TJUUL. GKT71
•— '^CbiViit/V/
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
B YL^WS
           ur int.

uffalo General  lospttal.
ORGANISED DECEMBER, I 855,
       BUFFALO:
THOMAS & LATHROPS' STEAM PRESS

         1856. 
 
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
BY-L^WS
nffato ieneral Hospital
ORGANIZED DECEMBER, 1855.
^C60Fls&
A"v
^^^v^iv
       BUFFALO:
THOMAS & LATHROPS' STEAM PRESS.
1856. 
OFFICERS
%\t  §uffal0  <6mral  jfaspttal
FOR THE -5TE-A.R, 1856.
CHARLES E. CLARKE,..............President.
ANDREW J. RICH,.............Vice President.
R. L. BURROWS,...................Secretary.
GEORGE S. HAZARD,..............Treasurer.
TRTTSTEES:
GEORGE S. HAZARD,
CHARLES E. CLARKE,
ANDREW J. RICH,
BRONSON C. RUMSEY,
ROSWELL L. BURROWS,
WILLIAM T. WARDWELL,
PETER CURTIS,
GEORGE HOWARD,
JOEL WHEELER. 
ARTICLES  OF  ASSOCIATION
                            OP

%\t   Buffalo   dmral   |]asjrtfaL
 Stat* fff gjeto prUss:
       ERft COUNTY,       J
   We, whose names are  hereunto subscribed, do hereby, in pursuance
 of the Act of the Legislature of the State  of the State of New York in
 respect  to  the incorporation  of benevolent,  charitable, scientific and
 missionary societies, certify :
   That  we  have  associated, and do hereby associate, for the purpose
 and object of establishing and maintaining  a Public Hospital in the City
 of Buffalo,  in the County of  Erie, and  State of New York, under the
 name of The Buffalo General Hospital.
   That  the  association or society hereby formed,  be known in law by the
 name and title of " The Buffalo General Hospital."
   That  the  particular business, object, and  purpose of said  society, shall
 be to  establish and maintain a Public Hospital in the said City of Buffalo.
   That  the affairs, concerns, and business of the said society shall be
 managed and conducted by nine Trustees.
   That  the  persons hereinafter named  shall constitute the first Board of
 Trustees for the management  of said Hospital, viz:  George S. Hazard,
 Charles E. Clarke,  Andrew J. Rich, Bronson C. Rumsey,  Roswell L.
 Burrows, William T. Wardwell, Peter Curtis, George Howard, and
 Joel Wheeler.

   Witness our hands, at the  City of Buffalo,  in the  County of Erie aforesaid,
 this twenty-first day of November, in the year one thousand eight  hundred and
fifty-five.

  [Certificate filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, Dec. 12th, 1855; and in the Clerk's
 Office of Erie County, Dec. 13th, 1855.] 
 
BY-LAWS
GOVERNMENT AND  REGULATION
nffak   §t\\txnl   JJospiial
ADOPTED DECEMBEB 7,  1855.
         ARTICLE I.
objects of the association.
  The  Buffalo General Hospital,  is designed as  a general
charity, to afford gratuitous medical and surgical relief to indio-ent
persons.
  Paying patients may also be received, under regulations pre-
scribed by the Board of Trustees,
                      ARTICLE II.
                     MEMBERSHIPS.

  Section I.—Any citizen of the United States, and of the State
of New York, may become a member of this Association, in either
of the forms, and upon the terms hereinafter prescribed, upon a
written application  to the Board of Trustess, and the approval of
the  said Board.
  Annual Members, upon the payment yearly of five dollars.
  Life Members,  upon the payment of one hundred dollars in any
one  year. 
6
BY-LAWS  of the
   Annual Beneficiary Members, upon  the payment yearly of fifty
dollars:  with the privilege of sending" to be  treated at the Hos-
pital  one patient at  a time, during the year in which the payment
is made.
   Life  Beneficiary Members, upon the payment of five hundred
dollars within any one year, with the privilege of sending to be
treated at the Hospital one  patient at a time,  during the continu-
ance  of the membership.
   Memberships shall not be transferable.

