Bracebridge, the Peter Taylors, Miss Goldsmid—each the centre of a large and very different set of people—are each of them sure that we should have a large and valuable practice. Many doctors think the same. I cannot but think that the next ten years might be better spent in England than America. Our work is needed, and I know not who else can do it; indeed, we seem peculiarly suited to do this work in England. Well, we will soon discuss these matters together, and I am managing as well as I can in shaping things here, and gathering information under the uncertainty.
Returning to New York in August 1859, I found
the permanent fund which had been commenced for
the purchase of a hospital site prospering. The
steady friends of the movement—Stacy B. Collins,
Robert Haydock, Merritt Trimble, and Samuel Willets,
formed the nucleus of an earnest band of supporters,
both men and women. The spacious house,
126 Second Avenue, was purchased and adapted to
the use of hospital and dispensary, with accommodation
for several students.
Our able fellow-worker, Dr. Zackrzewska, having left us to superintend the new hospital in Boston, we carried on the rapidly growing work of the infirmary with the aid of intelligent graduates from Philadelphia, who came to us for practical instruction in medicine.
In addition to the usual departments of hospital and dispensary practice, which included the visiting of poor patients at their own homes, we established a sanitary visitor. This post was filled by one of our assistant physicians, whose special duty it was
