tinued to object to giving any other lot, or to a sale. They however afterwards granted to the Hospital about one acre on the northern part of the square, at present occupied by the Hospital; the remainder of the square having been purchased in 1754, from individuals, at a low rate. February 10, 1752. The Managers having hired the most convenient house that could be procured, with gardens, &c. (being situated in Market street, on the south side, above 5th street, and formerly the residence of Judge Kinsey) admitted on that day the first patients, who were regularly attended by the physicians and surgeons, and by them gratuitously supplied with medicines, until December of that year. An assortment of drugs being then received from London, an apothecary shop was opened in the Hospital—and an apothecary appointed, with a salary of £15 per annum. The cost of the medicines was £112 15s. 2d. and was paid for by a subscription, which was "set on foot among the charitable widows, and other good women of the city," of which Mary Allen contributed £24 6s. From this bounty, also, medicines were furnished to many poor out door patients, which may be considered the foundation of a dispensary. from the Delaware, inclosed by a wall, and containing four and a quarter acres; together with the vacant square in parallel lines to the east, and several lots to the south and west, containing in all about ten acres. The principal building, surrounded on the borders of the square by majestic forest trees, exhibits a south front of venerable aspect and considerable proportions, extending east and west two hundred and eighty-one feet. It consists of a centre, united by long wards, of three stories in height, to two wings extending north and south. The wings are surmounted by cupolas, and finished so as to present respectable fronts on Eighth and Ninth streets to the east and west. Although able to complete but a portion of the designed building, its founders, with wise foresight, commenced upon a liberal scale, and adopted a symmetrical plan, which has been filled up at successive epochs, as admitted by the funds of the institution, and required by the exigencies of an increasing population. The eastern wing was completed and opened in the year 1756, the western wings in 1796, and the centre in 1805. The centre measures sixty-four feet in front, by sixtyone in depth, and with the balustrade surrounding its cupola, seventy-two feet in height. The long ward to March 10, 1754. A plan and estimate for the build- the east of the centre, is eighty-one feet in length, by ings to be erected, was submitted to the contributors, twenty-seven feet in breadth, and the east wing measures which being unanimously approved, the necessary twenty-seven feet east and west, by one hundred and measures were adopted for procuring materials, and fur- eleven north and south. The western ward measures ther contributions solicited. "So diligent and success- eighty-one feet by thi.ty-three, and the west wing twenful were their applications, that scarce a tradesman, orty-eight feet by one hundred and eleven. The increas even a labourer, was employed in any part of the work,ed breadth in the buildings to the west of the centre, without first engaging a reasonable part to be charitably was adopted to allow of the construction of a double applied in the premises." range of apartments for the insane: except, however, to a very accurate eye, this difference is scarcely perceptible. In 1754, the Managers, and some other contributors, applied to the Assembly to be permitted to sign the bills of credit, for the purpose of aiding the funds of the Hospital, by adding to them the sums which they would be entitled to for signing. In this way £1838 17s. 6d. were added to other contributions, and proved a very seasonable assistance. May 28 1755. The necessary preparations being made for commencing the building, the corner stone was laid by the President, Joshua Crosby, assisted by the Managers, physicians, and several contributors; and a large concourse of citizens, in addition to whom the schools were broken up, and all the children of an age to recollect it, sent to be witnesses. The corner stone is a large piece of marble, in the south-east corner of the eastern wing, with the following inscription, by Frankin: "In the Year of Christ George the Second happily reigning, (For its Inhabitants were public spirited,) By the Bounty of the Government, Was piously founded, For Relief of the Sick and Miserable. The house is thus occupied; under the basement of its centre are cellars and a bake house: the basement story contains the kitchen-a dining room for the steward's family-and two sleeping rooms for female domestics. On the principal or entrance story, is a handsome hall, with spacious staircases and passages to the differ ent parts of the house. The apartments on this floor are four;-the Library, which is also the steward's office, and in which the manager's meet to transact businessthe apothecary's shop-a parlour, and the steward's chamber. The third story is occupied by the lying-in department, and chambers for the resident physicians and apothecary. The fourth story constains a circular operating theatre, in