Russell Medical is 100 years old. You might have seen that mentioned in The Alex City Outlook or on the local television/radio talk show, The Front Porch. So, let’s reflect on the history of healthcare and its impact on medical services in Alexander City.
In 1923, Mr. Ben Russell established Russell Hospital to provide healthcare to his burgeoning employee population at Russell Manufacturing Company. Around 50 years before that, Louis Pasteur revolutionized medicine when he published the germ theory of disease, a paradigm shift that opened the door to effectively treating infectious diseases.
kAm%H@ 564256D 367@C6 #FDD6== w@DA:E2= @A6?65[ (:==:2> #ö?E86? 82G6 3:CE9 E@ E96 5:D4:A=:?6 @7 C25:@=@8J H96? 96 5:D4@G6C65 9@H E@ FD6 )\C2JD 7@C >65:42= :>28:?8] %96 J62C #FDD6== w@DA:E2= @A6?65[ uC656C:4< q2?E:?8 2?5 y]y]#] |4{6@5 H6C6 2H2C565 E96 }@36= !C:K6 :? !9JD:@=@8J 2?5 |65:4:?6 7@C 5:D4@G6C:?8 :?DF=:?] %96J 925 DF446DD7F==J EC62E65 E96 7:CDE D6G6C6 5:236E:4 H:E9 A2?4C62E:4 6IEC24E] %96 7@==@H:?8 J62C[ E96 A92C>246FE:42= 4@>A2?J[ t=: {:==J[ >256 :?DF=:? 4@>>6C4:2==J 2G2:=23=6]k^Am
kAmpD 6I4:E:?8 2D E96D6 5:D4@G6C:6D H6C6[ :E E@@<J62CD 7@C E96> E@ :>AC@G6 9F>2? 962=E9] x? `hab[ =:76 6IA64E2?4:6D 7@C >6? 2?5 H@>6? :? E96 &]$] H6C6 de]` 2?5 dg]d J62CD[ C6DA64E:G6=J] !?6F>@?:2 2?5 5:236E6D H6C6 72E2= 5:D62D6D[ 2?5 A@=:@ 4C:AA=65 E9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6[ :?4=F5:?8 &]$] !C6D:56?E uC2?<=:? #@@D6G6=E]k^Am
kAmu:G6 J62CD =2E6C :? `hag[ 2 8C66? >@=5 4@?E2>:?2E65 p=6I2?56C u=6>:?8’D 324E6C:2= 4F=EFC6D[ 2?5 96 ?@E:465 >@=5 H2D 5625=J E@ E96 324E6C:2] xE E@@< `a >@C6 J62CD E@ :D@=2E6 E96 24E:G6 DF3DE2?46[ A6?:4:==:?[ 7C@> E92E 8C66? >@=5[ 2?5 2?@E96C 7@FC J62CD W`hccX 367@C6 A6?:4:==:? H2D 4@>>6C4:2==J 2G2:=23=6] !6?:4:==:? H2D 2 8@@5 E9:?8 3642FD6 AC:@C E@ :ED :?EC@5F4E:@? 5FC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx[ 72C >@C6 D@=5:6CD 5:65 7C@> :?764E:@FD 5:D62D6D E92? 5:65 @? E96 32EE=67:6=5]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C :?DF=:?[ 6G6? E9@F89 :E H2D 2G2:=23=6 :? `hab[ AC@5F4E:@? C6BF:C65 92CG6DE:?8 >2DD:G6 ?F>36CD @7 2?:>2= A2?4C62D 8=2?5D] xE E@@< ab[d__ 2?:>2=D E@ AC@5F46 6?@F89 :?DF=:? E@ EC62E fd_ 5:236E:4D 7@C 2 J62C[ AFEE:?8 :?DF=:? AC@5F4E:@? D@>6H92E 2E E96 >6C4J @7 E96 42EE=6 2?5 A@C< :?5FDECJ] x? `hfg[ E96 r:EJ @7 w@A6[ 4@==23@C2E:?8 H:E9 3:@E649?@=@8J 7:C> v6?6?E649[ 56G6=@A65 2 AC@46DD E@ >2?F724EFC6 :?DF=:? E9C@F89 C64@>3:?2?E s}p E649?@=@8J[ 2?5 :? `hga[ t=: {:==J >256 9F>2? :?DF=:? 2G2:=23=6 :? E96 >2C<6E]k^Am
