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U Hospital Fills Gap In Treating Children

U Hospital Fills Gap In Treating Children image
Parent Issue
Day
31
Month
August
Year
1969
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

(Editor 's Noté: This is anoth er in a series of historical fea ture stories written for the obs ervance of University Hos pital's centennial year.) The early years of life were perilous in 1869 when the University of Michigan Hospital was founded. The young succumbed quickly to the prevailing diseases, and infant mortality was high. Through the 1880s, the study of children's diseases was neg lected. Youngpatientsat University Hospital were treated the same as adults. Dr. W. S. Christopher, an early professor of medicine at the University, resigned his position in 1891 because of his interest in pediatrics. He moved to Chicago where he could study and teach his specialty as a professor of the diseases of children. His successor, Dr. George Doek, tried to encourage doctors to send sick children to University Hospital. But parents who could afford medica] care would not send their children t o a state-supported "charity hospital" vvhich did not have special equipment for the care of children. The poor could not afford the nominal $2 per day charge. Michigan's first Children's Hospitalization Act in 1881 provided for the care of invalid poor at the hospital, but thls aid was restricted to children from the State Public School in Coldwater. Children from state schools for the blind, deaf and feeble-minded were later admitted under this law. Other indigent sick children could not be admitted unless a cash deposit was made or payment of expenses guaranteed. Donations from organizations and private individuals were used for these children when possible. Dr. Doek helped preserve many infant lives through his teaching of sterilization and pasteurization of milk and the addition of cereals, vegetables, hard-boiled egg yolks and cane sugar to infant diets. He also L ievised a simple milk dilution method of infant feeding. It wasn't until 1905, however that pediatrics was taught as regular course in the Medica School. A bequest of $20,000 in th name of Dr. Alonzo B. Palmer dean of the Medical School in 1875-79 and 1880-87 gave chil dren their first specialized care at University Hospital. The Palmer Ward opened in 1906 as a special children's clin ie. A Palmer endowment func of $15,000 was used for the medical care of children in this ward. Until 1913, state law only provided för the care of children bom with anatomical defects and mental deficiencies. formal children who later con;racted maladies needing special skills and hospital equipment were not eligible. Dr. D. M. Cowie, professor of pediatrics from 1907 to 1940, agitated for revisión of the aws, charging that "the state puts great effort to benefit mentally deficiënt children who aever become productive citijens but neglects mentally efficiënt children needing special skills andfacilities." In 1913, a new children's act rovided free admission to Jniversity Hospital for all nfants and children of Michgan citizens who needed hospial care but couldn't afford it. The demands of pediatrics developed rapidly under this ew law and Dr. Cowie reportd that more of the more per)lexing childhood diseases were 'ound at Universty Hospital han in many larger medical enters. The children quickly filled the Palmer Ward. Additional beds and cribs lined the glassenclosed corridors linking Palmer Ward with the Surgical Building and the Medical Ward. Their smiles and cries greeted all who passed and reminded them that more space was needed. Dr. Cowie said it was largely the appeal of the children that resulted in the passage of the bill to construct the present University Hospital in 1925 and the establishment of the modern clinics that have brought national and international fame to U-M. Around 1920, University Hospital took its outpatient pediatrie clinic right into the community. One clinic was set up in the business section of town, another in "lower town.' W h e n the new hospital , opened in 1925, these clinics were moved back and became the Well Baby Clinic. The section of the new hospital designated for children was named Palmer Ward in recognition of the Palmer bequest a quartér century before. Palmer Ward was opened as a temporary children's section with the hope that a separate children's hospital would be built someday. Forty-five years later, this ïope has become a reality. In September 1969, on the hunIredth anniversary of University Hospital, the first patients will move into the new C. S. Mott Children's Hospital. This 200)ed hospital will become the ocal point for bringing the most advanced health facilities I nd techniques into the service] f the children of Michigan. 1