 
The casings of the second story of the wings to consist of an architrave 
five inches wide. 
The casings of the finished part of the attic and throughout the basement 
story to be a single architrave and mouldings. 
The base boards on the first story to be eleven inches wide with mouldings, 
those on the second the same but ten inches wide. 
The attic and basement to have a plain base board eight inches wide with 
a torous bead in the same. 
Gutters for water to be made on the roof after the fashion of the modern 
tin gutters contrived by Mr. Whitney, to be made of copper, on-each roof of 
the two wings, front and rear, and on so much of the centre as projects 
beyond the wings to carry the water onto the wings that would otherwise 
fall on the ground. These gutters to be constructed to empty the water into 
four proper sized tin conductors reaching to the water-table and three feet 
from the ground. 
There shall be two lightning rods of iron three-fourths of an inch diame- 
ter, affixed to two chimneys of the centre building, made in the most approved 
manner and silver pointed, to rise eleven feet above the tops of the chimneys ; 
and from the roof to five feet above the tops of the chimneys, to be one inch 
diameter; to be well secured to the chimney, likewise to descend into the 
earth four feet below the surface, their lower extremities sharpened and 
embedded in broken charcoal. 
There shall be two red stone sinks with leaden tubes of proper size and 
length to conduct off the water. One of these sinks to be six feet by four, 
the other four and a half feet by twenty inches, each to be located where 
desired. 
The well shall be constructed of red stone, the bottom of it to made ol the 
hardest brick, laid in water cement one foot in thickness, to the extent of 
eight feet in height from the bottom ; the well curb to be of white oak. The 
stone to be laid in lime mortar for six feet from the top, and the top to be 
covered by a hewn red stone in two pieces, the largest of which shall be 
excavated sufficiently to receive the water and convey it off. 
The diameter of the well to be three feet and three inches at the bottom, 
and three feet one inch at the top. Its depth shall be such as to contain six 
feet and a half of water when the springs are at an average level. The 
water to be drawn by a good white oak pump, and an iron brake, each of the 
best common construction. 
There shall be constructed a necessary fourteen feet long by seven and a 
half broad, and a vault eight feet deep ; the building, etc., to be finished and 
painted after the plan of the one at Messrs. Dwight’s Gymnasium, and the 
vault after the plan of one at Mr. Hillhouse’s new house, and to have a 
ventilator. 22 
All the wood work about the exterior of the Hospital to be painted three 
good coats of white lead linseed oil paint. The steps such color as pre- 
ferred. The inside wood work to have but two coats of paint. 
The stairs to the scuttle shall be made firm and easy of access. The scut- 
tle door to be of such size as preferred. 
The walk on the top of the centre building to have seats around it on the 
inside, and a deck floor ; all to be painted with three coats. 
The under side of the pediment to be recessed upward about five feet, 
and plastered, and have a cornice in the recess around it. 
The operating room to be finished as drafted, to have circular seats with 
backs, etc., as commonly made for such rooms. 
All the chimneys above the roof to be painted white. 
All the lathing to be of spruce, of the best quality, and seasoned. 
The kitchen chimney to have a flue in it for the copper boiler, separate from 
the other flue, and carried up to the top of the chimney. Also, a flue leading 
from over the boiler into the other common flue of the chimney, to convey 
off steam from the boiler. 
To have a copper boiler in the kitchen, of the capacity of thirty gallons, 
with a large brass stop cock and tube, to draw off water into an adjoining 
room. This boiler to be set, like that in Mr. Ingersoll’s new house, with 
proper iron grates and door. Likewise a cast iron boiler holding twenty 
gallons, similarly set without stop cock. 
To have one oven of large size, and one smaller ; both furnished with 
patent doors—one to be a door of the largest size. 
The kitchen fire place to have trammels and hooks. 
The pantry and closets to have a sufficiency of shelves. 
The window in the hall in the end of the west wing on the first story, to 
have three sashes, reaching to the floor, and a shutter to the lower sash 
inside. 
The rear main hall window of the second story to have also three sashes 
and shutter, in the same manner. 
The rear of the centre building to have a piazza, eighteen feet long by 
seven feet wide, supported by four pillars, (two square and two round,) a 
deck roof, and a platform under it with two seats. 
The rear steps to be eight feet long. The steps and platform to the east 
wing, and all other outside steps and platforms, to have railings and slats. 
The ends of the wings shall contain one window on the first story of the 
west hall, and an east and a west hall window on the second story. No 
other windows to the ends of the wings, but there shall be four recesses in 
the place of windows in the end of each wing. 
The rear of the centre building to have a water table or belt of marble of 
proper height for the piazza. 
No plastering on the interior of the building but what is furred and lathed 
first, except differently specified. 
All outside doors to be lighted and glazed, either above or on their sides, 
or both, so as to light the halls sufficiently. The front door to be lighted as 
drafted. 
All the inside walls plastered, to be done in the best manner, with as much 
plaster of Paris as is used for the best walls. 23 
All that part of the exterior wall which is supported above the pillars in 
front of the centre building, extending from said pillars to the ridge of the 
roof, to be of hard brick, twelve inches thick from the top of the pillars to 
the line of the eaves, and all above, eight inches thick, and laid rough for 
plastering. 
In the east wing where one of the brick partition walls is left out, the 
floors and partitions above shall be supported by brick pillars in the cellar, 
and by wood pillars in the basement story all of sufficient size and strength. 
The abacus of each pillar and of each square column to consist of one 
piece of white marble. 
To each of the two outside doors opening into the basement story, there 
shall be flagging stone steps, with a red stone at top. To the entrance of the 
basement in front, within the main front door, there shall be wooden steps. 
The balustrade or battlement on the roof to be of wood, painted white 
with three coats. 
For particulars not mentioned, see the drafts, which are to be equally 
binding on the contracting parties as are these specifications. 
All rubbish to be cleared away, and ground levelled around the building 
after the work is finished. 
No mortar shall be used in the construction of the hospital that has not 
been thoroughly prepared three days previously ; and none shall be used in 
plastering and finishing the exterior walls of the same that has not been pre- 
pared in a proper manner ten days or more. 
In plastering the outside of the building, all endeavors shall be used to 
effect its being done in the best manner known at the time, both as relates 
to the quality, proportion and mixing of the ingredients, the prQper degree 
of dryness for applying the second coat, etc., etc., and any other means the 
committee may consider of importance, as conducing toward beauty or dura- 
bility, shall receive due attention and be executed accordingly. 
The outside doors, besides the main front door (drafted,) are to be a rear 
door to the centre building, and a door to the end of the east wing, both on 
the first story ; also, two doors to the basement story, viz., one in rear of the 
centre building, and one at the end of the east wing—all to be eight panelled 
doors. To each outside door of the first story, except the main front door, 
there shall be a flight of wooden steps and platform with railings on each 
side. Both of the entrances to the basement story to have flagging stone 
steps, with each one red stone at top, two feet broad. 
There shall be a brick cistern of the capacity of twenty hogsheads, plastered 
inside with water lime, and covered over the top with plank. 
The walls to be up and covered by the first of August next. The inside 
to be finished, so that the building shall be habitable by the first of October 
next. 
The outside plastering not to be put on till May, 1832. 
To have Connecticut River yellow pine floors in the basement and first 
story, instead of Egg Harbor, as heretofore directed. 
To have mahogany sills to doors of the four best rooms. 
The rear piazza to be ceiled with plain boards, and the deck roof painted. 
The pavement under the front pediment to be of flagging stone, selected 
by the committee, to cost eleven cents a foot. 24 
To have appropriate iron scrapers to all outside steps. 
Closets to be as drafted. 
All windows that rise by weights to have the best kind of fastenings. 
Windows referred to in these specifications are believed to be as follows 
4 windows io x 15 glass, 5 panes wide, and 6 high. 
5 “ 10 x 14 “ 5 “ “ “ 6 “ 
12 •< g x jg “ “ “ •• 6 “ 
x4 “ 9 x 12 “ 4 “ “ “ 6 “ 
1 “ 9 x 13 “ 4 “ “ “ 9 “ 
1 “ 10 x 14 “ 5 “ “ “ 9 “ 
17 “ 9 x 13 “ 4 “ “ “ 4 “ 
8 “ 9 x 12 “ 3 “ “ “ 2 “ 
6 “ 8 x 10 “ 24 panes each, in roof. 
1 “ 8 x 10 “ 6 panes wide and 10 high in roof. 
The building was erected under the above specifications 
by Sidney M. Stone, Esq., for less than $13,000. 
November 22d, Mr. Nathan Peck was appointed to 
superintend the erection of the building, to watch its 
progress and observe that the contract was fulfilled. It 
was also voted that Dr. Thomas Hubbard be authorized 
to execute the contract on the part of the Hospital Society. 
Several meetings were held between the above date and 
June, 183r. A meeting was held at this time at which it 
was decided to accept of the contract with the Treasury 
Department for the care of sick and disabled seamen at 
the rate of $3.50 per week for the care of sick seamen. 
Oct. 13th it was again decided to apply to Congress for 
aid in completing the Hospital establishment:— 
To the Honorable the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United 
States, in Congress assembled : 
The Petition of the “ General Hospital Society of Connecticut,” by their 
Directors, respectfully sheweth— 
That the Legislature of Connecticut, at their Session in May, 1826, in con- 
sequence of an unanimous application of the Medical Convention of the 
State, granted a Charter for a “ State Hospital, to be established in the City of 
New Haven?' 
This Institution, if carried into effect, will be the first and only one of the 
kind in the State. It has long been required, by the wants of the commun- 
ity and earnestly regarded, not only by medical gentlemen of high reputa- 
tion, but by enlightened and benevolent citizens of all classes and profes- 
sions, as one of the most important charities of the country. It has been 
viewed, as all similar establishments in our country have been regarded, as 25 
the rfefuge and asylum of the sick and distressed of all lands j'vvhere public 
bounty may supply the wants of the distressed and in a measure mitigate the 
calamities of disease and misfortune. In what other asylum can the sick 
stranger, cast upon our shores, or arrested in his journey by disease or acci- 
dent, or the friendless and forlorn of all descriptions find a refuge so appro- 
priate and means of restoration so effectual ? 
The establishment is not intended to be exclusive and local in its benefits, 
nor interesting to the stranger and friendless alone. It will open* an asylum 
for the poor, as well as the sick, for the sailor, as well as the citizen of every 
other occupation ; in brief, for the afflicted of all classes, who may need med- 
ical advice, the assistance of skillful surgical operators, the kind and prac- 
tised aid of experienced attendants, and the appropriate apparatus and 
necessary accommodations, which such an establishment only can afford. 
To the poor and friendless, the whole advantages of the Hospital will be 
gratuitously afforded. 
The Legislature of Connecticut, dividing their bounty among numerous 
charitable institutions, have partially endowed the “General Hospital So- 
ciety,” benevolent individuals have also contributed considerable sums, and 
upon the strength of funds already raised, and in the anticipation of further 
aid, the Directors have purchased a lot of about twelve acres of ground, and 
are now erecting a substantial stone building, about one hundred and 
twenty feet in length, and nearly fifty feet in depth, three stories in height, 
containing forty commodious apartments. The building is to be completed 
and finished in a plain, neat style, with special regard to economy and the 
accommodation of patients. But the Society have ascertained that the sums 
derived from State bounty and individual charity will be insufficient to com- 
plete this benevolent project, and that to enable them to realize the anticipa- 
ted advantages of the Institution, by putting it in full operation, a sum in 
addition to their present funds, of about twenty-five thousand dollars will be 
requisite. 
As the United States have no hospital within the State of Connecticut for 
the accommodation of their sick and disabled seamen, particular regard has 
been paid to that matter by your Petitioners, both in regard to the location 
and extent of the establishment. 
The City of New Haven, which is of easy access to a long line of sea- 
board, embraces the principal commercial port in the State, and from the 
course of her business, is peculiarly exposed to diseases of tropical climates, 
it has therefore been selected as the best location. 
The site of the Hospital is on rising ground, commanding an extensive 
view of the Harbor and of Long Island Sound, and is deemed the best spot 
that could have been selected, either in reference to facility of access or 
purity of atmosphere in the neighborhood of the City. 
So far as their limited means will allow them to go, the managers are 
ready and desirous to make permanent arrangements for the good accommo- 
dation of that deserving class of patients,—sick and disabled seamen. 
They beg leave to suggest, as an important incident to the location, that 
the establishment will be under the superintendence and management of the 
Medical Faculty of Yale College, a branch of an University eminently con- 
spicuous among the literary institutions of our country. Their practical aid, 26 
rendered to the inmates of the Hospital, will enable them to illustrate to 
their pupils the theory of a profession, to whose enlightened skill no intelli- 
gent being can be insensible. 
Fully believing that the Government of the United States will feel an inter- 
est in the success of an institution of such general utility and in which they 
have so direct an interest, the Petitioners with confidence appeal to them for 
aid ;—as the constitutional protectors of commerce and the guardians of sea- 
men, it is presumed that this petition wjll be received by Congress with 
favorable regard. 
In conclusion, your Petitioners solicit respectfully from the United States 
such sum of money as will enable them to complete the Hospital above 
described, and furnish it with suitable apparatus and appendages. 
November 15th, the Directors made a settlement with 
Dr. Swan, who had been appointed agent for subscriptions 
in Fairfield County :— 
Gentlemen,—The agency assigned me in the county of Fairfield, in this 
State, has been accomplished ; but, I regret to say, with very limited success. 
The citizens of this county will not respond to your appeals to individual lib- 
erality. I state this in positive terms ; for, it is the result of laborious exper- 
iment. The object of my mission was clearly stated to them, in private, in 
public, and through the medium of the press. I gave, through the whole 
agency, that importance to the subject, which the interesting character and 
the exigencies of the institution demanded. I passed 68 days in the county, 
the greater part of which my object was met either by systematic opposition 
or disgusting It is due, however, to the citizens for me to state, 
that your agent was personally treated with respect, even by those who were 
hostile to this mode of instituting and maintaining our public institutions. 
They almost universally refer you to the State Legislature for this object. 
My accounts have been rendered to the prudential committee, to whom I 
respectfully tender my thanks for their attentions and the promptness with 
which my communications have been attended to while abroad. 
Accept, gentlemen, my best wishes for the success of your institution. 
Yours, respectfully, J. SWAN. 
Directors of Gen. Hos. Soc., Coon., 
New Haven, Nov. 14, 1831. 
March 23d, 1832, it was voted to make another applica- 
tion to the Legislature for further aid; the application to 
Congress not having been successful. 
At the annual meeting held May 11, 1832, Hon. Simeon 
Baldwin was elected President ; Thomas Hubbard, M.D., 
Vice-Pres.; Amos Townsend, Jr., Treasurer, and N. B. 
Ives, Secretary. There had been no changes in the officers 27 
from year to year, since the first election to this time, with 
the exception of the choice of N. B. Ives as Secretary in 
place of Charles Hooker. At this meeting the first choice 
of Attending Physicians and Visitors was made. The 
Visitors were, Sidney Hull, Hon. Dennis Kimberly, Dr. 
Thos. Hubbard, Hon. Simeon Baldwin and Dr. T. P. 
Beers. Attending Physicians and Surgeons, Thos. Hub- 
bard, Eli Ives, Jonathan Knight, V. M. Dow, A. S. Mon- 
son and Charles Hooker. 
June 22, 1832. The cholera having appeared in the 
City, a meeting was convened on the propriety of admit- 
ting cholera patients to the Hospital. The subject was 
indefinitely postponed. 
July 11th. A request was presented from the Board of 
Health for permission to make use of the Hospital for 
cholera patients. A committee, consisting of Hon. Dennis 
Kimberly and John Beach, Esq., was appointed to com- 
municate the views of the Directors to the Board of 
Health. It is apparent that the views of the Directors 
did not agree with those of the Board of Health, for at a 
subsequent meeting another application was made by the 
Health Committee for the use of the Hospital for cholera 
patients. It was decided to be inexpedient under existing 
circumstances to accede to the request of the Board of 
Health. Hon. Dennis Kimberly, Hon. Henry W. Edwards 
and Dr. T. P. Beers, were appointed to explain to the 
Board of Health the reasons for the foregoing determina- 
tion. The chief ground of objection was that the charter 
provided that contagious diseases should not be received 
into the Hospital. 
July 31, 1832. It was voted that the building committee, 
with the addition of Hon. Simeon Baldwin, F. B. Win- 
throp, Esq., and Hon. Dennis Kimberly, be a committee 
to decide with regard to the acceptance of the Hospital 
buildings. It was also voted to appoint the President, 
Hon. Simeon Baldwin, to negotiate with the treasurer of 
the school fund for a permanent loan. Aug. 3d, it was 
decided to borrow, in the name of the Society, a sum not 
exceeding $2,500, to be applied to the payment of the 28 
debt due from the Society to Sidney M. Stone for the 
erection of the Hospital. 
The action of the Society in refusing to receive cholera 
patients, without doubt operated to the financial injury of 
the Society. At that time there was great indignation 
expressed by many of the citizens of New Haven at what 
was termed the “ cruelty of the doctors” in refusing to 
take charge of the poor, suffering cholera patients ; but 
the opinions of the physicians of that day were such as to 
the contagion or infection of cholera as to force them to 
take the stand they did in that matter. 
September 27, 1832, the first mention is made of the 
employment of a Steward for the Hospital, and William 
Storer was elected. 
In May, 1833, at the annual meeting, Nathan Peck, Esq. 
was elected President, and two new names appear on the 
Board of Visitors; viz., Dr. Samuel Punderson and Isaac 
Beers, Esq. The other officers remained the same. Dr. 
Chas. Hooker was appointed agent for the marine hos- 
pital fund in 1832 and continued. The Prudential Com- 
mittee were authorized to sell a lot of land separated 
from the Hospital square b}' a road running nearly north 
and south and adjoining the land of Nathan Peck. This 
was the street that is now a continuation of Howard ave., 
and formerly called Hubbard street, from the late Dr. 
Hubbard, who was so long connected with the Hospital 
as Vice President, Director and Attending Surgeon. It 
was voted, also, to sell the real estate belonging to the 
Society in North Haven. 
May 19th, 1834, a committee was appointed to meet the 
committee for the petitioners for a new bank and concert 
measures for securing a grant from the Legislature. The 
Legislature in their wisdom decided, on several different 
occasions, not to grant any direct aid to the Hospital, 
with one exception. In 1828 they did appropriate $5,000 
for the benefit of the Hospital fund for buildings. The 
report on this petition was made by the late Governor 
Henry W. Edwards, who was at that time a member of 
the Senate and is as follows:— 29 
The Committee to whom zuas referred the Petition of the General Hospital Society, 
Report— 
That this Society was incorporated in the year 1826, and that since their 
incorporation they have been engaged in raising funds to enable them to 
accomplish the objects for which they were organized. 