   Section II.—There shall be  an annual meeting of the mem-
bers of the Association, on  the  second Wednesday in January, of
each and every year; for  the purpose of hearing  the report of  the
Trustees, together with the  returns of the Inspectors of Election,
and for transacting such other  business as may come  before  the
meeting.

   Section III.— For  any special meeting of the Association, at
least  five days notice  shall be given, in at least two of the daily
newspapers published in the city of Buffalo.


                         ARTICLE III.
                management op the hospital.

   The affairs of  the said  Hospital shall be managed and  conducted
by a Board of Trustees, as specified in the act of incorporation, to
consist of nine in number, a  majority of whom shall be a quorum
for the transaction of business.


                         ARTICLE IY.
                   election op trustees.

   The first election of Trustees under  these By-Laws shall be held
on the second Wednesday in January, 1857;  and annually there-
after,  the election shall be held on the same day of each and every
successive year,  at such  place and hour as may be designated by 
buffalo general hospital.
1
the Board of Trustees, of which time and place, at least five days
public notice shall be given by the Secretary, in at least two of the
newspapers published in  the city of Buffalo.
   The said elections shall be conducted by three Inspectors, to be
appointed by the Trustees.  The Inspectors shall proceed to count
the ballots as soon  as the poll  is closed, and  shall openly declare
the result of the canvass; and shall deliver a certificate of the same
to the Secretary, to be by him  presented  to the members  of the
Association at their annual meeting.


                          ARTICLE V.
                   THE  DUTIES  OF  TRUSTEES.
   Section  I.—At the  first meeting of the  Trustees, after their
election, they shall elect, or appoint, from among their number a
President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
   Committees may also be appointed, from among members of the
Association, when  the interests of the Hospital may be advanced
thereby.
   Section  II.—The Board of Trustees shall meet, for the transac-
tion of business, monthly.
   They shall annually  prepare and  present  to the Association, a
detailed report of all their proceedings, including a statement of the
finances from the Treasurer.

   Section  III.—In case of a  vacancy in the Board of Trustees
occurring from  death, or resignation, the Trustees, at their next
meeting, shall elect, from the Association,  a member to fill  the va-
cancy.
   Section  IV.—The Trustees shall annually elect, or appoint, two
surgeons, and two consulting surgeons;  and  two physicians, and
two consultino- physicians; who  shall receive commissions under the
seal of the Association, and shall be the Medical and Surgical Staff
durino- the period  of their appointment.   Vacancies occuring du-
ring the year shall be filled by the Board, by appointments, for the
balance of the term. 
8                       by-laws of the
    Section V.—The Board of Trustees  shall also appoint a war-
 den, a matron, and an apothecary.


                          ARTICLE  VI.
                   THE DUTIES OP  OFFICERS.
   Section I.—The President shall preside,  at all meetings of the
 Association, and of the Board of Trustees; maintain order and de-
 corum ; and be governed by the usual parliamentary observances.
 He shall appoint all committees, unless otherwise specified by re-
 solution.

   Section II.—The President,  or Vice President in case of his
 absence from  the  city, may call meetings of the  Association or
 Board of  Trustees, whenever he may  deem  necessary.  He shall
 also  call  a meeting of the Trustees upon  the written request of
 three members; and of the Association, upon the written request of
 ten members.

   Section III.—In the absence of the President, the Vice Presi-
 dent shall preside, and exercise the powers of the President.   In
 the absence of both these officers, a President pro-tempore shall be
 appointed at any meeting.