which all the surgical operations, of importance, are performed, in the presence of the medical class attending the practice of the hospital.In this apartment three hundred persons may be seated: it is surmounted by a dome with a glass cupola, affording the best possible light to the operator. Adjoining this room are apartments for the reception of patients operated upon; and on this floor, are also those occupied by the sick and lame white females. To the east of the centre building on the basement floor, are twelve apartments for insane patients, and some store rooms. The two principal stories are occupied as medical and surgical wards, by the white men. About forty patients can be received in each ward. The gar ret over the long ward is at present unoccupied-those A message had been sent into Chester county, to the in the wing are used as sleeping rooms by some of the first individual born in the colony after the arrival of domestics. In the line of this wing, to the north, is a William Penn, to induce him to lay the corner stone-detached building of three stories occupied by a class of which he refused, but attended at the ceremony. May the God of Mercies The roof was raised on the 27th October, 1755, and the building fit for the reception of patients in Deccmber, 1756. They were then removed into it, from Market street, and on the 27th the Managers held their first meeting in the new building. In 1796 the western wing was opened, and in 1805 the centre. THE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, &c. white men, and by coloured people. To the west of the centre, the whole range is occupied from the basement to the attic story, inclusive, by insane persons and their attendants. It contains for their accommodation, fifty-six separate sleeping rooms, each about ten feet square; four larger apartments usually These are Buttonwood or Occidental Plane trees, the largest growth of the North American forest; they were planted in the year 1756, by Hugh Roberts, one of the first managers of the institution. occupied by a patient with an attendant; the long garret in which about twelve of the most quiet male patients usually sleep; and a small garret with beds for four females. The other garrets are occupied by the attendants. On the first story of the wing are two dining rooms, the matron's apartment, and a sitting room for the female patients. In the rear of this wing on Ninth st. is also a detached building, with separate sleeping rooms, each about ten feet by eight, for eighteen insane females. "Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital:" such may vote at elections for managers, or be voted for, but derive no personal interest, from the act of corporation. A sum, less than ten pounds, is called a donation. The contributors have perpetual succession, with power to elect twelve managers, a treasurer, and all other officers of the institution, and make rules for the well-ordering of the house. They may receive and take the lands, hereditaments, and tenements, not exceeding the yearly value of one thousand ponnds, of The cells are warmed by fire places completely inclo- the gift, alienation, bequest or devise of any person or sed within the wall and opening in the passage, so that persons whomsoever, and of any goods and chattels the inhabitant is rendered comfortable without having whatsoever; provided that "no general meeting of the access to the fire. The fuel now employed throughout contributors, or persons acting under them, shall employ nearly the whole house is coal-as well for cooking and any money or other estate, expressly given to the capi washing as for heating the house. By a statement pub-tal stock of the Hospital, in any other way, than by aplished by the steward in 1825, it appears that upon an plying its annual interest or rent, towards the entertainaverage of the five years, 1817 to 1821, previous to ment and care of the sick and distempered poor, that using coal, the annual charge for wood was $3188 39, shall from time to time be brought and placed therein, and that of 1824 for wood and coal was $2125 29, being for the cure of their diseases, from any part of the state, a difference of $1063 10. without partiality or preference.' In addition to the buildings enumerated, there are, on If there should not be a constant succession of conthe north part of the square, a wash-house-coal shed-tributors to meet yearly and choose managers, then the stabling and carriage house-green-houses, and the hospital, its estate and affairs, and all the management building on Spruce street in which is exhibited the paint- thereof, are to be under the direction of such person as ing by Benjamin West, of Christ healing the sick in the the legislature may appoint. temple. The exhibition of this superb piece, a present from that distinguished artist, in 1804, produces a revenue to the hospital of about five hundred dollars per annum. The amount received last year was $822, so that at 25 cts. for admission it must have been visited by 3288 persons during the year. By a law of the contributors, the power of directing the manner and terms of receiving and discharging patients, is transferred to the managers. MANAGERS. stated