Professor Burruss

Dr. George Sanford Burruss of Augusta, Georgia established Burruss Sanitarium in 1901, the most complete hospital for blacks in the South, with twenty-seven rooms, modern equipment, a staff of twelve black physicians, and a training department for nurses.

The Sanitarium was established in 1901, and since its establishment has proven to be a great blessing to Augusta and the surrounding country. It is a place where colored women suffering with abdominal tumors, pelvic or abdominal trouble and diseases of the rectum can go and have the best of care and attention.

In connection with the Sanitarium Dr. Burruss established from the beginning a nurse training department, and certificates are given to those who complete a two years course of discipline in the Burruss Sanitarium. Several young ladies have already graduated, and others are there right along from month to month preparing themselves to be of service in life.

The founder of the Burruss Sanitarium was born in Lavonia, Georgia, in Franklin County, in 1865. His early education was obtained at Martin, near Lavonia and in Atlanta.

He first entered Atlanta University, but subsequently attended Atlanta Baptist Seminary from which he graduated in 1886. In 1891, he graduated from Meharry Medical College, at Nashville, and came immediately to August to enter upon the practice of his profession. He started at the foot of the ladder, with no practice and with little money; today he stands at the head of his profession among the colored physicians of Augusta, and has amassed money and property. He owns a handsome cab, two buggies, an automobile, and three very fine horses. He owns eight or ten improved houses and lots in Augusta, and has just purchased the old family homestead in his boyhood town. All told Dr. Burruss is worth today between $40,000 and $50,000, and all of it made out of his profession during the past 16 years.

Dr. Burruss is popular with all the people, white and black, and is known to be a quiet and unassuming citizen. He attributes his success to three things: knowing his business, attending to his business, and keeping his mouth shut.

He is not only a graduate in medicine, but he is a graduate in pharmacy as well; and two years ago, in order to make himself more proficient in connection with his management of the Sanitarium, he took a course in embalming and holds today his diploma from the Georgia State Board of Embalming. Last summer, and summer before last, Dr. Burruss has taken two months away from his busy practice to go to Harvard University and attend lectures there in order to better fit himself for service. The subjects to which he has given special attention at Harvard have been Abdominal Surgery, Obstetrics, X-ray Work, Pathology and General Practice.

In 1899 Dr. Burruss married Miss Janie Gardner, of Augusta. Mrs. Burress (1876-1924), has proved a helpmate to her husband, and may be found any day about the drug store or in the Sanitarium overseeing things. She is a graduate of Paine College, in Augusta, Georgia.

*At this point I have no idea how long the Sanitarium was in practice*

From the April 1919 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 72: George S Burruss of Augusta, Georgia, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN (1891); age 53; also a druggist and proprietor of the Burruss Sanitarium in Augusta died at his home, April 25, 1919 from septicemia, due to a wound accidentally received while performing a surgical procedure.

Dr. Burruss and his wife are buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia.

Source: The Voice of the Negro v.3-4 (1906-07)