   Section IV.—The Secretary shall record and preserve  the min-
 utes and proceedings of all  meetings; have the care of all the pa-
 pers of the Association; conduct the correspondence;  attest under
 his hand and the  seal of the  corporation, all  documents requiring
 the same;  preserve a correct list of the members of the  Associa-
 tion;  and perform  such other duties as  usually appertain to his
 office,  or  may  be  assigned  to him;  and  at  the expiration of his
 term of office, deliver over to his successor in office, all books  and
 and papers, the property of  the Association.

   Section V.—The Treasurer shall receive, hold, and disburse all of
the funds of Association.  He  shall also  have  the custody of all
evidences  of indebtedness to,  and  valuable  papers of the  Asso-
ciation. 
buffalo general hospital.                 9
   The  Treasurer shall  pay out no monies, except by order of the
 Board of Trustees;  in such manner and upon such form of draft as
 they may prescribe; and Ms books and  accounts shall at all times
 be open to their inspection.

   Section VI.—The  Treasurer and  Warden shall each before
 entering upon the duties of their respective offices,  give  security
 for the  faithful performance of the  same,  in such amounts as the
 Trustees may require.


                          ARTICLE VII.
                   DUTIES OP THE WARDEN.
   Section I.—The  Warden shall reside in the  Hospital, and be the
 steward; and have the general charge thereof,  and of all the prem-
 ises; and shall see that the regulations and directions of  the
 Trustees are carried into effect.

   Section II.—He shall keep, in books provided for that  purpose,
 a regular account of all  monies received and disbursed by him  on
 behalf of the Hospital;  and  also a  record of all such contracts as
 he may  have  been authorized  to  make; which books, with the
 vouchers shall be laid before the  Trustees at their meetings.

   Section III.—All  monies coming  into his  hands, ho shall de-
 posito with the Treasurer, to be by him placed  to the credit of the
 Hospital.

   Section IV.— He shall purchase, under the  direction of the
 Trustees, the fuel, provisions, medicines, and all other stores for the
 use of  the Hospital.  He shall use every  care  to  preserve all such
 articles from wasteful use, or theft.

   Section V.—He  shall visit every ward  at least once a day, and
 oftener  if necessary.

   Section VI.—He shall have  power to hire  and dismiss all nur-
ses and servants employed in or about the  Hospital, subject to such
orders and rules as  the  Trustees  may prescribe.  No subordinate 
10
BY-LAWS OF THE
shall leave the house  without his permission;  and it  shall be his
duty to discharge all those guilty of profanity, drunkenness, or other
gross  misconduct.   He shall  report his proceedings on  all these
subjects to the Trustees forthwith.

   Section VII.—The Warden shall register all patients upon their
admission, recording the  name, age, nativity, habits and disease of
the person.
   Upon the discharge of  the  patient, he shall  also record the fact,
mentioning the case as cured, relieved, incurable, eloped, disorderly,
or as  the  case may be.
   In  the case of the  decease of  any  patient, a special record shall
be  made  of the name, &c, of the  deceased.
   Suitable registers or record  books, for the above statistics, shall be
provided by the Trustees, and an abstract of the same shall be laid
before the Board, from time to time as they may require.

   Section VIII.—The Warden  shall permit no patient to go out
of the house without his permission.

   Section IX.—The Warden shall offer to receive for safe keeping
money or other valuables belonging to patients  admitted to the
Hospital;  and in case of  a patient dying, leaving money, clothing,
or other articles of value, he shall report the same to the Trustees,
for them  to assume the disposition of the property.

   Section X.—If  patients  desire spiritual advice, the Warden
shall, if practicable, invite the person preferred to attend, and shall
see that decorum is observed while such person is present.

   Section XL—The Warden shall  keep the  accounts, make out
and collect the bills against paying patients treated in the Hos-
pital.
   He shall report to the  Trustees  any and all  frauds practiced by
charity patients, or by those who may be  chargeable upon some
other fund.

   Section XII."—He  shall present  annually to  the Trustees a
report, embracing such details  and  statistics  in reference to the 
BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL.
11
management, number of patients treated, results, expenses, <fcc, as
they may require.