The Medical Convention of the State highly approving the objects of the 
Institution, and disposed as far as in their power to aid them, have appropri- 
ated the amount payable for Degrees by those who are graduated at the Med- 
ical Institution, being $5 for each Degree, amounting to about $150 per year, 
permanently to this object. 
The Professors of the Medical Institution have also pledged their profes- 
sional services to the Society, and ten per cent, of their income from the 
Medical Institution for five years, and in case this ten per cent, does not 
amount to $100 per year from each Professor, they agree to add to it such a 
sum as will make it $100 from each ; there being four Professors, this will 
give 400 dollars per year for five years from this source. 
The Society also hope by an arrangement with the United States respect- 
ing the sick and disabled seamen in the Collection District of New Haven, 
to obtain the Hospital money collected in that Collection District, amount- 
ing to about $500 per year. 
They have also obtained in .donations from individuals in New Haven a 
considerable sum, which they expect will be increased, so that what is thus 
obtained,, in addition to what has been given by the Professors of the Medi- 
cal Institution, independent of their professional services, will amount at 
least to $5,000. 
They also expect, and have received encouraging assurances to that effect, 
that a considerable sum will be obtained from donations by individuals in 
other parts of the State. 
Not less than ten thousand dollars will be absolutely necessary to procure 
a site, and erect suitable buildings. Whatever is obtained beyond this, will 
be applied in defraying the expenses of carrying on the establishment. 
The Committee are also advised that this is essentially a charitable insti- 
tution. That those who are unable to pay are to be admitted gratuitously. 
It is contemplated, however, it will frequently happen, as has been the fact 
in other places, where institutions of a similar nature have been established, 
that persons of property will resort to this Institution, on account of the 
superior advantages they may there enjoy. When this is the case it is 
expected they will make a reasonable compensation, excepting for the ser- 
vices of the physicians and surgeons, which are in all cases to be gratuitous. 
As an auxiliary to the Medical Institution this Hospital is considered very 
important, as without an establishment of this kind it is impossible to com- 
municate medical instruction in the most advantageous manner. The the- 
ory of medical science may be communicated without it, but theory without 
practice in this, as well as everything else, is comparatively of little use. 
The State of Connecticut is so limited and circumscribed in territory that 
it is necessary we should avail ourselves to the utmost of the advantages we 
do possess, to secure to ourselves a proper degree of relative importance in 
the Union. These things have not been neglected hitherto. Among the 30 
advantages within our reach the means of education and instruction are ex- 
tremely important, and whatever advantages the natives of this State may 
have been proud to possess and enjoy in other parts of the Union to which 
they have been induced to migrate, is justly chargeable to the superior 
advantages of education they have enjoyed in the State of their nativity. 
From the earliest settlement of the State education has been a primary 
object with those who have superintended the concerns of the State, and 
attention in this respect has hitherto kept pace with the progress of society 
and thq advancement of the country. 
Education is a subject which appears to devolve naturally on the States— 
and its care has been left hitherto almost exclusively to them, and in many 
particulars it will no doubt always be so left. 
Each State in the Union seems disposed to possess within itself all the 
means of instruction, and also to provide itself with those institutions which 
are considered important for the health and comfort of its inhabitants. 
The period is not far distant when the number of colleges in the United 
States was very limited ; at present there is scarcely a State in the Union 
that has not provided itself or is taking to provide itself, with at 
least one institution of this kind. 
It is but a very few years since there was but one Institution in the United 
States for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb. These institutions have 
multiplied and the probability is that every State in the Union will soon be 
provided with one. 
Medical Institutions, until very recently, were rare in this country, and 
young men from every part of the United States were under the necessity of 
resorting to perhaps one particular place, or going to foreign countries, to 
procure proper medical instruction. Institutions of this kind are now dif- 
fused or are diffusing themselves through the country. 
Hospitals for the Insane are also Institutions with respect to which the 
same remarks may be made. 
In all these particulars, fortunately, the State of Connecticut is provided, 
and an institution of the kind contemplated by the Petitioners is alone 
wanted to complete our public establishments. 
In addition to its use as connected with medical instruction, it is consid- 
ered as a place where diseases of a certain kind, particularly chronic dis- 
eases, may be more advantageously treated than elsewhere. 
As the Hospital will be furnished with the best apparatus and all neces- 
sary attendants, it is considered as a place where surgical operations of a 
delicate and difficult nature can be most conveniently and successfully per- 
formed. 
At the present time instances not unfrequently occur of persons from dif- 
ferent and distant parts of the State resorting to New Haven, to avail them- 
selves of the skill and experience of the Professors of the Medical Institu- 
tion in surgical cases, and great difficulty has been experienced in procuring 
suitable places for their accommodation. Private families and the keepers 
of public houses are generally unwilling to admit persons of this description. 
The students of the college when taken sick, it is contemplated, will here 
find a place where they can be attended to in the best possible manner, and 
that this establishment will furnish the only proper substitute for parental 
care and watchfulness. 31 
Strangers of every description, it is calculated, will here find a refuge and 
a home. 
The Committee, after a full examination and investigation of the subject, 
are of the opinion that this Institution addresses itself with peculiar force to 
the feelings and interests of this community, and is well worthy the patron- 
age of the State. 
After the erection of suitable buildings, the expenses with which the Insti- 
tution will be charged are:—The purchase of suitable furniture and appara- 
tus. The expense of diet, fuel, and medicine. The wages and support of a 
suitable person as superintendent, with his family, to reside at the Hospital. 
The wages and support of nurses. The preservation and repair of buildings, 
furniture, &c., and some other incidental expenses, which cannot be particu- 
larly foreseen or specified. These expenses must be defrayed from the 
funds of the Society, and it is contemplated that such will be its advantages 
and such the force with which it will recommend itself to the favor of the 
community, that the Society will be enabled by the aid it will receive from 
individuals, to carry on their operations, if they are furnished by the State 
with necessary buildings. 
The Committee therefore recommend an appropriation of Five Thousand 
Dollars, in two annual installments of 2,500 Dollars each, to be expended in 
the purchase of a site and the erection of buildings, and for this purpose 
they report a joint resolution. 
All which is respectfully submitted. Per order. 
(Signed) H. W. EDWARDS, Chairman. 
Resolved fey this Assembly, That the sum of Five Thousand Dollars be 
and the same is hereby appropriated to the General Hospital Society of the 
Connecticut, to aid such Society in the purchase of a suitable site and the 
erection of suitable buildings for the accommodation of said Society, and 
that the same be paid to said Society in manner following, that is to say, one 
half on the first of July of the present year, and the other half on the first of 
July in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, and the 
Comptroller is hereby directed to draw orders on the Treasurer in favor of 
said Society, for said sum accordingly. 
(Approved by the Governor May 27th, 1828.) 
They, however, did not hesitate to say to certain banks 
that had applied to them for charters, we will grant you 
the privileges you request, provided you will pay so much 
to the General Hospital Society of Connecticut. A very 
convenient mode of satisfying their consciences and re- 
lieving the State from the expenditure of any money for 
the benefit of a great and important charity. This, of 
course, refers to the early legislation on this matter. Of 
late years the Legislature has not been called upon to 32 
grant charters for banks, and in consequence have pursued 
a more direct and liberal policy toward all of our State 
charities. A full and detailed statement of the action of 
the Legislature in this respect will appear before we close 
this paper. 
February 4th, 1835. A meeting was held for the pur- 
pose of authorizing the Secretary to dispose of a small 
strip of land situated southwesterly of the Hospital. 
At the annual meeting, May 15th, 1835, the old officers 
were elected, with the exception that Dr. V. M. Dow 
was chosen Secretary in place of Dr. N. B. Ives. Henry 
Peck, Esq., was elected Visitor in place of Hon. Dennis 
Kimberly. A. S. Monson, M. D., was added to the list 
of Attending Physicians. • Nathan Peck, Esq., T. P. 
Beers, M. D., V. M. Dow, M. D., Dr. J. Skinner, and John 
Babcock, Esq., were appointed a Committee to lay out 
roads, set out trees, when they shall deem it necessary, 
improve the grounds, and make other improvements. 
August 25th. Another lot of land was sold under the 
direction of Henry Peck, Esq. 
October 5th. James Brewster, Esq., was added to the 
Committee for improving the grounds of the Hospital. 
It was voted “ to sell the smMI old house now on the 
Beecher lot for the purpose of being removed there- 
from.” Voted, that a “ paling fence be made on the 
southwesterly side of the street lately made in front of 
the Hospital Square. This is the street now called 
Cedar street. 
December 9th. The Milford Turnpike Company were 
requested to discontinue, as a turnpike, that part of their 
road which extends from George street, in New Haven, 
to the West Bridge, and take instead of it Congress 
Avenue. 
January 12th, 1836. It was voted to sell a certain piece 
of land situated northeasterly of the Hospital Square. 
The matter of procuring some fit person as Steward of 
the Hospital was referred to the Prudential Committee, 
William Storer, the first Steward of the Hospital having 
resigned. Mr. Amos Hill was appointed soon after this 
meeting. 33 
April 21st, 1836. Dr. J. Skinner was appointed to pro- 
vide fuel, provisions, &c., for the Hospital. 
December 21st, 1836. The Legislature was again 
called upon for money out of the funds soon to be re- 
ceived by the State from the United States. The Direc- 
tors were, evidently, on the alert, to call upon the State 
when it was in funds from any source. 
May nth, 1838. It was directed that the Secretary 
give public notice in the newspapers of the terms and 
conditions on which patients will be received into the 
Hospital. It. was also voted that the Prudential Com- 
mittee be authorized to procure two more beds, when 
wanted. 1 find nothing on the record to show the 
number of beds in the Hospital ; but it is safe to con- 
clude that there were more than two. 
May 10th, 1839. Drs. J. H. Kain and E. H. Bishop 
were elected Attending Physicians. 
At the annual meeting, May 14th, 1840, Dr. E. H. 
Bishop was elected Secretary, and E. H. Bishop, M.D., 
and Henry A. Tomlinson, M.D., were chosen as Attend- 
ing Physicians. 
March 12th, 1841. Dr. J. H. Kain was elected Attend- 
ing Physician in place of Dr. H. A. Tomlinson, deceased. 
At a meeting held August 4th, 1841, Mr. Amos Hill 
having resigned, and a number of persons having applied 
to the Prudential Committee, it was voted to refer the 
matter to the Prudential Committee, with power to act 
in the matter. Dr. P. T. Miller was elected Steward in 
1841. 
May 12th, 1842. Dr. J. Knight was elected President; 
Hon. Dennis Kimberly, Vice President. Dr. Knight held 
the office of President from this time until his death, in 
1864. At this meeting Dr. P. A. Jewett was elected At- 
tending Physician and Surgeon. 
January 18th, 1843. The Directors authorized the 
Prudential Committee to rent to Dr. J. G. Percival cer- 
tain rooms in the Hospital. The number of patients 
being small, the Directors were disposed to occupy all 
the available space in the Hospital for a reasonable remu- 34 
neration ; consequently at this time we find many of the 
rooms occupied for the storage of the furniture of fami- 
lies who had temporarily left the city. For the same 
reason the rooms in the second story of the south wing 
were rented to Dr. Percival. 
At a special meeting held October 24, 1843, Dr. E. H. 
Bishop resigned the office of Secretary, and Dr. P. A. 
Jewett was elected to fill the vacancy. 
At the adjourned annual meeting, May 15, 1845, John 
A. Totten and Levi Ives, M.D., were elected Attending 
Physicians. 
It is interesting to state that, a few years previous to 
this date, enough of the original purchase of land had 
been sold so that the Hospital Square of seven and three 
quarter acres had cost the Society but five hundred 
dollars. Subsequent sales of land were made for such an 
amount as to make a saving of a few hundred dollars 
over the original cost 
At the meeting July 4th, the Prudential Committee 
were for the first time authorized to employ a house 
physician, to reside at the Hospital. 
At the meeting, May 7th, 1847, Dr. H. Bronson was 
appointed Attending Physician. 
A committee consisting of Drs. E. Ives, E. II. Bishop 
and P. A. Jewett, were appointed to consider and recom- 
mend some plan for obtaining an increase of the Hospital 
funds and the number of members of the Society. 
May 25th, 1847, >n consequence of the large increase 
of expenses, under the management of then Steward, 
and of a slight misunderstanding between Dr. Dow, 
the Chairman of the Prudential Committee, and a large 
dog, the property of the Steward, the following resolu- 
tion was introduced by Dr. Dow, and passed by the 
unanimous vote of the Directors: 
Resolved, That the Steward of the Hospital be directed 
to sell the horse, wagon, cart and harness, and other arti- 
cles, as the Prudential Committee may direct; and also 
that he be directed not to keep a horse. To enjoin upon 
him to devote his undivided attention, and that of his 35 
wife, to the interests of the Hospital ; to keep no dogs or 
other useless and expensive animals on the premises ; and to 
require of him a monthly statement of the accounts, of 
debts contracted, and of all moneys received and paid 
out by him ; and that no article, beside those necessary 
for the ordinary business of the Hospital, be purchased 
without a written order from the Prudential Committee. 
The Chairman of the Prudential Committee was di- 
rected to visit the Hospital every month, to examine the 
accounts of the Steward, and to have a general super- 
vision of the economical concerns of the Hospital ; and 
that he be allowed twenty-five dollars for his services. 
The result proved that this appropriation was well ex- 
pended, for on August nth, 1847, the resignation of the 
Steward was received and accepted. 
September 7th, at a special meeting, William Merwin 
was appointed Steward at a salary of $300 per year for 
the services of himself and wife. As Mr. Merwin was 
satisfied with this salary for several years, it is to be pre- 
sumed that it was a sufficiently liberal one for the ser- 
vices performed. 
August 4th, 1848, at a special meeting, Dr. A. C. Blakes- 
Iee, the first house Physician, received his appointment. 
Drs. Knight, Hooker, Dow, S. M. Stone, Esq., and Dr. 
Jewett, were appointed a Committee for the purpose of 
devising some plan for rendering the grounds about the 
Hospital more ornamental. August 14th, the Committee 
reported, and were authorized to carry the proposed 
plan into execution as soon as convenient. 
Ma)' 14th, 1849, at the annual meeting, Drs. D. L. Dag- 
gett and VV. J. Whiting were elected Attending Phy- 
sicians. 
October 23d, 1849, the bonus of $5000 from the Farmers 
Bank of Bridgeport, was received, and Dr. Knight and 
Hon. W. W. Boardman were appointed a Committee to 
loan the money. 
May 22d, 1850. Dr. N. W. Taylor was elected Attend- 
ing Physician. At this meeting the first report to the 
Legislature was ordered to be prepared by the Presi- 
dent, Dr. Knight. 36 
The writer well remembers the opposition, not to say 
derision, his proposition met in the Board of Directors, 
when he proposed to make application to the Legislature 
for an annual appropriation of $2000 for charity patients, 
to be expended on the same terms as the appropriation 
of $5000 to the retreat for the Insane at Hartford. After 
persistent efforts before several meetings of the Direc- 
tors, at which the matter was discussed, the proposer 
being the only one in the affirmative, apparently, to 
get rid of the annoyance, the Directors gave their con- 
sent, that the Secretary, Dr. Jewett, who had brought 
the matter before the Board, might prepare a petition 
to the Legislature to be presented with his signature 
and that of the President, Dr. Knight, if he chose to sign 
it. It was also directed that, as the matter was so sure to 
fail, no record should be made. A petition was prepared, 
signed bv the President and the Secretary. This was 
presented to the Legislature and referred to a special 
Committee of one from the Senate and eight from the 
House of Representatives. As the appointment of the 
Committee seemed to mean something, other members 
of the Hospital Society came forward with offers of as- 
sistance. We were met at once by a remonstrance from 
the Homcepathic physicians to the appropriation, unless 
they were permitted to occupy a certain number of beds 
in the Hospital for their exclusive mode of treatment. 
After several meetings of the Committee, they at last 
agreed, unanimously, to report in favor of the appropria- 
tion. The Senate and House of Representatives accept- 
ed the report and passed the resolution for the appropri- 
ation.* Subsequently, after the Hospital was organized 
at Hartford, a similar appropriation was made for that 
Hospital. Both continue to this day, and have been 
the means of extending the benefits of the Hospitals to 
many patients who could not have been cared for in any 
other way. It may be interesting to state as a portion of 
the history of the Hospital, that on another occasion, 
* At the session of the General Assembly in May, 1876, this appropriation 
was increased to $5,000. 37 
when the Legislature was asked for an appropriation of 
$20,000, on condition that an equal amount should be 
raised by subscription, we were met by the most decided 
opposition from the same source. Able council was em- 
ployed on both sides in this controversy before the Com- 
mittee of the Legislature ; and after a long and some- 
what bitter contest the matter was finally settled by a 
compromise offered by the friends of the Hospital So- 
ciety, to this effect: the Hospital Society were to con- 
sent to an appropriation of $10,000 for the purpose of 
establishing a Homoepathic Hospital whenever the physi- 
cians and friends of that school of practice should raise 
an equal amount by subscription. This action on the 
part of the Committee and the Hospital Society effect- 
ually prevented all future opposition from any of our fel- 
low citizens, who believe or profess to believe in any 
other than the regular school of practice. 
Having been from the first, intimately connected with 
all of the applications for aid to the Hospital up to this 
time, I have ventured to give this full account of the 
matter, at the expense of some degree of egotism, for 
which 1 trust I shall be excused. I would say that with 
the exception of the first application for the annual ap- 
propriation of $2000, the directors and members have 
been a unit in all other applications for aid. 
At the annual meeting, June 3d, 1851, Dr. Anson Moody 
was elected Attending Physician. 
Committees were appointed to secure the removal of 
Dr. Percival and Miss Bunnell from the Hospital, as they 
were occupying rooms needed for patients, the number 
of patients having materially increased since the vote 
passed ordering two additional beds. At this time reso- 
lutions were passed on the death of Dr. V. M. Dow. 
July 9th, 1851, the owners of furniture stored in the 
Hospital were requested to remove it as soon as conve- 
nient; and it was voted that no more rooms be rented 
for such purposes. The Hospital had now begun to 
prosper; funds had been received to a sufficient extent 
to authorize the Directors to increase the* number of 38 
beds, and receive a larger number of patients. The 
writer can well recollect that for the first few years of 
his attendance at the Hospital, having been appointed in 
1840, the average number of patients was fifteen. From 
this before-mentioned date, the number gradually in- 
creased, until it became necessary to enlarge the Hospital. 
At the meeting held June 28th, 1854, Drs. Knight, 
Jewett and Moody were appointed a Committee to pre- 
pare a circular for distribution to the physicians of the 
State, and also to prepare rules and regulations for the 
admission of patients under the resolution of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, for the support of charity patients. 