kAmqJ `hec[ E96 >65:42= ?665D @7 p=6I2?56C r:EJ C6D:56?ED @FE8C6H E96 @C:8:?2= 9@DA:E2= 3F:=5:?8 @? {66 $EC66E[ D@ 2 ?6H 9@DA:E2= H2D 6C64E65 2E :ED 4FCC6?E =@42E:@? @? &]$] #@FE6 ag_] x? `hec[ =:76 6IA64E2?4J 925 :?4C62D65 E@ fb]f J62CD 7@C H@>6? 2?5 ee]g J62CD 7@C >6?] %96 >2:? 42FD6 7@C E96 :?4C62D6 @7 =:76 6IA64E2?4J H2D E96 AC@8C6DD E92E 925 366? >256 :? EC62E:?8 :?764E:@FD 5:D62D6D]k^Am
kAmx? `haf[ !9:=:A sC:?<6C 2?5 {@F:D $92H :?G6?E65 E96 :C@? =F?8[ 2?5 :? `hda[ y@?2D $2=< 56G6=@A65 E96 7:CDE A@=:@ G244:?6] x? `hea[ p=36CE $23:? 56G6=@A65 2? @C2= A@=:@ G244:?6] (:56DAC625 G244:?2E:@? AC@8C2>D 92G6 2== 3FE @3=:E6C2E65 A@=:@ H@C=5H:56]k^Am
kAm(:E9 =:76DA2?D :?4C62D:?8[ 49C@?:4 5:D62D6D DF49 2D 962CE 5:D62D6[ 42?46C 2?5 <:5?6J 72:=FC6[ 3642>6 >@C6 AC6G2=6?E[ 2?5 >65:42= D4:6?46 C6DA@?565 H:E9 E96 :?EC@5F4E:@? @7 5:2=JD:D :? `hcb 2?5 496>@E96C2AJ :? `hce] !=2DE:4 DFC86@? y@D6A9 |FCC2J A6C7@C>65 E96 7:CDE DF446DD7F= <:5?6J EC2?DA=2?E :? `hdc[ 2?5 #F?6 t=>BG:DE :?G6?E65 E96 A246>2<6C :? `hdg]k^Am
kAm%96 #FDD6== |65:42= – &pq r2?46C r6?E6C[ H96C6 x H@C<[ @A6?65 :? a__`[ 3FE 42?46C 42C6 925 366? AC@G:565 2E #FDD6== |65:42= D:?46 `hf` H96? p=6I2?56C r:EJ’D 7:CDE >65:42= @?4@=@8:DE[ y@9? q=JE96[ C6EFC?65 E@ 9:D 9@>6E@H? E@ AC24E:46 >65:4:?6] q=JE96 H2D :? E96 7:CDE 4=2DD @7 @?4@=@8:DED E@ 8C25F2E6 7C@> &pq |65:42= $49@@= 2?5 D6CG65 2D E96 7:CDE >65:42= 5:C64E@C @7 E96 42?46C 46?E6C]k^Am
kAmx? a__`[ =:76 6IA64E2?4J :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H2D fc]c J62CD 7@C >2=6D 2?5 fh]g J62CD 7@C 76>2=6D] %96 D:8?:7:42?E 82:? :? =:76 6IA64E2?4J 7@C >6? H2D AC@323=J 5F6 E@ E96 C65F4E:@? :? 4:82C6EE6 D>@<:?8] x?E6C6DE:?8=J[ H9:=6 D>@<:?8 C2E6D H6C6 5C@AA:?8 2>@?8 >6?[ E96J H6C6 DE:== 4=:>3:?8 7@C H@>6? – E96 ':C8:?:2 $=:>D 67764E]k^Am
kAma__` H2D 2 8C@F?53C62<:?8 J62C :? 42?46C E96C2AJ[ H:E9 E96 :?EC@5F4E:@? @7 E96 7:CDE EJC@D:?6 <:?2D6 :?9:3:E@C[ v=66G64[ 7@C E96 EC62E>6?E @7 49C@?:4 >J6=@86?@FD =6F<6>:2 Wr|{X] q67@C6 v=66G64[ r|{ 925 2 b_ A6C46?E 7:G6\J62C DFCG:G2= C2E6] }@H :E’D 2 49C@?:4 5:D62D6] (:E9:? E96 AC6G:@FD 7:G6 J62CD[ E96 7:CDE >@?@4=@?2= 2?E:3@5:6D H6C6 :?EC@5F465i #:EFI:>23 :? `hhf C6G@=FE:@?:K65 E96 EC62E>6?E @7 =J>A9@>2[ 2?5 :? `hhg[ EC2DEFKF>23 5C2>2E:42==J :?4C62D65 =:76 6IA64E2?4J 7@C A2E:6?ED H:E9 96C\a\?6F A@D:E:G6 3C62DE 42?46C] %96 E:56 H2D EFC?:?8 :? 42?46C 42C6 7C@> “42CA6E 3@>3:?8” EF>@CD H:E9 496>@E96C2AJ 5CF8D[ E@ “D>2CE 3@>3:?8” EF>@CD H:E9 E2C86E65 E96C2A:6D[ H9:=6 AC6D6CG:?8 E96 A2E:6?E’D 962=E9J E:DDF6D]k^Am
