The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-11

their UNDIVIDED attention, tho Trustees wish 10 TO
gard .ths benefit Of The patisets, and In liberal
spirit 70 consult the future interests Of our physi.
clans and the public ct largo; for, By this system
these physicians must become accomplished prscti-
tionsrs BY the time the growth Of their private
practice shall oblige them 70 resign their posts Of
The district physcians have care Of those who arc
too Ill to leave their homes The portion Of the city
included In their limits contains the Five Points and
mass Of the lsboring population who depend upon
the commerce Of the city for their support. Most Of
these in easy circumstances; but there Is also
large multitude of improvident persons. who, In or.
binary times, gain only precarious livelihood. or
who are reduced by restitution and crime to the
treme OF degradation. They crowd the damp cellars
and LII ventilated dwellings In narrow alleys, where
ing premature death. In these places the most de-
cent portion Of the population rarely enter and CEN
aequently know only by hearsay Of their existence.
The clergyman and the district physician are the
able abedes. The one consoles the repentant and
the dying with the prospect Of better future In
another world. The physician Is their only support
and encouragement in this world. If they require
medicines and medical care they have them, in aud
through him. II they need food and fuel he applies
in their behalf to the authorities, and becomes in
measure the alnoner of the cty's bounty. II they
destitute of friends to take care Of them, we'll
manageable diseases, which may extend their
rayages from this centre Of contagion where every
thing conspres to ferment their vrulence and thus
endanger the public health, he has them removed
to the hospitals.
The district physicians do, then, perform the du.
ties of medical police to the city. They meet
disease In its origin, and announce its progress
when dangerous, and the inhabtunts live in securi-
ty without feeling Of obligation to the Dispensary
or thought OF what they owe to their arduous and
dangerous labors. The lefty Is protec led by their
vigilance and ye. the only compensation allowed to
each for these invaluable public services Ia 5000 per
annun.
The apothecary and his assistant are employed in
furnishing the medicines as prescribed by the ply
sicians and it is their duty to compound, as far
as practicable, all the medicines used, it must DO
manifest that great industry must pervade this de-
partment, and that almost every moment Of the en-.
tire day must be occupied by them in the business
Of the office.
The present apothecary is intelligent and accom-.
plished in his business. The average number OF
prescriptions put up daily is about three hundred
and Extyive His salary is $3.50, and that Of his
assistant Is $3.50 per ahnum.
The business Of the trustees is to superintend the
working Of the machinery, to facilitate the abors Of
the physicians to guard the just rights Of ALL to ap
peal to the public for aid, and be able to show thst
efficiency and economy prevail throughout the in
stitution. For these purposes We have monthly
meetings to receive the reports Of the physicians
and attend to the general business Of the dispensary
and have appointed treasurer and different com.
mttees for visiting the institution and for furnish
ing supplies, &c.
The bill for medicines is about 81 200 per annun
and the paid for sal aries has been little short
Of 49, 600. The entire expense OF the dispenssry.
including insurance, repairs, &C., is about IS 900
per annum, and since there are about fifty thousand
patients treated the expense Of each patient Will DO
about 10 cents.
Our donation from the State is 81 900 per aunum,
and from the city 81 900. rhs rest Of our income is
mostly derived from rents, and from private sub.
scripton. Attention is invited to the Treasurers
report, for the particulars of the receipts and ex
peDditures.
We have endeavored to show in this annual
report that We have done an immense
amount of good at moderate cost, and to
leave it to be inferred that il it were no. for our or
ganization, the city would, every little while, be
alarmed by the spread Of disease or aroused by the
outcries Of the sick and dying, to make hasty and
imperfect arrangements for their relief, at an ex-
pense SURPRISING, by many thousands, the small sum
now required to support the already established dis
pensary.
The donation from the city and State is q small
acknow ledgment OF its value but we especially
regret the smaness of subscription list, for this
shows surprising Indifference, arising, probably,
from ignorance Of the public benefits conferred.
The trustees sre anxious to enlarge their means,
In order that all their officers, with the exception OF
the attending pbysiciane, may be adequately paid.
We must have competent men, or else the d'spen-
sary will lose favor with the patients and the public.
Is efficiency depends upon It, There is an injustice
in taking advantage OF the necessities OF valuable
men, by depreciating their services and Offering
them q pittance 80 diaproportionate even to the
wages of the day laborer.
As remedy, II might be suggested that the dis
trict physicians should be made " health wardens,"
for they are familiar with al parts OF the city, and
could engage in this work, without neglect Of their
present appropriate duties. But the trustees have
nothing to do with urging political appointments.
There remain two other ways by which eur funds
may be increased, viz, by strenuous effort to get
more subscriptions or by an appeal for aid to the
Commissioners of Immigration. On inquiry we have
asceTtained that about one half Of the district
patients are immigrants, and probably the same
proportion exists in all departments Of the dis PEN
ssry. The Commissioners would, undoubAd be
willing to admit the Justice Of this claim for COM
pensation, if made by the trustees. Perhaps some
arrangem ent could be made, 10 that, on the pay
ment Of specific sum, the care Of all emigrants
could be assumed by the dispensary. Probably some
such plan might meet the pecuuiay interests OF the
Commissioners. GEO. T. TRIMBLH, President.
JAS. F. De PEysTER, Secretary.
From the Treasurer's report We learn that the no
ceipts for tie year. from legacies, rents donations,
State and city appropriations, &C., amounted to
sll 4lO a. Of which there was expended $ll l59 90,
leaving balance In bank Of $3.50 AZ.
From the report Of DR.. Parkingson, house ply.
stefan, we learn that during the past year:
There have been prescribed for at the dIspensary-
males. ...........,...'... '.......llooo
FemRle6. 10000
-29 1856