meetings of the Board are held on the first Monday of each month-the presence of eight, and the concurrence of seven of them is necessary for the transac tion of business. Twelve managers and a treasurer to serve during the year are annually elected by the contributors on the 1st A statue of William Penn (presented by his grand- Monday of May-they receive no emolument for their son John Penn, Esq. of Stoke Pogeis, England) placed services-they appoint the physicians and other officers upon a pedestal of white marble, occupies a conspicu- and servants of the institution-regulate its internal ecoous place on the lawn before the south front of the hos-nomy and have the general charge of its income. The pital. This statue was originally made for Lord Le Despencer, who erected it on an ornamental building, employed as a saw mill, on his superb grounds at High Wycomb, in England. After that nobleman's death it was purchased by the donor, and presented to the hospital. It is of lead, bronzed. A chair, once the property of that great man, is preserved in the house; and a scion from the elm tree, under which was held the celebrated treaty with the Indians in 1682, has attained considerable size, in the square opposite the western front of the building, The green-houses, containing a handsome collection of exotic plants, and a garden of one acre and three quarters with the ornamented lawns in front and rear of the house, are under the care of a regular gardener. The attention paid to neatness, and even ornament, in the exterior and grounds, as well as in the interior of the house, gives to the whole an air of elegance, seldom equalled in establishments of this nature. This is justified, as well by donations to a considerable amount having been received for this purpose, as by the influence it is calculated to exert on the mind and health of the inmates of the institution. The prospect from all parts of the buildings forming this asylum, is probably more agreeable to the eye than in any similar one in the world. Besides the consideration of ventilation, an object to the importance of which we have already alluded, the guardians of this institution have always had in view the benefit derived by the sick from agreeable impressions made upon their minds. This is consulted by great general attention to neatness, and an air of comfort in all the apartments of the house and among other things, by the prospect from all parts of it. Every window to which a patient has access, opens upon a garden, and most of them upon a highly agreeable one-the eye thus meeting, instead of dull or disagreeable masses of brick, with the freshness and verdure of nature. CONTRIBUTORS, They consist of persons who have given ten pounds or more, and are incorporated, by the name and title o, The Board appoints monthly a committee of two of its Thomas Stewardson, President. Treasurer, Samuel N. Lewis. The following is a list of those who have served as managers from the commencement of the institution to the present time-the date of their respective elections and the length of time which they served: MANAGERS OF THE HOSPITAL. John Smith Thomas Wharton John Gibson Daniel Roberdeau George Roberts Jonathan Shoemaker John Morton Samuel Howell 1752 1756 4 years William McMurtrie Thomas Morris 1753 1 year & 5 mon. James Smith, jr. 1753 1 year 1753 1763 10 years 1753 1756 2 yrs & 7 mons -- 1761 5 years 1758 1 year 1766 8 years 1759 1774 15 years 1760 1764 4 years 1760 1762 2 years 1761 1762 1 year Israel Pleasants John Dorsey Robert Smith, Merch't Edward Penington Thomas Morris Henry Hollingsworth 1762 1766 died 3 ys 9 mons Alexander Elmslie 1769 7 years 1763 1764 1 year 1764 1773 died 9 ys 5 mons 1774 1776 2 yrs 3 months 1781 2 years Matthew L. Bevan Joseph Johnson 1823 1823 William W. Fisher 1824 1824 1825 Charles Watson Alexander W. Johnston 1788 5 years The following have been 1827 1828 10 months 1828 TREASURERS. May 1751 to May John Reynell 1752 1 year 1752 to 1756 4 years 1768 12 years 1769 1 year 1772 3 1773 1780 7 years 1799 18 y 8 m 1826 27 years years 1y 1 mo PHYSICIANS, SURGEONS, MEDICAL LIBRARY, &c. The Managers elect annually three physicians to have charge of the medical department; three surgeons to the charge of the surgical department; and two physicians for the lying-in department; all of whom must be Doctors in Medicine, and members of this corporation. Two young gentlemen, graduates of medicine, reside in the Hospital, and take charge, alternately, of the surgical, and the medical and obstetrical departments, under the direction of the visiting physicians and surgeons. One of the residents is elected annually, to serve two years. An apothecary is engaged at a salary, to prepare and dispense the medicines prescribed by the physicians. The physicians and surgeons of this hospital have uniformly rendered their important aid gratuitously. The students of medicine who attend the practice of the Hospital physicians, pay a fee of ten dollars each for the privilege: these fees, which in European hospitals are a perquisite of their medical staff, the professional gentlemen, attached to the Pennsylvania Hospital, have gencrously devoted to the foundation and endowment of a Medical