In 1896 the eye and ear services were separated.

       In 1896, Henry Ford produced his first car.

       The annual report of the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of 1897 stated, "Patients are to be received in the wards of the institution free of all charge for medical attendance, but in all cases where patients are able to pay, a charge of $7 per week is made to meet the expenses of board." The dispensing department is for the free medical and surgical treatment of the deserving poor, but no patient able to pay is accepted for treatment." It also stated, "In conducting the hospital work of the Infirmary, it was deemed appropriate to appoint a separate house staff, and thus the eye and ear services were divided." ¹⁶

       In 1900 (Fig.9) the Platt Pavilion for contagious diseases of the eye was added to the restored brownstone. At this time Dr. R. Derby, Executive Surgeon Director, Otology Department, made a plea to the Board of Directors because of the growth of the aural department for "priority consideration for added space in operating rooms for aural patients." "The meager conveniences or, better said, their necessities afforded the aural department for the care of its capital operations are in painful contrast to the satisfactory accommodations provided the eye department for its cataract cases." "The average cataract patient of the clinic is old and a charge upon his relatives; the restoration of sight is, in the majority of cases, a temporary boon only, which the limitations of age must speedily terminate. The average intracranial case, on the other hand, is of middle age or younger.... Aural surgery today deals with questions of life and death." ¹⁷

       In 1903 the Schermerhorn Pavilion for diseases of the ear was completed.

       The throat department was deleted in name only in 1902 because of the marked growth of the eye and ear sections. At this time the staff consisted of 31 surgeons, 56 assistant surgeons, and 12 house staff. ¹⁸

       Between 1820 and 1903 patients were never charged a clinic fee. In 1903 the fee was 25 cents. Only 40% of the patients paid this fee. This clinic fee lasted 50 years.

       The inpatient charge was $7.50 per week for clinic patients, $15 per week for semiprivate patients, and $25 per week for private patients.

       In 1902 the first electric hearing aid was invented. New York had its first subway in 1904.

       The Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons was held at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in October 1924.

       The first two examining boards in American medicine had their origin from the old Academy (the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology). The American Board of Ophthalmology was established in 1917, and the American Board of Otolaryngology established in 1924. ¹⁹ These two boards, along with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1930 and the American Board of Dermatology in 1932, formed the American Board of Medical Specialties in 1935, which now recognizes 24 specialty boards. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is currently seeking recognition.

       The otolaryngology section of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology selected the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary as the site of its annual meeting in 1936.