July 1st, 1854. A majority of the Commissioners of 
the State for the General Hospital Society of Connecti- 
cut, met at the Tontine Hotel, in New Haven, and ap- 
pointed Dr. Anson Moody chairman of the Prudential 
Committee, agent to attend to the admission and dis- 
charge of patients under the resolution of the General 
Assembly, passed May session, 1854; the said Moody to 
report monthly to the Commissioners the names, resi- 
dence and disease of patients, and the period elfch pa- 
tient has been in the Hospital. 
July 3d, 1854. It was voted that Dr. Knight be re- 
quested to prepare a circular, to be distributed to the 
citizens of New Haven, for the purpose of procuring aid 
for furnishing rooms in the Hospital, and that Leonard 
A. Daggett, Esq., be employed to procure and collect 
subscriptions for this purpose. The citizens of New 
Haven responded only in a moderate way to this appeal. 
The Society, however, were enabled to make all neces- 
sary arrangements for the expected increase of patients. 
February 12, 1855. Resolutions were passed commem- 
orative of the death of Dr. Anson Moody, chairman of 
the Prudential Committee. At this meeting the first 
action was taken with reference to a classification of the 
patients in the Hospital, and Drs. Knight, Bishop and 
C. Hooker were appointed a Committee for this purpose. 
June 4th, 1855. Dr. E. H. Bishop was elected Chair- 
man of the Prudential Committee, in place of Dr. Moody, 
deceased. 39 
At a meeting held January 6th, 1856, William S. Pier- 
son, Esq., was appointed to take charge of the lot of land 
in Dorset, Ohio, given to the Hospital Society by the 
late Isaac Mills, Esq., for the purpose of the better pro- 
tecting his own lands adjoining. It was also voted that 
on notice at any time within one year, Irom the said 
Pierson, that he will purchase said lot in Dorset, Ohio, 
for $400 : the Society will sell the same to him for that 
price if not previously sold. 
The only changes of importance, for some two or three 
years, in the officers of the Society, are the election of 
S. G. Hubbard, W. Hooker and E. A. Park as Attending 
Physicians. 
November 26, 1856. Dr. O. W. Peck was elected 
House Physician. At this meeting it was voted that the 
candidates for House Physician be subjected to an exam- 
ination on all the various branches of medical science. 
September 23d, 1858. A special meeting of the Direc- 
tors was held in consequence of the death of Dr. T. P. 
Beers, “ one of the original Directors and active pro- 
moters of the Connecticut Hospital.” 
June 8th, 1859. The Prudential Committee were in- 
structed to provide more adequate means for warming 
the Hospital building before the next winter. It was 
also “ voted that the Prudential Committee ascertain the 
best means of supplying, with the cost, the Hospital with 
water.” 
At the annual meeting, June 20th, i860, no changes 
were made in the officers with the exception that Dr. C. 
A. Lindsley was elected one of the Attending Physicians. 
At this meeting Dr. P. A. Jewett, Hon. W. W. Boardman 
and Dr. S. Punderson were appointed a Committee to 
examine into the affairs of the Hospital, and report such 
changes as they may deem necessary for the best inter- 
ests of the Hospital, and for the increase of patients. 
September 3d, i860. The above-mentioned Committee 
reported by their Chairman, Dr. Jewett. The report 
was accepted and ordered printed. Dr. Knight, Hon.W. 
W. Boardman, and the Rev. S. W. S. Dutton, were ap- 40 
pointed a Committee to inquire into the expediency of 
accepting the proposition from certain ladies of New 
Haven to appropriate a portion of the Hospital grounds 
for buildings for indigent females. The Committee re- 
ported that the Constitution of the Society was such as 
to prevent the Directors from using the grounds for any 
other than Hospital purposes. 
A special meeting was held May 14, 1862. Dr. E. O. 
Cowles was appointed House Physician. 
A proposition was made to the Surgeon-General, U. 
S. A., through the Secretary of the Society, tendering the 
use of the Hospital for sick and wounded soldiers. A 
contract was made to furnish all medicine, medical and 
surgical attendance, rations and quarters for the sum 
of $3.50 per week for each soldier received into the 
Hospital. 
May 17, 1862. It was voted that a Committee be ap- 
pointed to solicit subscriptions in money, beds, bedding, 
hospital stores, &c., in this city and the adjoining towns, 
for the purpose of assisting the managers of the Hospi- 
tal in providing for the sick and wounded soldiers who 
may be sent here under contract with the War Depart- 
ment. Committee consisted of Drs. Knight, Jewett, 
Hon. W. W. Boardman and Drs. Hubbard and Daggett. 
The Board of Physicians and Surgeons were authorized 
to appoint such assistants as they may deem necessary, 
during the continuance of the contract with the War 
Department, for the care of sick and wounded soldiers. 
May 27th, 1862. The Rev. Drs. Bacon, Beardsley and 
Phelps were requested to designate two clergymen from 
each denomination in the city to act as Chaplains of the 
Hospital. The thanks of the Directors was voted to the 
New Haven Water Company for their generous offer of 
the free use of the water for the temporary buildings to 
be used for soldiers. A Committee was appointed to as- 
certain the cost of putting gas and water into the old 
and new buildings. 
At a special meeting held October 12th, 1862, it was 
voted to lease a portion of the grounds to the General 41 
Government for the use of Military Hospital; the annual 
rent to be not more than $1,500, nor less than $1,000. 
The Chairman of the Prudential Committee was author- 
ized to sign the lease. 
At the special meeting, November 6th, 1862, the Sec- 
retary, Dr. Jewett, reported that he had seen the Sur- 
geon-General, U. S. Army, and that he agreed to the 
terms of the lease of the grounds for the annual rent of 
$1,000. It was voted to accept the terms named by the 
Surgeon-General. 
A benevolent fund having been contributed for the 
benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers, Mav 21, 1863, it 
was voted that the Prudential Committee expend said 
fund on the orders of the Surgeon-in-Charge of the 
Military Hospital. 
At the meeting of the Society, held May 10th, 1866, at 
the Hospital on Whalley Avenue, an attempt was made to 
displace certain members of the Board of Directors, who 
had long been connected with the management of the 
Hospital, by parties, mainly, who had introduced them- 
selves into membership of the Hospital Society for this 
purpose, by the payment of a small sum, from $12.00 to 
$20.00. This attempt at revolution was successful so far 
as the election of Directors was concerned. But fortu- 
nately for the Hospital, in a pecuniary point of view, at 
least, there were certain members of the old Board of 
Directors who did not choose to submit to this wholesale 
intimation of their unworthiness to remain in the Direc- 
tion. They, therefore, at once made themselves life- 
directors by the payment of $ioo each to the Treasury 
of the Society. This enabled them to hold the balance 
of power ; and they did not fail to exercise it at the An- 
nual Meeting of the Directors. This was the first and 
only instance in which the members of the Society had 
not acted in perfect harmony with the Directors. 
May 13th, 1869. The Committee appointed to sell the 
Whalley Avenue property reported that the property 
had been sold for $12,250. 
May nth, 1871. The first action was taken for the 
erection of additional buildings. The Secretary reported 42 
the names ot those who had during the past year made 
themselves Vice-Presidents for life, by the payment of 
$200 and upwards, and life-directors by the payment of 
$100 and upwards. This is the only list of subscribers 
that appears on the record since the original subscription.* 
May 9th, 1872. Drs. White, Jewett and Daggett were 
appointed a Committee to inquire and report on the 
practicability of making the Hospital available as a train- 
ing school for nurses. 
July 25th, 1872. The Directors were authorized to im- 
prove and enlarge the present Hospital building, and to 
construct additional building in accordance with the 
plans proposed by the Building Committee ; and they 
were empowered to expend from the funds of the Society 
such sums as may be necessary for this purpose, not to 
exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. 
At the annual meeting, April 17th, 1873, the Commit- 
tee to whom was referred the subject of a training school 
for nurses, reported, that in their opinion it is not expe- 
dient tor the Hospital Society to undertake the direct 
organization and management of a training school for 
nurses ; that “ while we are highly gratified to learn that 
arrangements are in progress for the organization of a 
training school for nurses by a Society devoted to that 
special object, we therefore recommend the adoption of 
the following resolution: 
“ Resolved, That this Society feels deeply impressed 
with the importance of encouraging in every suitable 
manner, the special education and training of nurses for 
service in hospitals and in private families and upon ’he 
sick poor. Therefore, 
Resolved, That if a Society is organized for the train- 
ing of nurses, the Directors of the General Hospital 
Society of Connecticut are hereby authorized and ad- 
vised, under suitable regulations, to afford to said Society 
such facilities for the instruction of nurses as can be 
given at the Hospital consistent with the proper manage- 
ment of, and general interests of the Hospital.” 
* Total amount, $12,400. May gth, 1872, $800. 43 
This report was signed by Drs. M. C. White, D. L. 
Daggett, and P. A. Jewett, Committee. 
Arrangements were made at this meeting for raising the 
necessary funds for building purposes. The Society ap- 
proved of the plans adopted by the Directors for the ad- 
ditional Hospital. Action was also taken for a thorough 
revision of the charter of the Hospital Society, and the 
Directors were authorized to petition the Legislature for 
such alteration as they may deem expedient. Additional 
subscriptions to the amount of $1432 were reported. 
April 23d, 1874. The new by-laws and regulations for 
the government and direction of the Society and Hospital, 
were presented by the Directors, as proposed by the 
Committee. The Committee consisted of Morris Tyler, 
William Fitch, P. A. Jewett, Francis Bacon and W. C. 
DeForest. After amendments in some important particu- 
lars, the whole was accepted as the By-Laws and Regu- 
lations of the General Hospital Society of Connecticut. 
It was voted that the By-Laws and Regulations be print- 
ed with the Annual Report of the Directors. A Com- 
mittee of five was appointed to take charge of all mat- 
ters that may come before the Legislature. The Com- 
mittee were as follows: Hon. William Fitch, S. E. Bald- 
win, Esq., Hon. James E. English, Dr. P. A. Jewett and 
Dr. Francis Bacon. The Committee were instructed to 
procure from the Legislature such alteration of the 
charter as will make it optional to elect or not more than 
four Directors annually. 
May 21 st, 1874. The proposed amendment to the 
charter not being yet enacted by the Legislature, the 
election of officers for the ensuing year was postponed to 
an adjourned meeting. The Secretary reported addi- 
tional subscriptions to the amount of $1275. 
May 29th, 1875. The Prudential Committee were au- 
thorized to invite the Committee on Humane Institu- 
tions to visit the Hospital, and to extend the invitation 
to all the members of the General Assembly. Soon after 
this invitation the Committee on Humane Institutions 
visited the Hospital, and were met by the Directors and 44 
members of the Hospital Society. A statement was 
made of the intentions and wants of the Hospital Society, 
that seemed to make a favorable impression on the mem- 
bers of the Committee. That this was true, is evidenced 
by the fact that soon after the meeting the amendment 
was passed by the General Assembly. This amendment 
was with reference to the election of Directors. It was 
accepted by vote of the Society. The Legislature at the 
same time made an appropriation of $50,000, conditioned 
on $15,000 being raised by subscription. 
At the meeting, March 4th, 1875, the Directors were 
authorized to erect a Laundry building, and to alter or 
erect such other small buildings for the use of special 
classes of patients as the needs of the Hospital may re- 
quire. The Secretary reported the receipts of subscrip- 
tions to the amount of $1100. 
At the annual meeting held in April, 1876, the Pru- 
dential Committee reported that Henry Farnam, Esq., 
H on. James E. English, and William Fitch had contributed 
$5,000 each for the maintenance of free beds. 
A new by-law, the 14th, was adopted as follows: * If 
any person has given, within the year past, or shall here- 
after give to the Society during any twelve months the 
sum of five thousand dollars, he and his heirs and assigns 
shall be entitled to nominate patients to one free bed in 
the Hospital of the Society from time to time, forever. 
Not more than one patient to be nominated by the same 
person at any one time. If any person shall give the 
Society during any twelve months the sum of twenty-five 
hundred dollars, he and his heirs and* assigns shall be 
entitled to nominate patients to one free bed in the Hos- 
pital of the Society from time to time, during, not exceed- 
ing, six months in each year, forever; not more than one 
patient to be nominated by the same person at any one 
time. All sums given or to be given and appropriated 
for the maintenance of free beds shall be invested and 
kept as a special and perpetual fund, the income only to 
be used for the support of the Hospital.” 
In response to the petition of the Directors to the 45 
Legislature, an appropriation of $50,000 was made, on 
condition that $15,000 be raised by subscription. “ Friends 
of the institution liberally met the demand,” and the 
Hospital was enabled to cancel its indebtedness and make 
such improvements as were necessary in the various de- 
partments of the Hospital. 
The total amount of appropriations from the State 
since the foundation of the Hospital is $87,000. Total 
from subscriptions, $50,000. The Hospital has only a 
small permanent fund amounting to $15,000. 
When we read the annual report of the Hospital of our 
sister city for 1871, and find that its fund already amounts 
to over $150,000, our citizens should blush with shame that, 
after having been in existence for 50 years, our Hospital 
should have only a nominal endowment. Can it be that 
the citizens of New Haven have less liberality than those 
of Hartford? Or is it true that they take less interest in 
our charities? In connection with this part of our sub- 
ject it may be interesting to state that an opinion has 
been prevalent, as is now, to a limited extent, that the 
Hospital is a great source of income to the physicians 
and surgeons who perform the duties of attendants at the 
Hospital. Those who hold such views cannot have read 
the various copies of our charter, as published in the 
annual reports, for it is therein provided that the physi- 
cians and surgeons shall receive no compensation for their 
services. It seems to be difficult to make a limited num- 
ber of the community believe that there is a body of pro- 
fessional men who are ready and willing to give their 
services to the sick and needy both in and outside of a 
hospital. If the citizens of New Haven had given one 
half the amount that would have covered the fees of the 
physicians and surgeons for attendance at the Hospital, 
our permanent fund would have been sufficient to place 
the institution on an independent basis as a charitable 
institution. 1 therefore say without fear of contradiction 
that the Physicians and Surgeons have done more for our 
Hospital than all other classes of citizens combined. 46 
ADMISSION OF PATIENTS. 
“Frequent applications are made by persons who con- 
sider that they are entitled to free admission under the 
State appropriation of $2,000 per year, but it is sufficient 
to meet only a small portion of the expense for the large 
number who draw upon it for aid. 152 patients, for an 
aggregate period of weeks, have been partially 
supported by this appropriation, and it has afforded but 
$1.21 per week for each. As the average expense is $6 
per week, this supplement from the State to the $4 per 
week paid for all sent by the towns, still leaves a balance 
to be provided by the Hospital treasury. A considerable 
number of patients have been received for whom there 
was no other provision than this small amount afforded 
by the State fund. 
Our own citizens not unfrequently express much sur- 
prise that applicants for admission cannot be received at 
the Hospital free of charge, because it is considered a 
‘benevolent’ institution—forgetting that it has no endow- 
ment or fund to provide for the expenses of support. It 
is earnestly hoped that the friends of the poor in various 
parts of the State will make provision for free beds. In 
other institutions they are endowed, by a church 
or by some other organization, and kept for specific cases, 
or as a memorial of a friend who has passed from earth, 
but whose tender ministrations to the helpless and suffer- 
ing are thus continued. 
It may be asked, why are not the donations made in 
years past applied in this way in our own Hospital? In 
its unendowed condition these contributions have been 
needed for its daily support, and the only interest that 
can accrue from the generous gifts of other days, is that 
which comes from the good that has been done. 
The great want of the Hospital is an income to meet 
the increasing and pressing demands upon its charity. 
Many a poor man comes to our door with exhausted 
strength and exhausted means, who has struggled against 
disease, and labored to maintain himself, until he could 47 
labor no longer. Can we say to him: ‘We have no 
provision here for you?’ Perhaps a father, or a mother, 
the victim of accident, or of some fearful malady, seeks 
at our hands for surgical aid; shall we take from the pit- 
tance, perchance laid by, the pittance that is their all, or 
can we lighten the heavy burden, so heavy at the best, 
and say : ‘ Come, without money and without price.’ 
Three hundred dollars will provide a free bed for a 
year, and who will aid in thus securing to the friendless 
and the poor, shelter and tender care in the hour of dis- 
tress—perhaps of death.” 
August 26th, 1864. A special meeting was held on the 
occasion of the death of the President, Dr. Jonathan 
Knight, Pres. 22 years. 
June 13th, 1864. Amos Townsend, Esq., resigned the 
office of Treasurer, which he had held for 32 years. 
At the annual, May 12th, 1865, Hon. W. W. Boardman 
was elected President; E. H. Bishop, M.D., Vice Presi- 
dent, and C. A. Lindsley, Secretary. 
At a meeting, September 26th, 1865, a committee on a 
new site for the Hospital was appointed. January 29th, 
1866, Dr. Jewett was added to the committee. A'pril 
26th, 1866, Messrs. Daggett, Harrison and Lindsley were 
appointed a committee to confei with the town authori- 
ties with regard to a site for new Hospital. 
At a meeting held March 2, 1867, action was taken on 
the death of the Vice President, Hon. Henry Peck. 
May 11th, 1867, it was voted to re-occupy the old Hos- 
pital buildings and grounds at the earliest convenience, 
the purchase of a new site and the erection of new 
buildings having been abandoned. 
November 7th, 1867. Resolutions were passed on the 
death of Dr. Worthington Hooker. 
From the close of the Military Hospital in 1866 and the 
consequent surrender of the building and grounds to the 
Hospital Society by the government, and the repudiation 
of the lease for the remainder of the five years, during 
which the lease was to run, the Directors directed their 
attention mainly to a settlement with the department at 48 
Washington. The whole matter was at last referred to 
Governor James E. English, and a satisfactory settlement 
was made by him, and so reported to a meeting of 
the Directors May 14th, 1869. A vote of thanks and 
acknowledgment was passed and presented to Governor 
English at this meeting, for his personal efforts, freely 
rendered in furtherance of this settlement. 
Oct. 10th, 1870. Dr. Wilcoxson resigned the office of 
Chairman of the Prudential Committee, with the thanks 
ot the Directors, and Dr. F. L. Dibble was elected to fill 
the vacancy. 
Aug. 28th, 1871. A meeting was held to take action on 
the death of the Hon. W. W. Boardman, who had been for 
more than 40 years a Director, Vice-Pres’t., and President. 
At the annual meeting, May 10th, 1872, action was 
taken with reference to subscriptions for the building 
fund. The necessity for increased accommodations was 
made more and more apparent, and in order that the 
Hospital might avail itself of the appropriation of $20,000, 
it was necessary to increase our action with reference to 
subscriptions. It is with regret that l am forced to state 
that our citizens did not respond to the call of the Direc- 
tors with the alacrity desired ; and had it been for the 
liberality of a few individuals, our increased accommoda- 
tions would not have been secured. Through the active 
exertions and liberal subscriptions of a few gentlemen, 
sufficient funds were secured to warrant the Directors to 
proceed in their efforts for a new building. 