kAm~FED:56 @7 E96 H@C=5 @7 42?46C[ >65:42= E649?@=@8J H2D 3@@>:?8 36EH66? `hec 2?5 a__`] %96 7:CDE 4@C@?2CJ 3JA2DD DFC86CJ 2?5 E96 7:CDE 9F>2? 962CE EC2?DA=2?E H6C6 A6C7@C>65 :? `hef] k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE r% D42??6C H2D D@=5 :? `hf`j E96 7:CDE !t% D42??6C :? `hfej 2?5 E96 7:CDE |#x D42??6C :? `hg_] #FDD6== |65:42=’D 4FCC6?E r%[ 24BF:C65 :? a_`f[ :D 2 d`a\D=:46 D42??6C Wd`a E:>6D 72DE6C E92? E96 7:CDE r% D42??6CX] (6 24BF:C65 @FC !t% D42??6C :? a__b 2?5 H6C6 2C8F23=J @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE CFC2= 9@DA:E2=D :? p=232>2 E@ @776C E92E E649?@=@8J] !t% D42??6CD 92G6 ?@H 366? 67764E:G6=J C6A=2465 H:E9 4@>3:?2E:@? !t%^r% D42??6CD] ~?6 @7 >J 8@2=D 2D 5:C64E@C @7 E96 42?46C 46?E6C :D E@ C6A=246 @FC 4FCC6?E !t% H:E9 2 DE2E6\@7\E96\2CE !t%^r%]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE DFC8:42= C@3@E H2D :?G6?E65 :? `hgd 7@C 3C2:? DFC86CJ] x? a___[ x?EF:E:G6 $FC8:42= :?EC@5F465 E96 >@C6 G6CD2E:=6 52 ':?4: C@3@E] (6 92G6 E96 ?6H6DE 86?6C2E:@? 52 ':?4: 2E #FDD6== |65:42=]k^Am
kAmx? a_ab[ E96 3:886DE >65:42= ?6HD :? C646?E J62CD :D[ @7 4@FCD6[ E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4] r~'xs G244:?6D H6C6 56G6=@A65 :? H@C=5\C64@C5 E:>6[ 42FD:?8 D@>6 @7 FD E@ 5@F3E] p7E6C 2==[ :E E@@< J62CD E@ 56G6=@A E96 A@=:@ G244:?6] xE E@@< ?62C=J EH@ 564256D E@ 56G6=@A A6?:4:==:?] p?5 J6E H6 925 r~'xs G244:?6D :? 2 >2EE6C @7 >@?E9D]k^Am
kAmxE’D ?@E 2 >JDE6CJ] ~?6 J62C 28@[ E96 4@>A=6E6 9F>2? 86?@>6 H2D >2AA65[ 2 AC@46DD E92E 925 368F? a_ J62CD 367@C6] %92E H2D >256 A@DD:3=6 3J E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 A@=J>6C 492:? C624E:@? W!r#X E649?@=@8J :? `hgd] %96 E649?@=@8J E92E 2==@H65 FD E@ >2A E96 4@>A=6E6 9F>2? 86?@>6 2=D@ >256 :E 762D:3=6 E@ >2A E96 >F49 D:>A=6C $p#$ G:CFD 86?@>6 :? 2 >2EE6C @7 H66<D]k^Am
kAmv6?6 >2?:AF=2E:@? 92D 8:G6? 3:CE9 E@ E96 ?6IE C6G@=FE:@? :? >65:42= D4:6?46i E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 AC64:D:@? >65:4:?6 2?5 A6CD@?2=:K65 E96C2A:6D] (6 2C6 ?@H D6?5:?8 A2E:6?ED’ EF>@C DA64:>6?D E@ E96 =23@C2E@CJ[ H96C6 E96 42?46C’D 86?6E:4 AC@7:=6 :D 2?2=JK65 2?5 5CF8D :56?E:7:65 E@ 2EE24< H62<?6DD6D :? E96 42?46C’D 5676?D6D] %96 :?G6?E:@? @7 :>>F?6 4964<A@:?E :?9:3:E@CD Wz6JECF52[ }:G@=F>23[ *6CG@J 2?5 @E96CDX 92D C6G@=FE:@?:K65 42?46C 42C6] %96D6 5CF8D H6C6 8:G6? E@ 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E y:>>J r2CE6C :? a_`c H96? 96 H2D 5:28?@D65 H:E9 >6=2?@>2 EF>@CD :? 9:D 3C2:?] }:?6 J62CD =2E6C[ 2E E96 C:A6 @=5 286 @7 hh[ y:>>J r2CE6C :D DE:== H:E9 FD]k^Am
kAmpE E96 r2?46C r6?E6C[ H6 92G6 H:E?6DD65 E9:D D2>6 >:C24=6 7:CDE92?5] (6’G6 EC62E65 J@FC 72>:=J >6>36CD[ 7C:6?5D 2?5 ?6:893@CD – 2?5 @FCD – H:E9 E96D6 D2>6 5CF8D] %96D6 2C6 A2E:6?ED H9@ H@F=5 92G6 =@?8\28@ DF44F>365 E@ E96:C 42?46CD[ 3FE E96J 2C6 DE:== H:E9 FD 3642FD6 @7 E96D6 5CF8D]k^Am
kAmx @?=J H:D9 x 4@F=5 36 96C6 :? a`ab E@ D66 H92E >65:42= >:C24=6D 2C6 2G2:=23=6 :? @FC E@H?[ 2E @FC 9@DA:E2=[ :? E96 ?6IE 9F?5C65 J62CD]k^Am
kAmk6>mO v6@C86 |:C2?52 :D E96 s:C64E@C @7 E96 &pq |65:4:?6k^6>m – k6>m#FDD6== |65:42= r2?46C r6?E6C]k^6>mk^Am