Marine Hospital

Marine Hospital

It is an interesting fact that as early as October 29, 1829, the Legislative Council of Michigan Territory petitioned Congress for a township of land, the proceeds of the sale of the land to be devoted to a hospital for seamen. Nearly a quarter of a century after, by law of August 4, 1854, Congress provided for the establishment of a Marine Hospital at Detroit. The grounds, consisting of eight acres on the southwest corner of Jefferson and Mt. Elliott Avenues, with a frontage of two hundred and seventy-four feet on Jefferson Avenue, cost $23,000; the building cost $80,000, and was opened on November 30, 1857. Nearly twenty patients were then transferred from St. Mary's Hospital to this institution.

The building is deemed perfectly fireproof. Heavy iron girders support brick arches, which are leveled over with concrete, and upon this foundation hard pine floors are laid. All the brick walls are hollow, allowing space for the air to circulate, and all dampness is thus avoided. The most ornamental, and decidedly the most agreeable features of the building, are the roomy verandas for each story, in front and rear; they have iron frames, with decorative scroll work, and give a graceful appearance to the exterior.

The hospital is supported in part by a monthly tax of forty cents per month for each person employed on board any registered vessel, which sum is collected by the captains of the vessels before the license is taken out or renewed. The captain of each vessel is authorized to deduct this amount from the wages of all employed on the vessel. A record of all sailors thus reported is kept at the custom house, and also at the hospital; and on an order from the captain of a vessel to the collector of customs, any sailor needing medical treatment, who has been sailing during the three months preceding his application for admission, is entitled to the care of the hospital and his board, without charge. The number of patients is from fifteen to twenty-five, and seventy can be accommodated. None but sailors are admitted as patients. Visitors are admitted from 10 A. M. to 12 M., and from 2 to 4 P. M.

A dispensary is also maintained at the office of the surgeon in the Campau Building, where seamen, who do not wish to enter the hospital, can obtain medicines. Surgical operations are also performed at the office if desired. During the year ending June 30, 1884, three hundred and eighty-three persons were treated at the hospital and eleven hundred and twelve at the office. The disbursements for the year ending June 30, 1884, were $14,602.85. The hospital is in charge of a surgeon and an assistant surgeon, who are appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Seven other persons, paid by the Government, are connected with the institution.

The surgeons in charge have been: 1857-1861, Zina Pitcher; 1861-1867, Louis Davenport; 1867-1869, E. Lauderdale; 1869-1873, J. M. Bigelow; 1873-1879, J. A. Brown; 1879, F. D. Porter; 1880 to November 10, 1882, W. H. H. Hutton; W. H. Long, from November 10, 1882; P. H. Burnett, from February 6, 1885 ; H. W. Sawtelle, from June 16, 1885; W. H. Long, from October, 1885. The following persons have served as stewards: 1857-1862, J. W. Kelsey; 1862-1879, T. Hurst; 1879-1881, B.C. Jones; 1881, H. Hartz ; 1882-1885, T. R. Maxfield, M. D.; 1885- , J. O. Cobb, M. D.

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