At the meeting May 31st, 1872, Mr. F. C. Withers was 
present and exhibited and explained plans for enlarging 
the Hospital. June 7th, 1872, Governor J. E. English 
and H. M. Welch were added to the Building Committee. 
July 25th, 1872, the Building Committee were author- 
ized to make all contracts necessary for the erection and 
completion of the proposed Hospital Building; the plans, 
as submitted by the architects, Messrs. Withers & Russell, 
having been considered, and, after several meetings of 
the committee, altered so as to meet the views of the 
committee. 49 
April 18th, 1873. The plan for a Training School for 
Nurses was first submitted by Dr. F. Bacon. The reso- 
lutions submitted by himr after some slight amendments, 
were adopted. April 24th, 1873, it was voted that the 
connection of the Training School with the Hospital may 
take effect whenever, in the opinion of the Prudential 
Committee, the. new building is ready for occupation. 
The Training School has now been in operation in con- 
nection with the Hospital since the new building was 
completed. It has met the expectations of its founders, 
and has succeeded much better than the Directors of the 
Hospital had reason to anticipate, as it is a well known 
axiom that no business can be well conducted with two 
different managers. 
At the meeting December 27th, 1873, the final report 
of the Building Committee was received, and also that 
of the committee to procure furniture. From the first 
report it appears that Messrs. Perkins & Chatfield con- 
tracted for the mason work for the sum of $41,000; Mr. 
A. N. Clark, for joiner work, $28,087; H. B. Smith & 
Co., steam heaters, $8,000. Plumbing, gas fitting, gas 
fixtures and other extras make the whole cost $88,158.14. 
From this is to be deducted discount on bills and contracts, 
$3,250, making the total cost, less deduction, $84,908.14. 
The cost of furniture, as appears by the report of the 
committee, is $4,075.85. 
June 6, 1874. General S. E. Merwin was elected on the 
Prudential Committee in place of Dr. Lindsley. James 
E. English, Morris Tyler and Daniel Trowb'ridge were 
elected Finance Committee. Under the new regulations 
of the Hospital, Drs. M. C. White, L. J. Sanford, W. L. 
Bradley, T. H. Bishop, R. S. Ives and S. H. Bronson 
were elected Attending Physicians, and Drs. P. A. Jewett 
and F. Bacon, Attending Senior Surgeons, and Drs. G. 
B. Farnam and I. S. Smith, Attending Junior Surgeons. 
Dr. Daggett having stated to the Directors at this meet- 
ing that some friends of the Hospital were desirous that 
Chapel accommodations should be provided, and would 
bear the expense of constructing proper accommodations 50 
for public worship, if the Directors would designate 
some room for the purpose. It was voted that the base- 
ment room, formerly used for the sailor’s ward, might be 
used for such purpose. The plan proposed was at once 
carried into effect, and the Hospital has now convenient 
and tasty accommodations for religious worship. This 
was done through the liberality of the Misses Hillhouse. 
March 17th, 1874. It was first decided to have a Super- 
intendent of the Hospital in the place of a Steward. It 
was also decided to appoint a committee to report a 
scheme for the reorganization of the management of the 
Hospital, and Hon. Morris Tyler, VV. C. DeForest, Esq., 
Hon. Wm. Fitch, Drs. F. Bacon and P. A. Jewett were 
appointed the committee. 
May 27th, 1874. The resignation of Mr. Douglass Fair- 
child having been received and accepted, Capt. George 
M. White was elected Superintendent, at a salary of 
$1,800 per annum, with house rent and board for himself 
and wife. To meet the additional expenses of this, the 
Hon. Wm. Fitch stated that he would give to the society 
$1,000 per year for five years. The Secretary states that 
“the anxieties of the doubting Directors were thus re- 
lieved.” The new regulations and by-laws having been 
reported at a previous meeting, and considered at several 
meetings, were recommended to the societygfor adoption, 
after several amendments had been made. 
April 30th, 1874. Dr. L. D. Wilcoxson, D. L. Daggett 
and W. S. Charnley tendered their resignations as mem- 
bers of the Prudential Committee. Their resignations 
were accepted and a complimentary vote was passed for 
their long and faithful services to the Hospital as mem- 
bers of the Prudential Committee. The vacancy occa- 
sioned by the resignation of the Prudential Committee 
was filled by the election of the Hon. Wm. Fitch, Drs. 
C. A. Lindsley and F. L. Dibble. The difficulty in the 
Board of directors was not from any personal feeling 
towards these gentlemen, but in consequence of the 
unpopularity of the Steward and a difference of opinion 
on that subject. The old members of the committee 51 
being disposed to favor the Steward, and a majority 
of the Directors taking the part of the Head Nurse, as 
opposed to the Steward. 
May ioth, 1872. Dr. E. H. Bishop was elected Presi- 
dent, and holds the office to the present time. 
At a special meeting held July 30th, 1874, the Pruden- 
tial Committee, with Gov. English, Nelson Hotchkiss, 
Esq., and Dr. P. A. Jewett, were appointed a committee 
to contract for the extension of the heating apparatus, 
and to make any changes necessary in the Hospital 
Buildings. It was also voted to appoint a Building 
Committee to prepare plans and make a report of the 
needs of the Hospital. The following were appointed: 
YVm. Fitch, F. L. Dibble, S. E. Merwin, Jr., J. E. Eng- 
lish, Nelson Hotchkiss and P. A. Jewett. The committee 
to petition the Legislature reported that the sum of 
$50,000 had been made on condition that $15,000 in addi- 
tion be obtained by subscription. A committee consist- 
ing of Dr. E. H. Bishop, J. W. Mansfield, Esq., Hon. 
Morris Tyler, Gov. English, Prof. E. E. Salisbury and 
S. E. Merwin, Jr., were appointed to solicit subscriptions 
for the $15,000. 
October 16th, 1874. The committee reported that the 
appropriation from the State was readily secured b)' ob- 
taining with great promptness the conditional $15,000. 
March 15th, 1875. The Building Committee were 
authorized to erect a Laundry Building in accordance 
with the plans proposed at an expense of $12,000. This 
action was confirmed at a meeting held March 20th, 1875. 
July 15th, 1875. Mr. Wm. Fitch, Chairman of the 
Prudential Committee, reported that the firm of Perkins 
& Chatfield gave to the Hospital the sum of $500 at the 
time the new building was erected, and that the firm of 
Smith & Sperry gave a like sum when the Laundry was 
erected, and that one member from each firm had been 
designated to be Directors for life. Mr. Chatfield and 
Mr. Sperry were confirmed by vote of the Directors as 
Directors for life. 
January 21st, 1876. Dr. S. Id. Chapman having resigned 52 
as the Pathologist of the Hospital, Prof. M. C. White, 
M.D., was appointed to fill the vacancy. 
The half century of the Hospital terminates May 26th, 
1876. It will be seen from the history of the Hospital, 
that the Directors and those outside of the Board, who 
were interested in the success of the institution, have 
labored unceasingly for the interests of the Hospital. 
The institution has seen many dark days; how many, 
those only know who have been intimately connected 
with its management. I can truly say, had it not been 
for the liberality of some of our wealthy citizens, whose 
donations were received at a time when the future of the 
Hospital was all darkness, the institution would have 
been the most unimportant of the charities of the State, 
instead, as it now is, equal, at least, to the other institu- 
tion of the same benevolent character. We have no 
foolish rivalry with our sister institution at Hartford. 
Nor have they, as we believe, any towards us; but both 
are ready to lend a helping hand, when required, to 
advance the interests of either. The writer would be 
glad to see a hospital in every city in the State. He 
firmly believes it to be the duty of the physicians of 
the State and individuals to act promptly in this matter. 
We cannot do too much for the sick poor within our 
borders. 53 
OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL SOCIETY 
OF CONNECTICUT, 1876. 
E. H. BISHOP, President. 
WILLIAM FITCH, Vice President. 
C. A. LINDSLEY, Secretary. 
J. A. BISHOP, Treasurer. 
STATE COMMISSIONERS. 
His Excellency, THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE, M officio. 
HENRY WHITE, 
WILLIAM FITCH. 
1877. 
E. H. BISHOP, 
F. L. DIBBLE, 
LEVI IVES, 
J. W. MANSFIELD, 
S. E. MERWIN, Jr., 
F. WAYLAND. 
1878. 
F. BACON, 
S. E. BALDWIN, 
WILLIAM FITCH, 
H. G. LEWIS, 
C. A. LINDSLEY. 
DIRECTORS. 
!879- 
JAS. E. ENGLISH, 
D. L. DAGGETT, 
E. E. SALISBURY, 
L. J. SANFORD. 
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE. 
WILLIAM FITCH, 
F. L. DIBBLE, 
S, E. MERWIN, Jr. 
AGENT OF THE STATE FUND AND MARINE HOSPITAL. 
WILLIAM FITCH. 
FINANCE COMMITTEE. 
J. E. ENGLISH, 
DANIEL TROWBRIDGE, 
MORRIS TYLER. 
AUDITING COMMITTEE. 
HENRY D. WHITE, 
SUPERINTENDENT. 
GEORGE M. WHITE. 
ATTENDING PHYSICIANS. 
JOHN W. MANSFIELD. 
MOSES C. WHITE, M.D., 
L. J. SANFORD, M.D.. 
T. H. BISHOP, M.D., 
W. L. BRADLEY, M.D., 
H. S. BRQNSON, M.D., 
W. H. HOTCHKISS, M.D. 
P. A. JEWETT, M.D., 
ATTENDING SENIOR SURGEONS. 
FRANCIS BACON, M.D. 
IRA S. SMITH, M.D., 
ATTENDING JUNIOR SURGEONS. 
G. B. FARNAM, M.D. 
CONSULTING PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 
LEVI IVES, M.D., 
D. L. DAGGETT, M.D., 
C. A. LINDSLEY, M.D., 
F. L. DIBBLE, M.D., 
E. H. BISHOP, M.D., 
T. B. TOWNSEND, M.D., 
D. P. SMITH, M.D., 
R. S. IVES, M.D. 
APOTHECARY. 
Miss FANNIE COMSTOCK. 
PATHOLOGIST. 
MOSES C. WHITE, M.D. 
T. H. RUSSELL, M.D., 
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS. 
T. M. PRUDDEN, M.D. 54 
BOARD OF VISITORS. 
HORACE DAY, 
WTLLIS M. ANTHONY, 
CYRUS NORTHROP, 
TREDWELL KETCHUM, 
CHARLES ATWATER, 
Rev. WM. G. ANDREWS. 
Mrs. W. W. BOARDMAN, 
Mrs. E. E. SALISBURY, 
Mrs. J. A. BISHOP, 
Mrs. HENRY O. HOTCHKISS, 
Mrs. FRANCIS BACON, 
Mrs. W. A. LARNED, 
Mrs. W. S. CHARNLEV, 
Mrs. DANIEL TROWBRIDGE, 
Mrs. WM. FITCH, 
Mrs. T. H. BISHOP, 
Mrs. E. C. SCRANTON, 
Mrs. J. M. TOWNSEND, Jr., 
BOARD OF LADY VISITORS. 
Mrs. JOHN N. BABCOCK, 
Mrs. ELI WHITNEY, Jr., , 
Mrs. HENRY L. HOTCHKISS, 
Miss EMILY BETTS, 
Miss ISAPHENE HILLHOUSE, 
Miss SUSAN BRADLEY, 
Miss HARRIET S. STAPLES, 
Miss LILLIE PARKER, 
Miss JUSTINE INGF.RSOLL, 
Miss BESSIE D. BEACH, 
Miss HATTIE CARRINGTON, 
Miss CLARA COLLINS. 
Atwater, 
*Benj. Beecher, 
Dr. E. H. Bishop, 
*Timothy Bishop, 
Lucy C. Boardman, 
*W. W. Boardman, 
*James Brewster, 
Dr. H. Bronson, 
F. L. Dibble, 
VICE-PRESIDENTS FOR LIFE. 
James E. English, 
Henry Farnam, 
William Fitch, 
*Mrs. C. L. Hillhouse, 
*Dr. Henry Holmes, 
Nelson Hotchkiss, 
*Dr. Eli Ives, 
*William Johnson, 
*Dr. Jonathan Knight, 
*Solomon Langdon, 
*Wm. Leffingwell, 
Abram B. Lewis, 
Nathan Peck, 
Edward E. Salisbury, 
*J. Sampson, 
*Benj. Silliman, 
*Ithiel Town. 
LIFE DIRECTORS. 
*Elihu Atwater, 
Wm. Atwater, 
Dr. Francis Bacon, 
Amos F. Barnes, 
Dr. Timothy H. Bishop, 
John A. Blake, 
*Abraham Bradley, 
Dr. Wm. L. Bradley, 
Wm. B. Bristol, 
*Joseph N. Clark, 
Joshua Coit, 
Philo Chatfield, 
*David Daggett, 
Dr. David L. Daggett, 
*Jeremiah Day, D.D., 
Wm. C. DeForest, 
M. G. Elliott, 
Dr. George B. Farnam, 
Mrs. Wm. Fitch, 
*Eleanor S. Gerry, 
*Wm. P. Greene, 
*Samuel J. Hitchcock, 
*Dr. Worthington Hooker, 
*Dr. Thomas Hubbard, 
Dr. Levi Ives, 
Dr. Robert S. Ives, 
Dr. P. A. Jewett, 
Mrs. W. A. Larned, 
J. W. Mansfield, 
Mrs. Martha B. Marett, 
S. E. Merwin, Jr., . 
*Eneas Munson, 
*John L. Norton, 
*Rev. Seth Pyne, 
Dr. L. J. Sanford, 
E. S. Scranton, 
Joseph E. Sheffield, 
Wells Southworth, 
*Sidney Street, 
*Titus Street, 
N. D. Sperry, 
*Seth Thomas, 
James M. Townsend, 
Daniel Trowbridge, 
Thos. R. Trowbridge, 
Morris Tyler, 
Dr. G. A. Ward, 
H. M. Welch, 
Henry White, 
Dr. M. C. White, 
Eli Whitney, 
L. Winship. 
* Deceased. 55 
*Dr. Alanson Abbe, 
*Austin Alcott, 
*Timothy Ailing, 
*Joshua Atwater, 
*Eli B. Austin, 
*John Babcock, 
*Simeon Baldwin, 
*Wm. Baldwin, 
*Jesse Banks, 2d, 
*Selah Barnes, 
*John Beach, 
*Isaac Beers, 
H. B. Bigelow, 
*Mrs. Timothy Bishop, 
*Wm. Bristol, 
*Daniel Brown, 
*Wm. Buell, 
*George Bunce, 
*Aaron Burr, 
*Ransotn Burritt, 
*Thomas B. Butler, 
*Dr. Chas. Byington, 
S. E. Baldwin, 
*Leverett Candee, 
D. Cook, 
*Thomas Cook, 
*Wm. Cutler, 
*Alfred Daggett, 
*James E. P. Dean, 
*John DeForest, 
*Timothy Dimock, 
James Donaghe, 
*Dr. V. M. Dow, 
*Timothy Dwight, 
Dr. C. J. DuBois, 
Dr. H. A. DuBois, 
*John Durrie, 
*Henry W. Edwards, 
*Wm. H. Elliott, 
*Richard Ellis, 
*Jedediah Field, 
*Eleazer T. Fitch, 
*John Fitch, 
P. B. Foster, 
O. B. Freeman, 
*Dr. Silas Fuller, 
Misses Gerry, 
*Eli Gilbert, 
*Chauncey A. Goodrich, 
*Jared Griswold, 
*Andrew Harris, 
*Grindley Harrison, 
*Jedediah Hawley, 
*Wm. Hillhouse, 
*Dr. Charles Hooker, 
*Obadiah Hotchkiss, 
*Russell Hotchkiss, 
*Wooster Hotchkiss, 
*Thomas Howell, 
Dr. S. G. Hubbard, 
*Ralph I. Ingersoll, 
Dr. Chas. L. Ives, 
Frederick Ives, 
*Dr. Nathan B. Ives, 
*Wm. H. Jones, 
*Dennis Kimberly, 
J. H. Klock, 
Dr. C. A. Lindsley, 
*Nathaniel Lyon, 
*A. H. Maltby, 
Edwin Marble, 
*Wm. McCracken, 
*George Mitchell, 
*Amos Morris, 
*Dr. Alfred S. Monson, 
Burton Mallory, 
Gardner Morse, 
Samuel Noyes, 
*Denison Olmsted, 
*Joseph Palmer, 
Joseph Parker, 
LIFE MEMBERS. 
*Henry Peck, 
Mrs. Maria Peritt, 
*Dr. John S. Peters, 
*Dr. W. W. S. Pierson, 
*Daniel Porter, 
*Joseph Porter, 
L. S. Punderson, 
Robinson, 
George Robinson, 
Rogers, Smith & Co., 
*Abby Salisbury, 
*Philander Salmon, 
*Elihu Sanford, 
*Hawley Sanford, 
*Ebenezer Seeley, 
*John Skinner, 
*Henry Smith, 
Dr. Ira S. Smith, 
*Nathan Smith, 
Sidney M. Stone, 
*John Swathel, 
*Eli Terry, 
Eli Terry, Jr., 
*Dr. Eli Todd, 
*Isaac Thomson, 
Dr. T. B. Townsend, 
*Henry Trowbridge, 
*Dr. Wm. Tully, 
*Daniel Wadsworth, 
*Lyman Wakefield, 
Alfred Walker, 
*Dr. Reynold Webb, 
Dr. James B. Whitcomb, 
*Dyer White, 
Dr. Chas. B. Whittlesey, 
*Thos. S. Williams, 
*Francis B. Winthrop, 
*Dr. Chas. Woodward, 
*Henry Woodward, 
*Dr. Sam’l B. Woodward. 
* Deceased. 56 
MEMBERS FOR TEN YEARS. 
Dr. L. D. Wilcoxson, from May, 1868. 
Dr. Edward Bulkley, from April, 1873. 
John E. Bassett, from Sept. 4, 1874. 
Win. Franklin, from Dec. 24, 1874. 
L. W. Sperry, from Sept. 4, 1874. 
Edward E. Hall, from April 24, 1875. 
Mrs. J. S. Beach, from March 14, 1874. 
Johnson Brothers, from Jan. 15, 1875. 
E. G. Stoddard, from Jan. 15, 1875. 
R. & J. M. Blair, from Jan. 16, 1875. 
A. VV. DeForest, from April 24, 1875. 
CORPORATORS. 
*Thomas Hubbard, M.D., 
*Eli Ives, M.D., 
*Jonathan Knight, M.D., 
*Wm. Leffingwell, Esq., 
*Thomas Minor, M.D., 
*J. S. Peters, M.D., 
*Benjamin Sillinian, M.D., 
*John Skinner, M.D., 
*Nathan Smith, M.D., 
*Eli Todd, M.D. 