Library, which now consists of about six thou. sand volumes, comprising a large proportion of the most valuable ancient and modern works on the science of Medicine, with many rare treatises on Botany, and other branches of Natural History. Students have the privi lege of using this splendid collection, while attending the Hospital practice; and a right to its use during life is granted for the sum of twenty-five dollars. This library fund amounts annually to 3 or 400 dollars; last year $576 62, were paid for books and binding. The Clerk is also Librarian. The six physicians and surgeons having charge of the medical and surgical departments, divide the year into three equal periods, one physician and one surgeon attending at the same time, and continuing in charge of their respective wards four months. The two physicians having charge of the lying-in department, continue in office six months each. In extraordinary cases, and before the performance of surgical operations, it is usual for the gentleman in attendance to hold consultation with his colleagues. A physician to the Hospital must be 27 years of age before he can be elected. An extensive Anatomical Museum formerly belonged to the Hospital, which was a few years since presented to the Medical department of the University. The following is a list of the Physicians and Surgeons from the commencement of the institution. Lloyd Zachary Elected. Res'gd. Duration. 1753 2 1759 8 1780 29 1778 25 1759 1774 15 1774 1777 3 1774 1775 1 1775 1781 Phineas Bond Thomas Græme Thomas Cadwallader Saml. Preston Moore John Redman Wm. Shippen 1753. Cadwallader Evans John Morgan Charles Moore Adam Kuhn 6 Wm. Shippen Jr. 1778 Thomas Parke 1777 James Hutchinson John Morgan 1779 1823 1777 1778 1778 1 1 1783 5 45 up'd. 9 1780 1793 13 1794 1810 16 1794 1816 22 1798 1816 17 1802 1807 5 1807 10 1810 1818 8 1 Joseph Harthorne MODE OF OBTAINING ADMISSION. The usual mode of obtaining admission into the Hospital is, by first applying to one of the physicians in attendance; who, after examining the patient, gives a certificate of the nature of the disease, and the propriety of its admission into the Hospital; this is addressed to the attending managers, who settle the terms of admission, and grant their order, directing the Steward of the Hospital to receive the patient. This course is only departed from in two cases-that of seamen, who, by a special agreement, after receiving a certificate from the physician, have only to obtain the order of the Collector of the Port, and in cases of accident, it being a rule to receive, by day or night, every person who meets with an accident requiring surgical aid, without requiring any security of the parties who bring the patient to the Hospital:-provided the accident occurs in Pennsylvania, and the sufferer is brought immediately or within twenty-four hours. Overseers of the poor from the country, who bring a patient, must have a certificate signed by two magistrates, denoting that they are in office, and the pauper proposed for admission resides in their district, or their application will be rejected. Persons with infectious diseases are not to be re-ceived. The charter of this institution provides, that no part of its income shall be appropriated to any other purpose, than to the support of the sick and diseased poor, and providing the necessary buildings for their accommodation; and that those whose diseases render them proper objects of the charity, shall be received from any part of Pennsylvania, without partiality or preference. After the accommodation of as many poor patients as the state of their funds will justify, the Managers have authority to receive pay patients; any profit derived from this source being devoted to increase the fund for the maintenance of the poor. The rates usually charged are from three to six dollars per week, according to the circumstances of the patient. The amount received last year for the board of patients was $21,328 62. Pay patients are not admitted on a deposit of money, or on the responsibility of strangers, the only security accepted, is that of some respectable resident in Philadelphia. At their own desire, patients may be attended, exclusively, by either of the Hospital physicians they prefer, but in such cases it is expected that the affluent will pay Resident Physicians at this time-James A. Washing- the physicians as though attended elsewhere. ton, and George Fox. cept those afflicted with insanity; and it is imperative upon them to discharge all patients, who after a reasonable time of trial, may be deemed incurable. The number at present received at one time on the charity, is one hundred, of whom thirty-three may be insane. It has been found necessary to limit the proportion of insane poor, on account of the length of time they frequently remain in the house. The whole number of patients admitted into the Hospital, from its opening, February 11, 1752, to April 26, 1828, was twenty-five thousand and seventy, of whom 12,752 were poor, and 12,318 pay patients. Of these have been discharged 150 Removed by friends, or at their re quest Eloped and discharged for misconduct, Pregnant women delivered safely Infants taken out in health |