                         ARTICLE VIII.
              THE  MEDICAL AND SURGICAL STAFF.
   Section I.— The  Consulting Physicians and Surgeons shall at-
tend, when called in consultations.  They shall be invited to attend
all capital operations  in the Hospital, and shall have the privilege
of introducing their students to witness operations.

   Section II.— The Attending Physicians and Surgeons shall make
such arrangements among  themselves, that  the Hospital may be
attended in the manner hereinafter directed.
   One  physician shall visit every medical  patient, who may be
afflicted with an acute disease, at least once every day, and oftener,
if necessary;  and every medical patient  in  the Hospital, without
exception, twice  a  week.   He shall  give such directions  to  the
Warden, as  are  necessary to the keeping of  the wards cleanly  and
well ventilated;  and shall direct the House Physician  to  report to
the  Warden such patients  as  are  in  a  proper condition to leave
the Hospital.

   Section III.—One surgeon  shall  visit  the Hospital at least
twice a  week, and oftener if necessary; and every surgical patient,
under their  care, at least  once a week;  and shall also give such
directions as are specified in the foregoing paragraph.

   Section IV.—The term of service during which each physician
and  surgeon  shall attend, shall  be settled by agreement between
themselves,  or by lot.   It  shall be their duty, during their  res-
pective  terms  of service, to  prescribe and direct the treatment of
all the  patients  under their charge; but,  in the  event  of an
emergency, admitting of no delay, the House  Physician or House
Surgeon may prescribe, and report to the  Attending Physicians
or surgeon, at their next visit.

   Section V.—If any  physician or  surgeon  shall be  prevented 
12
BY-LAWS OF THE
 from attending in his  term,  he shall  procure  one of  the  other
 physicians or surgeons belonging  to the Hospital to  attend  in
 his stead.

   Section VI.—The  Attending Physicians and  Surgeons shall
 attend any meeting of the Board  of Trustees  when required,  to
 confer with them on the management of the Hospital.

   Section VII.—At the close of each  year the medical and sur-
 gical statistics  of  the Hospital, for  the  year, shall be- prepared by
 the physicians  and surgeons, giving in  tabular forms the diseases
 treated, and the results.

   Section VIII.—The Attending Physicians and Surgeons shall
 have the  privilege of  introducing  their  students to witness the
 practice of the Hospital.

   Section IX.—There shall be appointed by the medical and
 surgical staff, one or more House Physicians, and one or more House
 Surgeons, each of  whom shall serve for one year.
   The term  of service  of each shall be  equally divided between
 the medical and surgical wards.

   Section X.—No person shall be  appointed to the office of House
 Physician or House Surgeon except graduates in medicine, who must
 first be examined and approved by  the medical  and  surgical  staff,
 and give satisfactory evidence of good moral character.

   Section XL—The House Physicians and House Surgeons shall
 visit their  respective wards at least  once every morning  and even-
 ing,  and be  prepared to report the state of the  patients to the
 physicians  and surgeons in attendance.

   Section XII.—The House Physicians and House Surgeons shall
record, in a book to be kept for that purpose, at the time of the visit,
all prescriptions of the physicians and surgeons in attendance;  and
shall see that medicines  are prepared and  transmitted to the sick,
and regularly taken, and  that  they  are  administered  with  care,
neatness, and without delay. 
BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL.                 13
   They shall, moreover, under  the direction of  the"  Attending
 Physicians and Surgeons, keep a register of all medical and sur-
 gical cases admitted into  the Hospital,  in a  book which shall
 belong to and be preserved in the Hospital.   In  this register shall
 be entered the name, sex,  age,  nativity  and occupation of each
 patient; the history of the case, and probable cause of the disease;
 its present condition; the remedies employed before and after admis-
 sion ; the name  of the attending physician or surgeon;  the daily
 notes on the case; the termination,  either in recovery, relief,  or
 death;  and any  other observations  tending to illustrate the  case
 and its treatment.