PRESIDENTS. 
*Wm. Leffingwell, Esq., 1827-1832 
*Hon. Simeon Baldwin, 1832-1833 
*Nathan Peck, Esq., 1833-1841 
*Hon. W. W. Boardman, ..1841-1842 
*Jonathan Knight, M.D.,..1842-1865 
*Hon. W. W. Boardman,..1865-1871 
E. H. Bishop, 1872- 
VICE-PRESIDENTS. 
*John S. Peters, M.D., 1827-1831 
*Hon. Simeon Baldwin, 1831-1832 
*Thomas Hubbard, M.D., .1832-1839 
*Hon. W. W. Boardman,..1839-1841 
*Jonathan Knight, M.D.,..1841-1842 
*Hon. Dennis Kimberly, -.1842-1863 
E. H. Bishop, M.D., 1863-1866 
*Hon. Henry Peck, 1866-1867 
E. H. Bishop, M.D., 1867-1872 
VVm. Fitch, 1872- 
TREASURERS. 
*Dr. John Skinner, 1827-1832 
Amos Townsend, Jr„ 1832-1864 
Alex. McAllister, .1864-1865 
J. A. Bishop, 1865- 
SECRETARIES. 
*Charles Hooker, M.D., 1827-1830 
*N. Beers Ives, M.D., 1830-1835 
*Virgil M. Dow, M.D., 1835-1840 
E. H. Bishop, M.D., .1840-1844 
P. A. Jewett, M.D., 1844-1864 
S. G. Hubbard, M.D., 1864-1865 
C. A. Lindsley, M.D., 1865— 
* Deceased. 57 
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 
Elected from May 10, 1832, to May, 1876. 
Thomas Hubbard, M.D., Eli Ives, M.D., Jonathan 
Knight, M.D., Virgil M. Dow, M.D., Alfred S. Monson, 
M.D., Charles Hooker, M.D., Timothy P. Beers, M.D., 
John H. Kain, M.D., E. H. Bishop, M.D., Henry A. 
Tomlinson, M.D., P. A. Jewett, M.D., John A. Totten, 
M.D., Levi Ives, M.D., Henry Bronson, M.D., David L. 
Daggett, M.D., W. J. Whiting, M.D., N. W. Taylor, 
M.D., Anson Moody, M.D., S. G. Hubbard, M.D., V\£orth- 
ington Hooker, M.D., E. A. Park, M.D., C. A. Lindsley, 
M.D., T. B. Townsend, M.D., Francis Bacon, M.D., 
Leonard J. Sanford, M.D., E. W. Blake, M.D., F. L. 
Dibble, M.D., T. H. Bishop, M.D., G. A. Ward, M.D., 
C. L. Ives, M.D., M. C. White, M.D., W. L. Bradley, 
M.D., R. S. Ives, M.D., George B. Farnam, M.D., H. S. 
Bronson, M.D., Ira S. Smith, M.D., W. II. Hotchkiss, 
M.D. 
CONSULTING PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 
Elected from May 17, 1847, to May, 1876. 
Eli Ives, M.D., J. Knight, M.D., V. M. Dow, M.D., E. 
H. Bishop,1 M.D., N. B. Ives, M.D., C. Hooker, M.D., 
Levi Ives, M.D., P. A. Jewett, M.D., W. Hooker, M.D., 
D. L. Dagg'ett, M.D., T. B. Townsend, M.D., F. L. 
Dibble, M.D., C. A. Lindsley, M.D., F. Bacon, M.D., 
David P. Smith, M.D., Robert S. Ives, M.D. 
MEMBERS OF THE PRUDENTIAL AND EXECUTIVE 
COMMITTEES. 
Elected from May 26, 1831, to May, 1876 
Nathan Peck, Esq., V. M. Dow, M.D., T. P. Beers, M. 
D., Hon. VV. VV. Boardman, S. M. Stone, Esq., Anson 
Moody, M.D., E. H. Bishop, M.D., Chas. Hooker, M.D., 58 
Samuel Punderson, M.D., D. L. Daggett, M.D., Worth 
ington Hooker, M.D., H. B. Harrison, Esq., L. D. Wil 
coxson, M.D., W. S. Charnley, Esq., F. L. Dibble, M.D. 
Hon. William Fitch, S. E. Merwin, Jr. 
STEWARDS OF THE HOSPITAL. 
William Storer, Amos Hill, P. T. Miller, William Mer- 
win, Charles Ball, W. B. Watson, B. Q Lake, Joseph 
Colton, Douglass Fairchild. 
Total number of patients received into the hospital 
since it was organized, is 11,586. Total number of deaths, 
832. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
The first subscriptions for the benefit of the hospital 
were made soon after the appointment of Dr. Skinner as 
agent to solicit funds. The Professors of the Medical 
Institution of Yale College appear first on the list. Drs. 
Eli Ives, Benjamin Silliman, Jonathan Knight, $500 each, 
and Thomas Hubbard, $120. Total, $1,620. 
Exclusive of the above, the subscriptions in the town 
of New Haven amounted to the sum of $3,527. Total, 
$5,147. The amounts range from $2 to $200 each. In 
New Haven County, exclusive of the town of New 
Haven, $579, ranging from 50 cents to $20. Hartford 
County, $1,856.37; range from $1 to $500. The subscrip- 
tion of $500 was made by Solomon Langdon of Farming- 
ton. A vote of thanks was passed by the Directors 
for this generous subscription. 
Litchfield County, $431 ; range from $1 to $100. Mid- 
dlesex County, $489.25; range from 50 cents to $100. 
Tolland County, $159.85; range from 50 cents to $25. 
Fairfield County, $298.26; range from 25 cents to $12. 
This county, by vote of the Directors, was placed in 
charge of Dr. Swan of Hotchkisstown, now Westville. 59 
He was to furnish his own conveyance, and receive at 
the rate of $2.50 per day and expenses while engaged in 
canvassing the county. When he had concluded his 
labors and a settlement was made with the Directors, it 
was found that the Hospital Society owed him $2.50 over 
and above his receipts. New London County, $239.05 ; 
range from 50 cents to $100. Windham County, $217.96; 
range from 25 cents to $20. 
It will be seen from the above abstract of subscriptions 
that Dr. Skinner would take a small sum when he could 
not get the larger. The above are the original subscrip- 
tions. In addition others have been made to the amount 
of $3,402, from time to time. This is exclusive of sub- 
scriptions for special purposes. There has been received 
from the State in the form of legislative appropriations 
and bank bonus, the sum of $17,000 up to 1854. Since 
then, $70,000. Total, $87,000. 
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDINGS. 
The first building erected for the General Hospital 
Society of Connecticut, was built of red sandstone and 
covered with stucco. Tt. was ioo feet long, the central 
portion being 50 feet deep, with a projection of 10 feet in 
front and 2 feet in the rear, leaving the wings 38 feet in 
width, with a Grecian portico. It was two stories high 
with a basement, the latter being entirely above ground. 
Halls passed through the entire building in both direc- 
tions on each story. Each room in the building had a 
large open fire-place. The windows were large, and 
placed at frequent intervals. The kitchen and dining 
rooms were in the basement. The steward’s office and 
rooms for his family were on the second story. The only 
ventilation of the wards was through the open fire-places, 
and it proved to be, as it was without doubt, the most 
efficient mode of ventilation ever adopted in the hospital ; 
modern improvements have not yet offered any mode of 
ventilation equal to this. But the inability to procure in 60 
sufficient quantity, and the consequent expense of pro- 
curing the necessary fuel for these heaters, made it neces- 
sary to abandon this mode of heating with wood fires. 
The next mode adopted after the anthracite coal came 
into common use, was the worst ever adopted except one 
that will be spoken of hereafter; it consisted of cylinder 
stoves in each room, one or more according to the size. 
In order to retain the heat in the wards, it was necessary 
to close the fire-places with solid mason work, thus pre- 
venting all ventilation and all ingress of fresh air, except 
through the cracks in the doors and windows, and egress 
of foul air except through the same crevices. It became 
necessary after a time to abandon this mode of heating, 
and the modern hot air furnace was introduced. The 
necessity for ventilation, after this mode had been tried 
for a time, became so apparent that the mason work in 
most of the fire-places was removed. It was then found 
that most of the heat received through the registers 
passed up the flues of the chimney. The mason work 
was restored to the fire-places. Another difficulty was 
found to exist in the hot air furnace. The cold and fresh 
air to be heated passed through a flue into the air cham- 
ber that opened outside of the building, and in extreme 
cold weather it was found necessary to change the pa- 
tients from one side of the building to the other, accord- 
ing to the direction of the wind. When the wind was 
northerly the southerly rooms would be heated and those 
on the northerly side would be apparently colder than 
the air outside the building, and vice versa. After a few 
years, and a great consumption of fuel fora small amount 
of heat, this mode of warming the hospital was aban- 
doned, and the Directors decided to try tne Gold Steam 
Heater. This was almost equal to a return to the old 
cylinder stoves, the only real difference being the mode 
of generating heat. There was no difficulty in heating 
the rooms, but where was the fresh air to come from ? 
An architect was employed to ascertain whether venti- 
lating flues could be placed in the walls of the building. 
On examination it was found that, unfortunately, the 61 
walls were constructed of such material, and so strong1, 
that it would be impracticable to adopt this mode of 
introducing- fresh air. The same manner of heating the 
original building remains to the present time. Fortu- 
nately, but few patients are accommodated in the wards 
ot the old building, it being used chiefly for offices and 
the apartments of the Superintendent and sleeping rooms 
for nurses and other attendants. 
At the annual meeting held May n, 1871, the Directors 
of the General Hospital Society were authorized to im- 
prove and enlarge, by additional buildings or otherwise, 
the present Hospital building to such an extent as they 
may deem expedient. July 25, 1872, the Directors were 
authorized to improve and enlarge the present Hospital 
building, and to construct additional buildings in accord- 
ance with the plans proposed by the building committee,* 
and they were also empowered to expend from the funds 
of the Society such sums as may be necessary for these 
purposes, not to exceed $75,000. The plans of the new 
building were drawn by Mr. Withers, of New York, a 
celebrated hospital architect. The plans submitted by 
him were adopted by the committee, after having been 
examined and altered in some important points by Mr. 
Russell, an architect of this city. We are under great 
obligations to Governor English for many valuable sug- 
gestions with reference to the plan and construction of 
the building. Mr. Nelson Hotchkiss also rendered val- 
uable assistance in superintending the construction of the 
building. 
l'he dimensions of the new building are as follows : 
the central building is 63 feet long by 40 feet wide, ft is 
divided into several rooms on each door: dining-room, 
nurses’ room for each ward, with closets for linen and 
clothing of patients. The division of rooms is the same 
on each floor. The building is two stories high, with a 
Mansard roof, making it virtually three stories; it is con- 
nected with the main building by a corridor 46 feet long 
* This committee consisted of Gov. English, Hon. Wm. Fitch, H. M. 
Welch ; Drs. D. L. Daggett, C. A. Lindsley, F. L. Dibble, and P. A. Jewett. 62 
by 14 feet wide. The wards are six in number, including 
the third story. The east wing contains the largest wards, 
each being 90 feet long by 26 feet wide, and each accom- 
modates 22 beds. The west wing is 65 feet long by 26 
feet wide, and contains 16 beds for each ward. The 
water-closets and bath-rooms are in bow-shaped pro- 
jections at the end of each ward. 
This portion of the building also contains ihe private 
stair-case. The entire building is heated by steam, the 
first and second floors by indirect and the upper by direct 
radiation. The building is ventilated by a large brick 
shaft passing from the foundation to above the roof, with 
heat passing into it from the steam heaters, thus producing 
an upward draft. Large registers open into this shaft 
from each ward, both near the floor and ceiling. The 
fresh air is received from the outside through registers, 
and by the heated air passing through the shaft a constant 
circulation is maintained. The ventilation of the wards 
is good, but not by any means perfect. An open fire-place, 
with a “ low down grate ” in addition, would be a great 
improvement. 
The new building will contain 126 patients in the six 
wards, besides the rooms for private cases. Each patient 
has from 1500 to 1600 cubic feet of air. With the accom- 
modations in the old building the Hospital can receive 
150 patients. More room is needed, as the officers of the 
Hospital are forced to refuse admission to many deserv- 
ing patients for want of room, especially in the winter, 
and from want of funds. 
We now have one of the best arranged hospitals in the 
country, and must soon increase our accommodations by 
building another wing on the north end of the old build- 
ing, unless some other plan may be deemed best. 63 
BY-LAWS OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL SOCIETY OF 
CONNECTICUT, ADOPTED APRIL 23, 1874. 
I.—Meetings of the Society. 
The Annual Meeting of the Society shall be held at the Hospital in New 
Haven, on the third Thursday of April in each year, at such time as the 
President and Secretary may direct. Notice of all meetings shall be pub- 
lished in at least two daily newspapers printed in New Haven for at least 
three days preceding such meeting. 
II.—Meetings of the Directors. 
The Annual Meeting of the Directors shall be held on the day following 
the Annual Meeting of the Society, and other stated meetings shall be held 
on the third Friday of January, July and October in each year. 
Special meetings of the Directors shall be called by order of the President 
whenever, in his opinion, the business of the Society requires it, or when re- 
quested in writing by any five of the Directors. And when special meetings 
are so called, he shall direct the Secretary to insert in the notices to the mem- 
bers the import of the business to come before them, and such notices shall 
be served at least two days previous to the time appointed for the meeting, 
when practicable. 
III.—Directors' Report. 
At each Annual Meeting of the General Hospital Society of Connecticut 
the Board of Directors shall make a report to the Society of the condition of 
the Hospital and of their action during the year. 
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS. 
IV.—Of the President. 
The President of the Society shall preside at the meetings of the Board of 
Directors. He shall call special meetings of the Board and of the Society 
whenever, in his opinion, the business of the Society requires it, or when re- 
quested so to do in writing by five Directors, to be held at such place in the 
City of New Haven as he may think proper. 
V.—Of the Vice-President. 
In case of the absence of the President, the elected Vice-President shall 
possess his powers and perform his duties. 
VI.—Of the Treasurer. 
The Treasurer having given bonds to the satisfaction of the Finance Com- 
mittee, shall have the custody of all bonds, titles, deeds, and other papers 
and documents relating to the property of the corporation, and of all moneys 64 
belonging thereto. He shall open an account with one of the banks in the 
City of New Haven, to be approved by the Board, in the name of this cor- 
poration, and shall deposit all moneys in such bank immediately upon his 
receiving them. He shall keep a proper check and account-book, showing 
the amount of funds in his hands, which shall at all suitable limes be open 
to the inspection of the Directors. At each stated meeting he shall present 
an account, or an abstract thereof, showing the state of the treasury. He 
shall pay all orders which shall be drawn upon him in the manner hereafter 
prescribed. He shall execute such resolutions as may be adopted by the 
Committee of Finance relative to the investment of funds, in compliance 
with Article IX of the By-Laws. He shall prepare and lay before the mem- 
bers of the Society at their Annual Meeting a statement of the receipts and 
expenditures of the preceding year, of the funds of the Society, and of the 
manner in which the same are invested. 
VII.—Of the Secretary. 
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Society 
and of the Board of Directors, and shall give true copies of the same when 
requested by the Directors or any one of them. He shall preserve all the 
records and papers which belong to his office, and they shall at all times be 
open to the inspection of any Director. He shall notify the Directors of 
every meeting of the Board, by notice addressed to them through the Post 
Office, or otherwise, at least two days, when practicable, before the meeting ; 
and shall give similar notice of the meetings of the Society, by publication in 
at least two daily city papers, for at least three days preceding such meeting. 
He shall also cause notice to be given to the Chairman of each Committee, 
of the names of the members thereof, and the object for which they may be 
appointed. And he shall cause every person appointed on any Standing 
Committee or on the Medical Board to be notified of his appointment. 
VIII.—Election of Committees. 
The Directors shall elect by ballot, at their Annual Meeting, a Prudential 
Committee and a Committee of Finance, each to consist of three members ; 
an Auditing Committee of two members, a Superintendent, and a Board of 
six Visitors, who shall hold office during the year, and until others are elected 
in their stead, unless otherwise ordered by the Board. Any vacancies occur- 
ring during the year may be filled in like manner. 
IX.—Of the Finance Committee. 
It shall be the duty of the Committee on Finance to adopt proper means 
of augmenting the subscriptions and benefactions, to circulate information 
respecting the Hospital, to see that the subscriptions are duly received, and 
to direct the Treasurer in investing the funds, when not otherwise ordered 
by the Prudential Committee. 
X.—Of the Prudential Committee. 
i. The Prudential Committee shall consist of three Directors. They shall 
give such orders and establish such regulations as they shall think proper to 65 
carry into effect the objects of this institution ; provided such orders and 
regulations be not inconsistent with those established by the Board of 
Directors. 
2. They shall receive or reject applicants for admission in accordance 
with the regulations upon that subject, and shall determine whether the ap- 
plicant shall be received as a free or pay patient, and in the latter case they 
shall fix the rate of payment ; but they shall admit no person without a pre- 
vious examination by one of the Medical Staff. 
3. They shall meet at the Hospital at least once in each week ; but in the 
interval between their meetings, and when the circumstances of the shall 
require it, the Superintendent may act as their representative in the admission 
of patients, reporting his action in each case to the Committee at their next 
meeting. 
4. They shall see that no patient is allowed to remain in the Hospital 
unnecessarily, or to the detriment of the institution. 
5. They may, at their discretion, discharge any patient or Hospital attend- 
ant for disorderly conduct. 
6. They shall have general charge of all property within the precincts of 
the Hospital, and authorize such repairs and disbursements as may from 
time to time be necessary ; but no extraordinary expenditure shall be author- 
ized exceeding one hundred dollars per month, except by the Board. They 
shall examine as to whether economy is observed in the several departments 
of the Hospital, the quantity and quality of the food and medicines furnished, 
and the consumption of liquors for Hospital purposes. They shall once a 
week inspect all the Hospital buildings, visit the wards and dead-house, 
laundry, water and bathing closets, inquire into the behavior of the House 
officers, the nurses and attendants, and the cleanliness and order of all parts 
of the Hospital and grounds. 
7. They shall audit all bills and accounts, and when approved shall draw 
orders on the Treasurer for the payment thereof, to be signed by at least two 
members. They shall keep a book of minutes, and enter therein on each 
visiting day their proceedings and observations, which book shall be laid 
before the Board at every stated meeting. 
XI.—Of the Auditing Committee. 
The office of the Auditing Committee shall be to examine the Treasurer’s 
accounts at the close of each year, prior to the annual meeting, and report 
thereon. 
XII.—Of the Board of Visitors. 
The Board of Visitors shall visit the Hospital at least once each week. 
They shall inquire into the economical administration of the Hospital, and 
such other matters as are connected with the care and comfort of the patients. 
