Gârlași Hospital

GÂRLAŞI HOSPITAL Gârlași Hospital of Buzău is the third medical unit established in Wallachia. At the time of its appearance, it was located close to Buzău river, in Gârlași commune, which later became the Gârlași slum at the edge of the city. The deed of establishment belongs to the cupbearer Maria Minculescu (born Mănăilă), who in her will, dated 21st April 1792, requested that the "Hospital for the sick and the poor on the Gârlași estate ... be finished and equipped, and always have a doctor and a pharmacist with salary and medicines and people to care of the sick, giving them food and other necessities." The testamentary act was confirmed on 9th August 1792 by ruler Mihai Constantin Șuțu, who through his charter officially recognized for the first time the existence of Gârlași Hospital, the third hospital in the country after Colțea (1702) and Pantilimon (1750) of Bucharest. So, "Minculeasa" initially built a church on her estate, "Constantin and Elena Church", a building that sti l stands today and a hospital, which, although it did not have a long life because of the heirs, left the name Gârlași to the current hospital for infectious diseases .The hospital had two "small and tiny" rooms that were inside the Church surrounded by high walls, traces of which can still be seen today. The walls separated the settlement from the proximity of the slaves on the estate and the gardens of the Bulgarians, irrigated by Iazul Morilor, a place over which, according to tradition, wolves used to pass. The first mentioned doctors were an Italian and an Austrian - schoolmate of doctor Caracaș Constantin of Buzău, and around 1817 we learn of "the doctor of the hospital - Gheorghe Caliarh". This was the beginning of the hospital tradition in Buzău. In 1805 the hospital was occupied by the Russian troops, and after their departure it remained closed for a long time. It was reopened by Bishop Chesarie in 1825, and three years later it was again occupied by Russian troops. The Hrisoscoleu family, the one who managed Gîrlaşi estate, neglected the maintenance of this hospital, which, due to lack of income, was mostly closed. The intervention of some leaders of Buzău in addition to the county authorities caused the ruler Gheorghe Bibescu to order, on 5th February 1845, the reopening of the hospital and the re-entry into possession of the wealth with which it had been endowed by its founder, Maria Minculeasa. The dispute between the municipality and the Hrisoscoleu family over the hospital's wealth lasted for several years, which continued to affect the condition of the hospital, which remained small and unsanitary, insufficient for the medical needs of the people of the city. This led the vestry of the hospital to buy in 1852 another building, much more spacious, namely the houses of Costache Musceleanu, which also had a large garden. After several expenses incurred for the repair of the roof and some annexed buildings, in 1856 the Gîrlaşi Hospital began to operate in the new premises, the old building in Gârlaşi church yard being a ruin at that time. On 17th November 1869, Dr. George Angelescu was appointed doctor of the city of Buzău, a position he would fulfil until 1898, during which time he also served Gârlaşi Hospital. He was decorated for his activity with the "Star of Romania" Order, in the rank of knight. During the War of Independence (1877-1878), Gârlași Hospital was set up as a military hospital, with 40 beds. There was a long period of time in which the hospital was administered by Buzău Diocese, which did not take care of its smooth operation, which is why, in 1900, the hospital was definitively transferred to the administration of Buzău City Hall. The hospital then had only 20 beds. The city hall covered the large debts of the hospital, continued the construction and equipment works and, on 8th December 1907, the new premises of "Maria Minculeasca" Gârlaşi hospital was inaugurated. Now it had 3 wards: internal, contagious and venereal diseases and a number of 30 beds. In the following years, other buildings were erected, and the old houses of Costache Musceleanu were demolished. During the First World War the hospital suffered serious damage caused by the German occupation troops, but after the war it was repaired and resumed its activity. In 1938, it reached a number of 60 beds, being profiled as a hospital for internal diseases. Currently, several departments of Buzău County Emergency Hospital operate in Gârlaşi Hospital. The central ward of Gârlași Hospital is registered in the List of Historical Monuments (BZ-II-m-B-02348).