Published online May 1, 2008
PEDIATRICS Vol. 121 No. 5 May 2008, pp. 1050-1051 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0239)
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HISTORICAL ARTICLE

Patriots' Day Fire on April 19, 1950 at Children's Hospital Boston

Robert Schwartz, MD

Department of Pediatrics (emeritus), Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

Patriots' Day is a legal holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, celebrating the battle of Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775. The event of April 19, 1950, was very unusual, because of the origin of a fire at Children's Hospital Boston. At that time, the hospital consisted of 2-story stucco pavilion buildings that housed patients of diverse ages. In addition, on the southwest side of the area, there was a routine laboratory facility adjacent to the clinical neurology unit. The surgical suite was also on the southwest side. In the midst of these buildings was Dr James Gamble's study research laboratory, with his magnificent cherry wood library that contained his personal collection of research journals. This conference room was used for chart reviews for patient and brief seminars.

The personnel in the Gamble Division consisted of Dr Gamble, the director and professor; Dr William M. Wallace, his protégé; and 4 postgraduate fellows, including the author who personally observed these events.

Before 1945, clinical chemistry consisted of quantitative chemical analysis1,2; thus, sodium was determined after ashing at 400°C. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Address correspondence to Robert Schwartz, 33 North Ave, Providence, RI 02906