They shall be careful to make all recommendations and suggestions in writ- 
ing to the Prudential Committee, and shall report all reasonable complaints 
from patients. 66 
XIII.—Alterations or Additions. 
No alteration of, or additions to, these By-Laws shall be made, unless pro- 
posed in writing to this Society by at least twelve Directors, of whom six 
shall be elected Directors. 
FREE BEDS AND ANNUAL MEMBERS. 
,A donation of $2,500 entitles the donor to nominate patients to a free bed 
for life* 
A donation of $1,000 entitles the donor to the same privilege for any three 
months which he may select in each year. 
A donation of $50 constitutes the donor a life member of the institution. 
Twenty-five dollars a member for ten years. 
A donation of $500 constitutes the donor a life director. 
REGULATIONS OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL SOCIETY OF 
CONNECTICUT. 
OK THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 
I.—Appointments. 
All Physicians and Surgeons connected witji the Hospital shall be elected 
by ballot, by the Board of Directors, at their Annual Meeting, for the year 
commencing July 1st next ensuing. Any vacancies occurring during the 
year maj' be filled in like manner from candidates nominated by the Med- 
ical Board. 
II.—Medical Board. 
1. There shall be four or more Consulting Physicians and Surgeons ; 
there shall be six Attending Physicians and four Attending Surgeons, two 
of whom shall be termed Senior Surgeons and two Junior Surgeons. 
They shall receive no pay for their services in the Hospital. . 
2. The Medical Board shall consist of the Consulting and Attending 
Physicians and Surgeons, four of its members constituting a quorum. 
3. The Medical Board shall meet regularly on the first Saturday of each 
month, and at the first regular meeting in May of each year shall elect a 
President, Vice-President, and Secretary, who shall perform the customary 
duties of those offices respectively, for one year from the first day of June 
next ensuing. 
4. Special meetings of the Medical Board may be called by its President 
or by the Board of Directors. 
5. The Medical Board shall make rules for the internal management 
of the Hospital, so far as the Medical Staff is concerned, subject to the ap- 
proval of the Board of Directors, and not inconsistent with existing 
By-Laws. 67 
6. The Medical Board shall advise the Board of Directors in all matters 
pertaining to the health and physical well-being of the patients. They shall 
regulate the diet of the patients and the manner and time of giving clinical 
instruction; they shall also appoint suitable persons as House Medical 
Staff and Apothecary. 
7. The Medical Board shall examine all applicants for appointment on 
the House Medical Staff. A competitive examination shall be held in each 
year, at such time as may be directed by the Prudential Committee, and the 
candidates who are found best qualified shall be appointed to fill vacancies. 
The Consulting Physicians and Surgeons shall be considered as coun- 
sellors, and shall be invited to attend all capital operations and to advise in 
the treatment of obscure and important cases. 
III.—Consulting Physicians and Surgeons. 
IV.—Attending Physicians and Surgeons. 
I. The Hospital shall be divided into one Medical and one Surgical 
Department. 
2a. There shall be assigned to the Medical Department six Physicians, 
whose several terms of service during the year shall be two months. 
2b. There shall be assigned to the Surgical Department two Senior and 
two Junior Surgeons. 
The Senior Surgeons shall serve alternately for periods of three months 
each. 
The attending Senior Surgeon shall visit the Hospital on each Saturday, 
and shall be accompanied by the attending Junior Surgeon. He shall visit 
the Hospital and accompany the Junior on his regular daily visits, at other 
times, when the welfare of the patients requires it, or when requested to do 
so for the purpose of consultation or operation. 
All capital operations shall be performed by or under the direction, when 
practicable, of the attending Senior Surgeon. When possible, a consultation 
of all the Medical Board shall be called. 
The Junior Surgeons shall serve alternately for periods of two months 
each. 
The Attending Physician and Junior Surgeon shall visit the Hospital 
once daily, at such hour as the Medical Board may direct, and in cases of 
emergency at such other times as each may deem necessary. The Junior 
Surgeon shall assist the Senior Surgeon in all capital operations, and shall 
have general charge of the treatment of patients, subject to the approval of 
the Senior Surgeon. 
3. The Physicians and Surgeons having charge of each department, shall 
so arrange that one or the other shall visit their department each day. 
4. The attending Physicians and Surgeons shall have the entire direction 
of the treatment of the patients. They shall also exercise a supervision of 
the condition of the wards, the behavior of the orderlies and nurses, and the 
character of the food of the patients, and report to the Prudential Com- 
mittee. They may give clinical instruction, illustrated by the patients in 
their respective departments, to such practitioners of medicine and students 
as are admitted to the Hospital. 68 
5. The Attending Physicians and Surgeons on duty shall be present at 
the meetings of the Prudential Committee, to confer with them on the man- 
agement of the House. 
V.—Pa thologist. 
1. A Pathologist shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, upon the 
nomination of the Medical Board. 
2. All post-mortem examinations upon persons dying in the Hospital 
shall be made under the direction of the Pathologist, when practicable. 
3. All post-mortem examinations shall be made at an appointed hour, 
and not until a reasonable time after the death of a patient. 
4. All pathological specimens shall be the property of the Hospital ; and 
shall be kept in a suitable place, to be provided by the Prudential Committee. 
5. The Pathologist may give instruction in pathological anatomy in the 
autopsy-room. 
6. The Pathologist shall have charge of the post-mortem instruments. 
7. The Pathologist may appoint an assistant, subject to the approval of 
the Medical Board. 
VI.—Curator. 
1. The Assistant to the Pathologist shall be ex-officio Curator of the 
Museum. 
2. He shall have charge of the Hospital Museum, and of the necessary 
apparatus for preserving specimens. 
3. He shall prepare for the Museum all such specimens as may be deliv- 
ered to him for that purpose by the Pathologist, and keep a catalogue of all 
specimens placed in the Museum. 
VII.—House Staff. 
1. The House Medical Staff shall consist of one or more Physicians and 
one or more Surgeons, who shall severally reside in the Hospital. To these 
may be added assistants, as occasion may require. 
2. At the expiration of their term of service, “ Certificates of Service ” 
shall be granted to the House Physician and Surgeon by the Board of Di- 
rectors, on recommendation by the Medical Board. 
VIII.— The House Physician and Surgeon. 
1. The House Physician or House Surgeon shall examine patients apply- 
ing for admission, determine what wards they shall occupy, subject to the 
approval of the Attending Physician or Surgeon, and if the condition of 
patients admits of it, shall order them to a warm bath before assigning them 
a bed. 
2. The House Physician and House Surgeon shall visit each patient in 
their respective wards, at least morning and evening, and be prepared to 
report the state of the patients to the attending Physician or Surgeon. They 
shall record all prescriptions and directions for their administration in books 
to be kept for that purpose—of which there shall be one for each ward—and 
shall send the same to the Apothecary shop, immediately after the visits of 69 
the attending Physician and Surgeon, each day, to be returned to the ward 
with the medicines. 
They shall see that the medicines are regularly taken and promptly ad- 
ministered, with care and neatness. 
There shall also be a “ Special Diet” list in each ward, on which shall be 
recorded all orders for stimulants and extra articles of diet. This list must 
be written up by the House Physician or House Surgeon, in the afternoon 
for the following day, and be sent to the Superintendent before three 
o’clock p. M. 
In cases of special need for the same day, the House Physician or House 
Surgeon will give special orders. The diet lists must be returned to the 
wards at or before six o’clock p. m. 
These lists must be inspected and signed by the Attending Physician or 
Surgeon once a week. 
3. In any medical or surgical case of emergency, the House Physician or 
House Surgeon shall request the immediate attendance of the Attending 
Physician or Surgeon, or if he cannot be found, of any other physicians or 
surgeons of the Hospital. 
4. The House Physician or House Surgeon shall in no case substitute 
his assistant in the performance of any duty specially incumbent on himself, 
except in a case of sudden illness or other emergency, or by permission of 
the Prudential Committee, or of the Attending Physician or Surgeon. 
5. The House Physician or House Surgeon shall not remove patients 
from one ward to another, without the approval of the Superintendent, nor 
shall he discharge a patient without permission from the Attending Physician 
or Surgeon, and the concurrence of the Superintendent. 
6. The House Physician and House Surgeon shall alternate weekly in 
examining patients for admission, and in the charge of patients admitted at 
night—so arranging that both duties shall not devolve at the same time upon 
either of them. 
7. They shall not be absent at the usual hour of attendance of the physi- 
cians and surgeons. When either of them intend to go off the premises, he 
shall leave notice with the Superintendent. 
The House Physician and House Surgeon must never be absent at the 
same time. 
8. They shall not engage in any other business than that of the Hospital. 
9. When a member of the House staff desires leave of absence from duty, 
he shall present to the Prudential Committee a petition in writing for the 
same, approved by his Visiting Physician or Surgeon, and the Committee 
may grant the leave of absence at their discretion. 
IX.—Assistants to the House Physician and House Surgeon. 
I. The Assistants shall attend the House Physician or House Surgeon in 
his morning visits to the patients, and shall also be present at the regular 
visit of the Attending Physician or Surgeon, and at such other times as he 
may direct, and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to 
them. 70 
2. The Senior Assistants shall, under the direction of the Attending Phy- 
sician or Surgeon, keep a record of all medical and surgical cases which 
occur in their respective departments. In this record shall be entered the 
name, age, and occupation of each patient, the probable cause and history of 
his disease, the remedies used upon and after his admission, the name of the 
Attending Physician or Surgeon, his dailj' reports of the case, the termina- 
tion either in recovery, relief or death, and such other circumstances as may 
tend to illustrate the case, the nature and treatment of the disease ; and be 
prepared to submit their records to the Prudential Committee. It shall be 
the duty of the respective Junior Assistants to transcribe neatly and legibly 
every such record, when completed, into the case books. Said books shall 
be deposited in the Library and properly indexed. 
3. It shall also be the special duty of the Senior Surgical Assistant to 
cleanse carefully all instruments after use, and return them to their proper 
places, and at surgical operations to admit only medical men in good stand- 
ing, students invited by them, and such nurses and attendants as may be 
authorized to be present. 
When the office of Assistants is vacant, the duties specified in Article 2 
shall be performed by the House Physician and Surgeon. 
4. All instruments and apparatus, except pocket-cases and thermometers, 
shall be kept in the place assigned for them, under the charge of the resident 
House Surgeon. He shall not loan instruments, except to members of the 
Hospital Medical Board, and in that case he shall take a written receipt for 
the instruments loaned. 
5. The examination of candidates for appointment as Assistant to the res- 
ident House Physician and Surgeon shall be held when directed by the Med- 
ical Board. 
X.—Apothecnry. 
1. The Apothecary shall make up all medicines prescribed, agreeably to 
the formulas from time to time directed by the Physicians and Surgeons. 
He shall deliver no medicine or other articles which are not entered on the 
prescription book, or to persons living out of the House. He shall put up 
the medicines for each ward separately, and shall annex to them labels bear- 
ing the name of the patient for whom prescribed, with printed or written 
directions for taking them, and he shall send them to each ward to be dis- 
tributed to the patients. He shall keep splints, bandages, and muslin, of 
such sizes and in such quantities as shall be directed by the Attending Sur- 
geon, and shall keep a book in which shall be entered the ward to which 
they are sent, in order that they maj' be returned to him when practicable. 
2. He shall regularly attend the Dispensary, and never be absent with- 
out the Superintendent’s permission. He shall keep the Dispensary and its 
belongings clean and in good order, and it shall remain open from 7 o’clock 
A. M. to 8 o’clock p. M. He shall observe careful economy in everything 
relating to his department, and permit no patient, attendant or other person 
to enter the Dispensary unnecessarily. No liquid medicines shall be put 
up in a larger than four ounce phial, except infusions, decoctions, and those 
for external application. 71 
XI.—Of the Superintendent. 
1. The Superintendent shall be the Executive Officer of the Board of 
Directors, and responsible to it for the good order of the House. 
2. He shall have power to hire and dismiss all male nurses and all serv- 
ants, male and female,—furnishing to the Housekeeper force sufficient to do 
the house work,—subject to the approval of the Prudential Committee; and 
it shall be his duty to dismiss any attendant who shall be guilty of profanity, 
drunkenness, neglect of duty or other gross misconduct, reporting his action 
and reason therefor to the Prudential Committee. 
3. He shall purchase, under the direction of the Prudential Committee, 
furniture, provisions, medicines, and all other stores required for the Hospi- 
tal, and shall attend to the issue of the same, keeping under his keys all 
wines, spirits, etc., and issuing daily the requisite supplies for the day, to 
the Apothecary. 
4. He shall keep in a book provided for that purpose, a regular and 
accurate account of all moneys received or disbursed by him on behalf of 
the Hospital, and a record of all such contracts as he may be authorized to 
make, which book, with the vouchers, shall be laid before the Prudential 
Committee. 
5. He shall deposit all Hospital moneys coming into his hands with the 
Treasurer forthwith, and shall obtain a draft from the Prudential Committee, 
upon the Treasurer, for such sums as may from time to time be required for 
the uses of the House He shall account, in his statement of receipts and 
expenditures, for all moneys so received, which statement, with his vouch- 
ers, shall be laid before the Prudential Committee at their monthly meeting. 
6. He shall submit to the Prudential Committee monthly, at their stated 
meetings, a roll of all persons employed upon#the premises, showing how 
thejr are employed and their rate of compensation. He shall permit-no one, 
except those entitled thereto by virtue of these regulations, to eat or sleep in 
or occupy any part of the Hospital premises without express permission 
from the Prudential Committee. 
7. He shall visit every ward at least once a day, to see that the rules are 
obeyed, and shall make weekly a general inspection of all parts of the Hos- 
pital, at which time he shall require all attendants to be at their several 
posts and remain there until the inspection is concluded. He shall be 
responsible for the general cleanliness and order of the entire establishment, 
including the theater, out-buildings and grounds. He shall have the cloth- 
ing of patients entering, cleansed and disinfected if necessary. He shall be 
responsible for the safely of the Hospital property, furniture, bedding, etc., 
keeping an inventory of the same, and semi-annually shall take an account 
of stock. He shall see that books given to the Hospital for the use of the 
patients are not lost or destroyed, and shall instruct the orderly to keep the 
names of patients borrowing books and see to their safe return. He shall 
see that the attendants are properly instructed in regard to their respective 
duties in case of an alarm of fire. 
8. He shall see that the outer doors are locked at a seasonable hour, 
every evening, and all the buildings properly secured at night. 72 
g. When a patient is dangerously ill, he shall ndtify (if possible) some 
relation or friend. If the patient desires to converse with a clergyman or 
religious person, he shall invite the person desired to attend, and while such 
person is present shall see that proper decorum is observed. 
io. On the decease of a patient, the Superintendent shall cause the body 
to be removed, as soon as conveniently may be, to the dead-house, and there 
safely kept until delivered to the friends or those responsible for its inter- 
ment. 
ir. When any articles of value or other effects are left by a deceased 
patient, the Superintendent shall cause them to be labelled with the patient’s 
name and date of his decease, and hold them for the action of the Pruden- 
tial Committee. 
12. When a patient is discharged or dies, the Superintendent shall cause 
the fact to be recorded in the Register, mentioning the patient’s condition 
(whether cured, relieved, etc.), if discharged, along with any circumstances 
attending his departure" which might influence his future admission. 
13. If any of the officers, nurses or attendants shall violate the regula- 
tions, or be guilty of any misconduct, it shall be the duty of the Superin- 
tendent to report the facts in writing to the Prudential Committee. 
The Superintendent is expected to co-operate with the Head Nurse in her 
efforts for the comfort of the patients and well being of the Hospital, and to 
give due weight to her suggestions concerning these matters. 
XII.—Of the Head Nurse. 
The Head Nurse shall receive the patients from the Superintendent, and 
arrange them in the places assigned by the House Physician. She shall be 
responsible to the Medical S&ff for the care of the sick and wounded, shall 
direct in the housekeeping of the Hospital in all that pertains to the admin- 
istration of the wards, to the preparation of the special diet, and to the work 
of the linen-closets. 
She shall take charge of all private donations of clothing and delicacies, 
and distribute them to the patients, under the directions of the House Medi- 
cal Officers ; keeping a list of articles, with names of donors. 
She shall make requisitions upon the Superintendent and Housekeeper 
for such things as she may require in the discharge of her duties ; such requi- 
sitions to be entered in a book, and in all cases to be laid before the mem- 
bers of the Prudential Committee weekly, to be examined and counter- 
signed. 
Beyond this, she shall be responsible to the Committee of the Training 
School for the instruction of the Pupil Nurses, and the carrying out of all 
orders received from this Committee concerning the proper object of the 
school. 
XIII.—Of the Housekeeper. 
i. The Housekeeper shall be appointed by the Superintendent, subject to 
the approval of the Prudential Committee. She shall superintend the 73 
housekeeping of the Hospital ; direct the servants in their work of keeping 
clean the wards and hall-floors, walls, paint, staircases, closets, sinks, bath- 
rooms, etc.; direct the work of the laundry and mending-room ; oversee the 
cooking of food for the officers and pupil-nurses, and of the house diet for 
the patients ; and shall be responsible for the faithful performance of these 
duties to the Superintendent and Head Nurse. 
Note Bath-rooms, water-closets and sinks to be cleaned, aired and 
disinfected daily. • 
Note B.—Ward-floors and window-sills to be swept and dusted daily, and 
washed once a week ; oftener when necessary. 
Note C.—Staircases and halls to be swept daily, and washed once a week. 
Note D.—Windows and piazza-floors to be washed at the discretion of the 
Superintendent. 
Note E.—The Housekeeper will keep a daily record in the store-room of 
all articles received by her from the Superintendent, and issued by her to the 
kitchen. 
Laundry. 
2. All articles of bed or body clothing, bandages, etc., in use in the fever- 
wards in the nursery, and in surgical cases, shall be sent to the laundry as 
soon as changed, and put immediately in soak ; bandages and rags by them- 
selves, with a disinfectant. 
Bed-linen, towels and clothing in ordinary cases, shall be changed through- 
out once a week—oftener when necessary, and the soiled clothes sent to the 
laundry at once. 
Washing for the officers, pupil nurses and family shall go to the laundry 
on Monday. Other washing reserved in the laundry closets for the rest of 
the week. 
Duplicate lists of clothing for the wash shall be made out in each ward. 
In the Men’s wards, the male nurse shall count over the clothing, and make 
it into bundles for the wash, in the presence of the Pupil Nurse, who shall 
take the lists of the same. In the Women’s wards, this duty shall be per- 
formed by the female servant, superintended by the Pupil Nurse. 
The Houskeeper is responsible for the clothing from the time it leaves the 
wards until it is returned to the ward-linen closets. 