   Section XIII.—In any medical  or surgical case of emergency,
 the House Physician or House Surgeon shall request the immediate
 attendance  of the  attending physician or surgeon; and  if he can
 not be found, of  any other physician or surgeon of the Hospital.


                          ARTICLE IX.
                   DUTIES OF THE MATRON.
   The Matron shall have the oversight of  all female patients; and
 shall also visit daily all the wards having female nurses, and see
 that the patients are properly attended by the nurses.
   She shall see that the wards, beds, clothing, linen, &c, are kept
 clean, and shall  take care of all household goods and' furniture
 placed by the warden under her charge, as directed by him.


                          ARTICLE X.
                   ADMISSION OP  PATIENTS.

   Section  I.—The  Board  of Trustees shall prescribe the regu-
 lations under which patients may be received into the  Hospital.
   As the  Association is designed  for a  general charity, and  is
 intended to relieve  the necessities of the  indigent sick, as exten-
 sive a diffusion  of the benefits of the Hospital  as is practicable
should be the end" sought  after.    In the actual  dispensation  of 
14                       BY-LAWS OF THE
these benefits, the extent will and must be limited by the resources
of the  Association.

   Section II.—All persons admitted to the Hospital for medical
or surgical relief, shall be placed under the charge and direction of
the physician or surgeon in attendance at the  time of their admis-
sion,  except where private  patients  have  already  an attending
physician, or express some individual preference at their entrance.

   Section  III.—Provision  shall be made  for the  reception of
private paying patients in said Hospital,  on such terms and  under
such regulations as may be  prescribed by the  Trustees; and who
may be  attended by any regular physician or surgeon  of their
choice.
   Section IV.—Nothing, however, in  any of the foregoing sec-
tions of this article shall be so construed as to prevent the medical
officers  of any regularly-constituted  public  medical  department,
whose  patients may be treated in  this Hospital, from retaining the
charge of, and treating said  patients if  they desire so to do.  In
such cases, however, as far as it is practicable, distinct wards shall
be assigned for their use.

                         ARTICLE XI.
                    CONDUCT OP PATIENTS.

   The Board of Trustees shall frame and enforce  suitable regula-
tions for the  government of the patients while in the Hospital;
every care being taken to preserve due order and decorum therein;
and, while guarding against any acts of insubordination, to cultivate
in the inmates sentiments  of  temperance and virtue, and to ani-
mate them by the still higher incentives  of genuine  religious
principles.

                         ARTICLE XII.
                            GIFTS.

   No  officer or servant of the Hospital  shall accept, for his or her
individual use, any gift or bequest from any patient. 
BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL.
15
                         ARTICLE XIII.
                   LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.
  Arrangements shall be made, as early as practicable, for the
collecting and maintaining of a Hospital Library and Pathological
Museum.
  The Trustees shall have the power to  provide, by purchase  or
otherwise, for the collection and preservation of books, maps, charts,
or engravings, and specimens  of morbid  or healthy  anatomy, or
other matters intended to illustrate the science of medicine.


                         ARTICLE XIV.
                   CLINICAL INSTRUCTION.
  Provisions  shall be made by the Trustees for the imparting of
clinical instruction in  the Hospital, by the attending  physicians and
surgeons.

                          ARTICLE XV.
                           BY-LAWS.
  The By-laws of this Association may be amended, altered, or
repealed by the  Association,  at any regular meeting thereof, pro-
vided notice of the proposed alterations  shall have  been given at
the previous regular meeting of the Association; or at any meeting,
provided a notice of  such proposed amendment shall be given to
and be approved by the Board of Trustees, previous to such meet-
ing ; in which case, public notice of the intention of  such alteration
shall be given in the  printed call for the meeting of the Association.