"Greatest Centre"

The "greatest medical centre in the world" (to cost $20,000,000) is to be erected jointly in Manhattan by the Presbyterian Hospital and the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Plans for this project were announced last week by Dean Sage, President of the Presbyterian Hospital. The section to be occupied, by the Columbia College will cost $3,000,000, which has already been subscribed; the Presbyterian Hospital section will cost $7,000,000, $4,500,000 of which is still to be raised. The joint administrative board is headed by William Barclay Parsons and Dr. C. C. Burlingame. James Gamble Rogers is the architect.

A site has been selected--the old American League baseball grounds. No more peanuts, no more pop; beds will occupy the space that once contained bleachers; rubber gloves will replace the old saliva-oiled mits; and the palisades of the Hudson, that once echoed to the roar of ten thousand fans, will hear not a whisper, not a single cry of "Take him out!"

The institution "will surpass the medical centres of any European capital," including Berlin and Vienna. There will be ten ward floors with 64 beds on each. Each floor will be divided into small wards of from one to twelve beds. Efforts will be made to make the patient feel that he is not one of many, that he will receive all the personal attention possible in a small hospital, with the advantage of resources never before equaled.

The Presbyterian Hospital was founded in 1872 by James Lenox. It cares for thousands "without regard for race, creed or color." Over 65% of its ward service is given free. When Lord Lister, about 50 years ago, brought forward his theory of antiseptic treatment in operations, the Presbyterian was among the first hospitals to adopt it, as it was also among the first to introduce medical social service and visiting nurse work. Its present abode, antiquated and inadequate, was erected in 1892. Now it will launch a drive--the first public appeal it has ever made--to complete the building fund. Members of the committee in charge of this fund are: Thatcher M. Brown, Cornelius Agnew, the Rev. Dr. George Alexander, Robert W. Carle, Henry W. de Forest, Samuel H. Fisher, W. E. S. Griswold, Johnston de Forest, Dean Sage, William Sloane Coffin.