Note.—All the articles, when washed, ironed and aired, shall be sent to a 
room set apart for the purpose, and known as the Mending-room, where the 
Housekeeper, with proper assistants, shall look them over ; have all needful 
mending done; substitute whole articles for those needing repairs, and re- 
turn to the ward-linen closets clothing and bedding corresponding to the 
lists of those sent to the wash. Bandages will be rolled and sent to the Dis- 
pensary, as also clean rags. 
The Housekeeper shall make a note of losses, wear and tear, etc., of bed- 
ding, towels, clothing, etc., keeping a book for this purpose in the Mending- 
room, and shall present the same quarterly to the Superintendent. 
She shall see that all clothing of patients sent to the laundry is properly 
marked, so as to ensure its safe return. 74 
XIV.—Of Hospital Attendants. 
1. Hospital attendants shall be employed by the Superintendent, with the 
approval of the Prudential Committee, in such numbers as the services of 
the Hospital may require. 
2. They shall be under the control of the Superintendent, and of the heads 
of the several departments in which they may be employed. 
3. As far as practicable, they shall have assigned to them their regular 
duties, but will be expected to yield willing obedience to any reasonable 
requirements. 
4. They shall give at least one week’s notice to the Superintendent of 
their intention to leave the service of the Hospital, and may require the same 
notice when discharged, unless they may be dismissed for misconduct. 
5. They shall not leave the Hospital without the permission of the Super- 
intendent, who shall assign them their regular hours of duty and recreation. 
They shall respect all orders received from the Housekeeper and Head Nurse. 
6. Those assigned to the wards as nurses shall attend to the general order 
of the ward, daily policing and weekly washing, and the care of the dining- 
room. In the women’s wards the Housekeeper shall appoint a woman ser- 
vant to do this work. It shall be the duty of all attendants to consider the 
comfort of the patients, and to behave themselves with proper respect and 
decorum at all times. 
7. No officer, nurse, or other attendant, shall receive any compensation, 
gift, or bequest, from any patient, unless authorized to do so by the Pru- 
dential Committee, through the Superintendent. Any male nurse may be 
suspended for cause by the Attending Physician or Surgeon until his case 
can be acted upon bv the Prudential Committee. Any complaint against 
the pupil nurses shall be addressed by the Attending Physician to the Head 
Nurse, and reported by her to the Committee of the Training School. Dis- 
satisfaction with the Head Nurse shall,be reported to this Committee by the 
Physician. 
8. The names of convalescents fit for light duty, who do not pay full 
board, shall be reported to the Superintendent each day by the House Physi- 
cian, or House Surgeon, and posted in the office for the information of the 
Head Nurse and Housekeeper, who shall have the right to call upon such 
persons for service in wards or mending-room. 
9. There shall be an orderly appointed as doorkeeper, and to collect the 
prescriptions and diet lists for the Dispensary and office, and return them to 
the wards at the proper hours ; also, to give out books from the library and 
note to whom they are issued. 
XV.— Visitors. 
Visitors shall be admitted to the Hospital on Mondays, Wednesdays and 
Saturdays, between the hours of and 4! P. M. They shall give no provis- 
ion or stimulant to any patient without permission from the medical officer 
of the ward. 75 
OF PATIENTS. 
XVI.— The Admission of Patients. 
1. Cases of great urgency shall be admitted to the Hospital at any hour 
of the day or night. 
2. Other patients will be admitted between 9 o’clock A. m. and 3 o’clock 
p. m. They must apply in person at the office of the Hospital, when they will 
be examined and admitted by one of the Medical Staff, subject to approval 
by the Prudential Committee. If unable to apply in person, they shall be 
visited at their homes by one of the Medical Staff. 
3. No patient suffering from any contagious or infectious disease shall 
be admitted, nor any lunatic. 
4. There shall be posted in the office daily the number of vacant beds, 
free and pay, for the information of the Examining Physician. 
5. Application for the admission of patients living out of the city should 
be accompanied by a certificate from some respectable physician, stating the 
nature and probable duration of the disease, which certificate, with the appli- 
cation, will be referred to the Prudential Committee. 
XVII.—Rules for Patients. 
1. All patients, on admission to the Hospital, shall, unless forbidden by 
the House Physician or House Surgeon, before being assigned a bed, be sent 
to the bath-room, washed from head to foot, and furnished with clean cloth- 
ing from their own or from Hospital stores. If necessary, their hair shall 
be cut. 
All patients able to leave their beds will wash themselves in the ward 
bath-rooms and comb their hair, immediately upon getting up in the morning 
Every patient is expected to bathe the whole person once a week unless 
otherwise ordered by the Attending Physician or Surgeon. It will be the 
duty of the men and women nurses in their respective wards to enforce 
this rule. 
2. Patients must take off their hats in the wards, and their boots and 
shoes before lying down, and will be responsible for the neat appearance ot 
their beds when not occupied during the day, and of their tables and window- 
shelves. 
3. Patients admitted to the Hospital are forbidden to use profane or inde- 
cent language; to express immoral or infidel sentiments; to play at any 
game for money ; to smoke tobacco in the House, except in places provided 
for smoking, or to procure for themselves or others any intoxicating liquors. 
4. No patient shall be allowed to have any books, pamphlets or news- 
papers of an immoral or indecent nature. 
5. No male patient shall go into any of the women’s wards, or any female 
patient into any of the men’s wards. 
6. No patient shall enter the dead-house, engine-room, kitchen, laundry, 
theatre, or any of the attendants’ rooms, except by permission of the Super- 
intendent or other officers of the House. 76 
7. Every patient not forbidden by the Physician shall take the outside 
air either in the grounds or on the piazzas (weather permitting) each day. 
The nurses will enforce this rule in cold weather as near noon as possible. 
When desiring to go beyond the Hospital bounds, patients must obtain a 
card from the Attending Physician or Surgeon, at his morning round, stating 
that he has no objections, which card, when countersigned by the Superin- 
tendent, will serve them as a pass, and will be valid for the day it is given, 
but must be returned to the doorkeeper when the patient returns. 
8. In exercising out of doors, patients will confine themselves to thp 
graded walks, and not intrude upon the grass or cultivated grounds. 
No fruit or vegetables shall be taken from the trees, vines or grounds, 
without permission of the Superintendent. 
1. No bundles, carpet-bags, baskets or other baggage, will be allowed in 
the wards. All clothing, not in actual use, will be locked up in the ward 
closet. 
2. No clothing of any kind will be allowed under the pillows, or tucked 
about the beds or window-sills. Towels must be hung in their appointed 
places. No packages of provisions or fruit will be allowed anywhere in the 
wards. Supplies sent by friends for special patients will be taken care of 
by the nurse of the ward. 
3. No newspapers will be allowed spread over the bed-tables, and no 
accumulation of old papers and magazines will be allowed on the window- 
sills and tables. 
4. Great care must be taken that nothing shall be thrown into bath tubs, 
basins, sinks or closets which can clog the drains. Daily sweeping will be 
begun in the bath-rooms, and the litter brushed through the ward into the 
enjry, and immediately taken up. 
5. Rags used for dressing wounds, and too much soiled to go the laundry, 
will be immediately carried down stairs and buried, or burned in the open 
air. No articles of any kind, clothing, towels, bandages or rags will on any 
account be washed out of the laundry. 
6. No ward shall be left unattended ; when the nurse is necessarily 
absent, a substitute (convalescent or assistant) shall be on duty for the time 
and shall answer the call of the patients. 
7. The watchman shall commence his duty at 9 P. M. and pass hourly 
through the men’s wards until 6 a. m. Shall put out all unnecessary lights, 
preserve order in the convalescent ward, and give such assistance as he may 
be asked for by any nurse on duty. 
XVIII.— Wards. 
XIX.—Meals. 
1. The Medical officers, head nurse, pupil nurses, housekeeper and 
apothecary will form one mess, taking their meals by themselves. 
2. The superintendent and family may form one mess, taking their meals 
by themselves. Both these tables will be served and provided in the same 
manner. 77 
3. Employees and patients on house diet will be served alike, and all 
others according to the directions of the medical board. 
4. All patients able to leave their beds will take their meals in the ward 
dining rooms. 
5. All orders for special diet will be promptly filled, and the articles sent 
up on the lifts neatly served. 
At the last annual meeting of the Society, the office of 
Head Nurse was created and the department of nursing 
transferred to the “ Connecticut Training School for 
Nurses.” The school entered on its duties early in Octo- 
ber last, and since that time has had charge of this depart- 
ment. , 
In the construction of the building particular attention 
has been given to the ventilating and heating apparatus 
and to the water supply. The best materials have been 
used and the best mechanical skill employed, and all mat- 
ters of detail have been carefully considered. It is be- 
lieved that the whole structure and its appointments will 
compare favorably with any modern hospital. 
The building committee, consisting of Drs. Daggett, 
Litidsley, and Jewett, and Messrs. James E. English and 
H. M. Welch, have devoted much of thejr valuable time 
to their duties. They were, at the outset of the enter- 
prise, able to secure the gratuitous services ot Mr. Nelson 
Hotchkiss as superintendent of construction. From the 
commencement of the building, Mr. Hotchkiss has given 
to the work his time and attention, and it is to his care, 
judgment, and practical knowledge that' the society is 
largely indebted for the successful completion of the 
work. The entire cost of the building and furniture has 
been $92,233.99. 
The patients received into the Hospital consist of the 
following classes: 
1. Sailors, whose support is provided for from the marine hospital fund, 
who are admitted on the order of the Collector of the port of New Haven. 
2. Persons who are able and willing to pay for their own support, who 
resort to the Hospital on account of the superior accommodations which 
they can obtain at a moderate rate, or those from a distance who visit it for 
the purpose of submitting to surgical operations and treatment. The 78 
amount charged to such patients is intended to be only sufficient to meet 
their necessary expenses. The number of this class is yearly increasing. 
3. Those persons who are destitute and are supported gratuitously. To 
provide for this large class, the annual appropriation of the State of two 
thousand dollars, a trifling allowance from towns for their poor, and the 
scanty income from the Society’s permanent fund—which will soon be 
exhausted to complete the new building—are the only reliance. 
The number of applicants of this class for hospital relief increases annu- 
ally, as the city grows larger, beyond all proportion to the number of any 
other class. 
4. Soldiers. Soon after the close of the late war, the State made an 
appropriation, which has been continued annually, for the maintenance of 
sick or wounded soldiers, who were honorably discharged from Connecticut 
regiments which had served in the war of the rebellion. 
Besides the above named, there is a constantly increas- 
ing class, the victims of accident on the street, on the 
different railroads, or the various manufacturing estab- 
lishments in the city and its vicinity. A large number of 
these are homeless men and women, poor in purse, who 
are frequently maintained during their stay in the Hos- 
pital without any compensation whatever to the Insti- 
tution. 
This class of patients are always admitted immediately 
on their application without the ceremony of a permit, 
provided they are taken to the Hospital from the place 
where the accident occurred. 
L. D. WILCOXSON, 
D. L. DAGGETT, 
W. S. CHARNLEY, 
Prudential Committee. 79 
KNIGHT HOSPITAL. 
In April, 1861, at a special meeting of the Directors of 
the Society, in consequence of the war of the Rebellion, 
and the necessity for accommodations for sick and 
wounded soldiers, it was voted to offer accommodations 
at the Hospital for such soldiers as the Surgeon General 
U. S. A. might direct to send. A communication was 
sent to the Surgeon General through our member of 
Congress, Hon. J. E. English. Through his kind coope- 
ration the offer was accepted, conditioned upon there 
being a necessity to make use of the Hospital. 
In May, 1862, the writer was employed by the Surgeon 
General as Contract Surgeon to take charge of the sol- 
diers sent to the Hospital. Very soon after this an order 
was sent to him to accept the offer of the Society at the 
rate of $3.50 per week for each soldier cared for in the 
Hospital; the Directors to furnish all food, medicine, 
medical and surgical attendance and quarters; the sur- 
geon in charge only to be paid by the government; and 
to make immediate preparations for the receipt of 250 
sick and wounded soldiers. Application was made to the 
Legislature, then in session, for aid in the erection of 
buildings. Three thousand dollars was at once appro- 
priated. With this a large building was erected. Before 
its completion the sick and wounded arrived. This was 
on the 2d day of June, 1862. A transport arrived with 
250 sick and wounded from the battle of Fair Oaks. 
They were accommodated in the old Hospital building 
and in tents furnished by the State and hired by the 
Society. Soon other sick and wounded began to arrive. 
A necessity was apparent for more buildings. The 
Legislature was again called upon, and fifteen thousand 
dollars was appropriated for buildings and furniture. 
Several buildings were erected, sufficient to accommodate 
about 500 men. Other buildings for offices, &c., were 
also constructed. The physicians and surgeons in attend- 
ance consisted of the regular Hospital staff and such 80 
others of the City as volunteered their services. The 
contract with the Society continued until the spring of 
1863. In November, 1862, an order was received from 
the Surgeon General to terminate the contract with the 
Society as soon as it could be done without injury, and 
hire that portion of the grounds on which the temporary 
buildings were situated, and place the Hospital entirely 
under the control of the Surgeon General. At this time 
the Surgeon in charge received his commission as Surgeon 
of Volunteers. The Directors voted to lease the grounds 
to the government at the rent of $1000 per }7ear. In 
April, 1863, the contract was closed, and the Military 
Hospital entered on an independent existence. This 
continued for several months, when it was thought 
expedient to enlarge the Hospital. An offer was made 
and accepted to lease, by the government, the Hospital 
building and the remainder of the grounds. The Direc- 
tors accepted the offer and made immediate arrange- 
ments to move to another location. A large building 
was purchased on Whalley ave., additions erected, and 
the State Hospital removed to the new location. The 
old Hospital building was occupied by the Surgeon 
in charge for offices and -quarters for the officers on 
duty at the Hospital. At this time a necessity existed 
for larger accommodations for sick and wounded sol- 
diers, as the Governor of the State had received the 
consent of the Secretary of War to send all Connecticut 
soldiers who were proper subjects for Hospital treatment 
and able to bear transportation to the Hospital at New 
Haven. The State had refused to make any further 
appropriations for buildings, and without these the addi- 
tional number to be sent could not be received. In this 
emergency the late Governor Buckingham came forward, 
with his usual liberality when the comfort of our soldiers 
was at stake, and authorized the' Surgeon in charge to 
erect such additional buildings as he thought necessary, 
and draw on him for the money to pay the bills. This 
expenditure amounted to the sum of $10,000. With the 
additional buildings the Hospital was increased to 1,500 81 
beds, a much larger institution than was anticipated when 
the first arrangements were made for 250 patients. Soon 
after the Hospital was assumed by the Medical Depart- 
ment of the U. S. A., and in accordance with the custom 
to name all military hospitals after some living member 
of the profession either in the Army Medical Staff or in 
civil practice, at the suggestion of the Surgeon in charge 
the Hospital was called the Knight General Hospital, 
after the late Jonathan Knight, a tribute of respect to the 
eminent surgeon, the good man, the exemplary Christian 
and the perfect gentleman. AW who were connected 
with the Military Hospital when the first detachment of 
sick and wounded soldiers was received, recollect the 
enthusiasm and untiring energy he displayed in attending 
to the call of suffering humanity. He was the first on 
the grounds and did not leave until every wound was 
dressed and every patient made comfortable. 
On the 1st of December, 1862, a contract was made 
with Dr. L. D. Wilcoxson as Acting Assistant Surgeon 
U. S. Army, and he reported for duty on that day. He 
was assigned as the Executive Officer of the Surgeon in 
Charge and continued to perform the duties of that office 
until the order for closing the Hospital was received. 
He was then transferred to the c'harge of the Post Hos- 
pital at Macon, Ga. During the period of his connection 
with the Knight Hospital his duties were performed 
thoroughly and efficiently and to the satisfaction of the 
officers in charge and all others connected with the 
Hospital. 
The total number of patients treated in the Hospital 
was 25,340. Total number of deaths, 185; 11 were acci- 
dental. This small percentage of mortality is to be 
attributed to the location of the Hospital. It is situated 
on an elevated plateau. The soil is dry and sandy. The 
change to such a location in a northern climate from the 
influences at work on the sick and wounded in a southern 
climate, was very marked. Patients began to improve 
before a diagnosis was made. Another fruitful cause of 
immediate improvement was the fact with the Connecti- 82 
cut men, that they were in their own State, where, 
if practicable, they could visit their families and friends, 
or at least could receive visits from them. The build- 
ings were also so constructed as to give the most per- 
fect ventilation possible—a combination of the shaft and 
open roof ventilation. The deaths from typhoid fever 
were 14—cases, 88. No death occurred from Hospital 
gangrene, Erysipelas or Pyaemia. 
No case of gangrene originated at the hospital, but 
several cases were transferred from hospitals at the south. 
They all began to improve on their admission to the hos- 
pital, and all ultimately recovered. It speaks volumes 
for the location of the hospital, that such results were 
attained, when we consider the fact that there were no 
sewers near the hospital, with which to connect the sinks 
and water closets. We were forced to depend entirely 
on cesspools; for convalescents, ordinary privies with 
shallow vaidts. These were kept perfectly free from 
offensive odor by the frequent use of dry powdered peat. 
As soon as a cess-pool was filled it was cleaned under the 
use of deodorizers, and a new one constructed. The ban- 
dages from patients with gangrene were burned. The 
grounds were kept perfectly free from any offensive 
accumulations. Soon after the surrender ot the army of 
Northern Virginia, early in April, 1865, orders were re- 
ceived from the War Department to close the hospital as 
soon as the men under treatment and the convalescents 
could be discharged. This was not accomplished until 
November, 1865. During this month the hospital prop- 
erty was sold at auction and the buildings turned over to 
the Quartermaster’s Department. I have written at 
some length on this portion of my subject, as a history of 
the State Hospital would be far from complete without a 
history of the Knight General Hospital. jWfforb J&tfspifttf. 
From the report of the Executive Committee of the 
Hartford Hospital, it appears that in consequence of “ the 
terrible accident at the car factory in 1854, the citizens of 
Hartford were first aroused to the importance of a Hos- 
pital.” It is somewhat strange that they had not before 
this seen the necessity of hospital accommodations. With 
a population of at least 30,000 the necessity for hospital 
accommodations for the sick poor of their city and town 
must have been apparent to the most superficial observer. 
But it was, at last, the duty, and 1 have no doubt the 
pleasure, of the medical gentleman who composed and 
presented the report of the executive committee in 1871, 
Dr. Geo. B. Hawley, to bring the subject to the attention 
of the citizens of Hartford. The first meeting of citizens 
was held in May, 1&64, when a committee was appointed 
to prepare a constitution and charter, and report to a sub- 
sequent meeting. The charter was submitted to the 
General Assembly, who, at their May session, 1854, incor- 
porated the Hartford Hospital. The act of incorporation 
is as follows: 
ACT INCORPORATING THE HARTFORD HOSPITAL. 
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: 
Sec. i. That David Watkinson, Ebenezer Flower, A. S. Beckwith, S. S. 
Ward, A. W. Butler, A. M. Collins, Wm. T. Lee, Job Allyn, Samuel Colt, 
James B. Crosby, Albert Day, Chester Adams, James G. Bolles, George 
Beach, Thomas Smith, Jonathan Goodwin, A. W. Birge, Lucius Barbour, and 
Charles T. Hillyer, and all such persons as [are] from time to time associated 
with them, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a hospital in the 
city of Hartford, and their successors, be, and they are hereby are, incorpor- 84 
ated for said purpose, and made a body corporate and politic, by the name 
of the Hartford Hospital, and by that name shall be capable of suing and 
being sued, pleading and being impleaded, and may purchase, take, receive, 
hold, sell and convey estate, real and personal, to such an amount as may be 
necessary for the purposes of said corporation ; may have a common seal, 
and the same may alter and change at pleasure, and may make and execute 
such by-laws and regulations, not contrary to the laws of this State or of the 
United States, as shall be deemed necessary for the well ordering and con- 
ducting the concerns of said corporation. 
Sec. 2. That said corporation shall be governed by the following articles : 
Art. i. This corporation shall be called the Hartford Hospital. Persons 
contributing for the use of the corporation at any one time the sum of fifty 
dollars, shall be members for life. Persons contributing the sum of five 
hundred dollars shall be vice-presidents for life, and also directors for life ; 
those contributing two hundred dollars shall be directors for life; those 
twenty-five dollars shall be members for five years, and those ten dollars 
shall be members for one year. 
Art. 2. In order the better to carry into effect the object of the said cor- 
poration, the members thereof shall, at an annual-meeting, to be held at such 
time and place as the by-laws of the said corporation shall direct and appoint, 
elect from their own number, by ballot, and by a majority of the votes given 
at such election, twelve persons as directors of the said corporation ; and the 
persons so elected, together with the mayor of the city of Hartford for the 
time being, shall constitute a board of directors. The directors so elected 
shall hold their offices for one year, and until others are elected in their 
places. In case of any vacancy in the board, the remainder of the directors 
shall have power to fill such vacancy until the next election. 
Art. 3. The board of directors shall, annually, as soon as may be con- 
venient after the said annual election, elect by ballot, from among their own 
numbers, a president, a vice-president, and shall also elect a secretary and a 
treasurer, who shall hold their offices for one year, and until others are 
elected in their stead. But 3s many directors may be chosen as there may 
be directors by subscription. 
Art. 4. The said board of directors shall have power to manage and con- 
duct all the business and concerns of the corporation, and to make such laws 
as may be necessary for the management and disposition of the estate and 
concerns of the corporation, and to appoint such officers and servants as 
they may deem necessary. The medical officers, including all attending and 
consulting physicians and surgeons, shall be appointed annually. Vacancies 
occurring before the expiration of a year from the time of any appointment, 
shall be filled by the directors, as soon as the same can conveniently be done. 
Art. 5. A majority of the corporators shall call the first meeting for the 
election of officers, at such time and place in the city of Hartford as they 
shall appoint, giving three days’ notice thereof, by publishing the same in the 
daily papers of the city ; and the annual meeting of said corporation shall be 
held at such time and place, and on such notice, as shall be fixed by the by- 
laws of said corporation. 
Sec. 3. This act may be altered, amended, or repealed by the General 
Assembly. 85 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly 
convened : 
That all property, real or personal, which has been, or n*ty be, granted or 
given to “ The Hartford Hospital,” and by them invested and held, for the 
use of said Institution, shall, with the income thereof, remain exempt from 
taxation. 
Provided, that the propertyof the directors of said institution shall not be 
exempt from taxation. 
Approved, June 25, 1856. 
In 1857 “ the corner-stone of the Hospital was laid by 
the Governor, in the presence of the Legislature ” and a 
a large number of the citizens of Hartford. In 1859 the 
building was completed, and a meeting was held to inau- 
gurate the Hospital. The Hon. T. M. Allyn, Mayor of 
the city, was chosen as chairman, and opened the exercises 
with appropriate remarks alter prayer by the Rev. R. M. 
Abercrombie. The remarks of Mayor Allyn were fol- 
lowed by an address from the father of the Hospital, Dr. 
G. B. Hawley, in which he alluded to the history of hos- 
pitals from remote antiquity. He stated that hospitals 
for the care of the sick and wounded originated in the 
humanizing and heavenly influences of Christianity. 
After making proper allusions to the hospitals of England 
and France that were established at an early date, he very 
properly mentions the two first established in this country : 
the New York Hospital, founded in 1771, and the Massa- 
chusetts General Hospital in 1810, and says, “ These in- 
stitutions are equal in every respect to the best European 
infirmaries.” 1 cannot do better than to give you the full 
text of Dr. Hawley’s paper, so far as it relates to hospital 
construction, although it does not fully meet my views on 
the subject: 
“ In our heating arrangements we are even superior, 
and are not inferior in ventilation and general arrange- 
ments. Many of the foreign institutions have been en- 
larged and perfected, as experience has developed the 
importance of these improvements. Our institutions are 
planned and constructed with all the improvements in 
the arrangement of the building, together with the heat- 86 
ing and ventilation, which has been proved to be necessary, 
through the long experience of European institutions. 
We shoulcf not only profit by this experience in the 
construction of hospitals, but we should also learn to 
govern them, from those that have been successful. 
It has been proved by Wendell Phillips that the modern 
ages, with all of their boasted skill and superiority, have 
presented but one invention, namely printing, which was 
not known to the ancients. 
The only difference which exalts the moderns so far 
above the ancients, is that these inventions are known and 
used by the many, when formerly they were known only 
to the few. 
The same is true in regard to heating and ventilation. 
Among the most ancient heating arrangements is the 
Hvpocaust, of the ancient Greeks and Romans, which is 
thus described by Dr. John Watson, in an address deliv- 
ered at the New York Hospital, February 8, 1851: ‘Its 
name is derived from the brick-kiln. The primary con- 
struction of the one is essentially the same as that of the 
other,—both alike consisting of an immense mass of mason 
work, underlaid with flues, for the diffusion of heat, with 
no provisions for the withdrawal of smoke or vapor. 
The Hypocaust was first employed for heating bathing- 
rooms and sudatories, but afterwards for warming private 
dwellings. It was without chimney and without flues, 
for the transmission of heat to the departments above it, 
at least during the combustion of fuel. 
Its mouth or entrance was at the outer wall, and through 
this smoke escapes as from the mouth of an oven. The 
heat imparted to its mass of brick and stone was transmit- 
ted, by slow conduction through the tile, or marble pave- 
ment, to the room above. In some of its more compli- 
cated forms, there were concealed flues rising in the wall 
to the first or second story, but with no outlet at the top. 
In others these flues, after the fires beneath them had 
ceased to glow, could be opened by the removal of a lid 
or cover, and thus they allowed the warm air issuing 
through them to enter the upper apartments. 87 
These cumbrous furnaces were, of course, subject to 
frequent leakages. The Emperor Julian, in 331, by a de- 
fect in one of them, and the exhalation of vapor through 
the walls of his chamber, was completely overpowered 
and his life was only saved by speedily removing him 
into the open air. His successor, Iovian, in 364, is said to 
have been suffocated by the fumes of a furnace, while 
sleeping in a close apartment.’ 
The imperfections of the Hypooaust caused it to be 
superseded by the focus or brasier, which was placed in 
the center of the room, the smoke and gases escaping 
through the loopholes in the roof, or through the open 
windows. 
The castles of the English Normans were warmed by 
the fire placed in deep recesses in the walls, the smoke 
escaping through the open turrets or windows, until 
chimneys were invented by the Italians in the early part 
of the fourteenth century. 
The water furnace, which is regarded as of recent 
invention and is considered at the present time as one of 
the most admirable means of generating heat, was prob- 
ably used by the Egyptians in hatching eggs. In the 
latter part of the past century it was used in France for 
the same purpose, under the name of the Bohemian 
Chicken Stove. It was first employed in England by the 
Marquis Chabannes as early as 1816, and claimed as his 
own invention. The steam apparatus has been used in 
its various forms for the purpose of heating buildings, 
from the time of Mr. Watt, the great improver of the 
steam engine, even to the present time. As early as 
1784-5 it was used for the purpose of heating dwelling 
houses, by allowing the steam to escape, thus evolving 
its latent heat. The house of Dr. Withering, of Birming- 
ham, was heated by steam passing through metallic 
pipes, successfully applied by Boulton, in 1795. 
In 1791, Mr. Hoyle, of Halifax, England, obtained a 
patent for heating by steam pipes, distributed through 
the different dwelling apartments, in much the same man- 
ner as at the present time. 88 
Thus we see our most improved modes of heating have 
been known for many generations, and the only differ- 
ence between the modes of heating in the present genera- 
tion and the past, is that formerly their improvements 
were known only to the few, but at the present time they 
are common and in general use. 
The appliances for tempering summer heat, and for 
ventilating buildings, as used by ages that are past, are 
still more numerous. I shall not describe the many 
designs for ventilation which have been tested, and which 
experience has proved unworthy of public attention. 
I shall only describe those two forms which at the 
present time have received the sanction of community, 
and which are the ones adopted by most of our public 
institutions. 
These two forms are thermal and forced ventilation. 
The system of downward thermal, or natural ventilation, 
was devised in 1826, and was received with great favor 
by most of our institutions. It was a great improvement 
on all the past. This form of ventilation consists in 
introducing fresh air through shafts open at a distance 
from the building, or through its walls. This cold air 
being heated by a furnace in the basement, ascends by its 
own specific gravity being lessened by heat, through 
appropriate flues, and is admitted into the room near the 
ceiling. As the air cools in the room, it gradually 
descends and is received through openings near the floor, 
and carried off through the foul air flues, which open at 
the top of the building. Experience has found that this 
system of drawing off the foul air is insufficient to main- 
tain a healthy atmosphere in the wards of a hospital. 
In 1849, Hospital Gangrene compelled the New York 
Hospital to change from this system of ventilation to one 
more efficient. 
The exhalations of the sick, passing from the body, at 
first ascend, but they are then forced downwards by de- 
scending currents, and are repeatedly inhaled by the 
patients as they lie near the floor. The system of forced 
ventilation, as adopted by many of our institutions, is 89 
accomplished by means of a fan, which is caused to rotate 
by steam power. This is the most efficient means of ven- 
tilation in those institutions which employ a steam engine. 
Any amount of fresh air that is necessary to purify the 
wards of a hospital, can be forced through the cold air 
shaft into the hot air chamber in the basement; after being 
properly heated the same power continues to force the 
heated air through appropriate flues into the respective 
wards. 
The system of forced ventilation by the means of a fan, 
was first used in the sixteenth century to force pure air 
into mines. 
In order that we may better comprehend the importance 
of ventilation, it is necessary to demonstrate the amount 
of matter which is continually passing from the surface 
of the body in the form of vapor. The daily amount of 
pulmonary and cutaneous matter passing off from the 
lungs and skin is greater than the renel and abdominal 
discharges. It is demonstrated by an able report, bv 
Joseph M. Smith, M. D., and published by the American 
Medical Association, 1850, and proved by elaborate 
experiments, that a healthy adult, of ordinary size, throws 
off from his lungs and skin every twenty-four hours, 
about forty ounces of effete matter; of this ten penny- 
weights is composed of animal matter. From these facts 
we learn that a family of ten individuals, who are confined 
about one-half of the time in a badly ventilated room, 
would in one month throw off in the form of vapor with- 
in their dwelling, pulmonary and cutaneous exhalations 
to the amount of 375 lbs., and in one year, 4,500 lbs. 
Much of this exhalation is composed of animal matter, 
which is soon precipitated in the apartments where it is 
generated. 
If we assume this building to accommodate fifty pa- 
tients, and estimate the same amount of exhalation from 
the sick as from well persons, then the amount of cutane- 
ous and pulmonary exhalations, every twenty-four hours, 
fvould amount to 125 lbs.; in one month it would amount 
to 3,750 lbs., and in one year to 45,000 lbs. This amount 90 
of effete matter, passing off in the form of vapor, is con- 
tinually tilling the apartments of the well, and to a much 
greater degree those of the sick. Common air mixed 
with one-tenth part of these gases is rendered unfit for 
animal life. The decomposition of this matter is sufficient 
to account for the many contagious diseases which are 
continually developed in the crowded and unventilated 
parts of our cities. 
From these seeds of contamination, diseases, when once 
generated, continue to extend, until not only cities, but 
whole countries are called to mourn for their numerous 
dead. 
When we apply these principles to the sick, we must 
consider that they are not only confined to the same apart- 
ment night and day, and the amount of exhalation greatly 
increased from sickness, but that there is a much larger 
proportion of animal matter contained in these exhalations. 
Animal life is supported by continually taking into the 
lungs a certain amount of air, either pure or vitiated from 
various causes. This air circulates through the air-cells 
of the lungs, where it imparts to the blood, through a 
delicate membrane, the oxygen of the atmosphere ; also, 
any contamination which may be contained in the air, and 
it takes from the blood its excess of carbon. It the atmo- 
sphere inhaled is impure, or impregnated with contagious 
matter, the blood immediately becoming vitiated, passes 
through the circulation, and diffues, through every part 
of the body, any poisonous matter which may have been 
contained in the atmosphere. 
The amount of blood contained in the veins and arteries 
of a common-sized adult is about twenty-four pints. This 
amount of blood passes through the heart and lungs 
every three minutes. The amount of blood which passes 
through the lungs of an adult every hour is sixty gals.; 
in twenty-four hours 1,440 gals.; in one month 43,200 gals.; 
in one year 518,400, or 8,640 hhds. If the same estimate 
be made for fifty adult persons, which is the capacity of 
our present building, the amount of blood which passes 
through their hearts and lungs in one hour is 3,000 gals.; 91 
in one day 72,000 gals.; in one year 25,920,000 gals., or 
432,000 hhds. of blood. 
Wh en we contemplate this river ot blood which is 
flowing through the human system, being restored to 
healthy action, or impregnated with contamination, as it 
comes in contact with healthy or vitiated atmosphere, we 
can form some faint idea of the importance of thorough 
ventilation. 
When we examine the apartments of the sick and desti- 
tute, and in many cases of those in the middle walks of 
life, we find that their ill-ventilated apartments are suffi- 
cient to counteract all benefit which might be received 
from skillful physicians and faithful nurses.” 
In 1855 the location of the Hospital was selected as a 
permanent site for the Hospital. 
The Hospital is built of free-stone from the quarries in 
Portland, Conn. In the original ground plan of the Hos- 
pital the center building and one wing were only provided 
for. The center building is 210 feet front by 72 feet deep. 
“ The entrance hall is 12 feet wide and runs directly for- 
ward 28 feet, until it meets the center wall, when it turns 
at right angles to the right and left, until it arrives at the 
main stairway, which connects the center building to the 
wings. On either side of the main entrance is the super- 
intendent’s room and reception room. The second story 
is arranged for the convenience of the officers of the in- 
stitution.” The basement in this Hospital is used for 
culinary purposes, and the general arrangement is the 
same as the Hospital at New Haven. 
When the original plan is completed, there will be four 
wings, each sufficient to accommodate fifty patients; two 
wings extending on either side of the center building, 14 
feet distant, and connected with the center building by 
the main stairway. The two other wings will be parallel 
with the former, fifty feet distant, and connected by a 
corridor; each wing is 113 feet 6 in. long, and vary in 
width from 31 feet 6 in. to 44 feet 6 in., two stories high, 
with seven-foot basement. Connected with the wards is 
a refectory with necessary appliances, rooms for nurses, a 92 
ward for special cases, closet for the clothing of patients. 
The water closets are as far removed from the ward as 
circumstances will permit. Commodious bath rooms are 
attached to each ward. The building is lighted with gas 
throughout. Hot and cold water is distributed through 
the building. In each ward are rooms for private patients. 
The building is heated with Brown’s hot water furnace. 
It is claimed that this mode of heating is more economical 
than any other. The ventilators in the wards are so ar- 
ranged that the foul air of the wards is passed off to the 
foul air chambers in the attic, where it escapes through 
the ventilating shaft, heated by steam pipes, for the pur- 
pose of making an upward draft. This is, without doubt, 
a good system of ventilation, being the same in principle 
as that in use at the New Haven Hospital. Each patient 
in this Hospital is furnished with 1,417 cubic feet of space 
when not crowded. 
There has been contributed to the Hartford Hospital 
by the citizens of Hartford, $280,700. 
The site for the Hospital cost $16,754. The original 
buildings, including plumbing, heating apparatus, sewer- 
age, etc., cost $31,417. The receipts of the Hospital 
since its organization up to 1859 have been $45,448.03. 
The subscriptions have been confined mainly to the city 
and town of Hartford and vicinity. In i860 the Leg- 
islature made an appropriation of $2,000 to defray the 
expenses of the sick and indigent at the Hospital from 
various parts of the State. In 1861 this was made an 
annual appropriation. Patients are received from all por- 
tions of the State at a small compensation. The cost of 
providing for the poor sick is much greater than all the 
compensation received from the Legislature. Both the 
Hospitals at Hartford and New Haven are forced to call 
on those towns who send patients to the Hospital to bear 
a portion of the expense. In this way the State appro- 
priation is made to extend its benefits to a much larger 
nu mber. 
As Dr. Hawley says, it is for the economy of the State 
to continue their interest in our institution. The same 93 
remark will apply with equal force to the New Haven 
Hospital. The hospitals are both managed without cost, 
medical and surgical attendance free. With buildings 
and land for the Hartford Hospital, costing $188,495.60, 
with a fund amounting to $153,500, the income of which 
can only be used tor the current expenses, where the sick 
are received and provided with every attention that can 
aid their recovery, and supported for much less than the 
simple cost of board. 
After a lull consideration of the matter of beds the 
managers ot this Hospital have adopted the woven wire 
mattress, with iron rrame. These mattresses are cheap 
and require no covering but blankets to protect ‘the pa- 
tients trom the wire. They are free from vermin, are 
durable, and never sag or settle. 
I he length of the center building, with the two wings, 
is 303 feet, and accommodates 150 patients. The perma- 
nent fund of the Hospital amounts to $153,500. For 
building purposes, contributed by citizens, $127,200, mak- 
ing a total, by citizens, of $280,700, including the perma- 
nent fund. 
The total number of patients admitted to the Hospital 
since it was opened, is 4,503 ; died, 568. Cases of erysip- 
elas, pyemia, gangrene and puerperal fever have occa- 
sionally appeared, but not from local causes. 
I have thus given a history of both the Hospitals in the 
State, and am happy to be able to say that they are both 
meeting the wishes and expectations of those interested 
in their management. It is earnestly the wish of those 
connected with these institutions, that our State and citi- 
zens will continue to extend their aid to them, and thus 
enable them to receive all the sick poor who may apply 
tor admission to either Hospital.