Daily national Democrat., 1859-12-13
Quarrel Among the Doctors.

Quarrel Among the Doctors
Annually. we believe, for the last h'e
years there has been quarrel among the
doctors Of this county over the County Hos
,5tal miyhtv war Of words was waged,
when DR.. Wilauer was appointed, it being
conterded that lower bid than his was pre-
.ented to the body then exercising the powers
subsequently, vested in the Board Of super
yisors, and rejected; some taking part with
the honorable body alluded to, on the ground
/ that the lower bidder was an incoml etent
man for the place. and others censuring the
said body on the ground that it had shown
ftyoritism to Dr. Winauer Well, the breeze
/ blew over, and hostlities slumbered but did
not die DR.. Geler succeeded DR.. Wilauer,
the Board of Supervisors having made con
tract with him, at ths-rate Of 81 per day for
each patient, notwithstanding a bid was
made. we believe by the same party whose
lid was rejected before to undertake the bus
iness at the rate of 81 so per day per patient.
A new storm was raised upon the subject,
but we do not remember whether it rose into
the region Of newspaperdom or not.
Dr. j. Is. Grove next obtained the contract
from the Board of Supervisors, lower bid
than his having been again rejected by that
body and we think the same party as before
being the lower bidder. Again were scrimo-
nious feelings aroused and all sorts of unknd
things said of each other by the doctors, ac-
cording to their feelings or prejudices on one
side or the other
Next came Or. r. N. Webber, and the war
over his appointment was long and bitter
A whole army of physicians, as it were, at
tackled him at once, sending in to the Board
of Supervisors formal remonstrance against
his appointment signed with their own pro-
per names, and declaring that he had gradua
ted at an Eclectic School of Medicine, and
was therefore mo wayno' (bueno) as ply
scian. The Board Of Supervisors thought
he was a good physician, nevertheless, and
concluded their contract with him. Then
ensued war such as that foreshadowed in
the scriptures between Cog and Magog would
not be circumstance to. An actual encoun-
ter took place in one instance, in which brick
bats were freely used, and the human face
divine somewhat dis6gured. The bloody
code was appealed to, but with a result which
was looked upon as fortunate and happy by
the community, inasmuch as there was no
necessity for boodshed. Still there were
warning tongues upon the streets and rumors
Of war at every corner The smoke cleared
away, the earthquake passed, and the Hos
pital was seen to be still standing. Doctors
once more had time to attend to their pa
tients; drugging and purging went on as
usual; brickbats were no longer in demand ;
"Gar-im- -visaged war had smoothed his
ar-wrinkled front" and everybody thought
that "the piping times of peace" had indeed
set in for good. Another year rolled around
and a new struggle began for the possession
of that most marrowy, rare and juicy" bone
of contention" DR.. Geller obtained the
contract and at once all sorts of batteries
were let loose upon him. All sorts of char
ges were made and all sorts of reports put
into circulation. The controversy, however,
did not assume such a shape as to get into
the city press, and gradually died away, SC
that the affairs of the County Hospital be-
gan to be a matter Of almost total indifference
to the public. But the subject has been re-
viyed by the Grand Jury in their late re
port, and once more the doctors are in
the field, with their lances in rest and their
yisors down. The present position Of affairs
is known to the public. The report of the
special committee appointed by the Grand
Jury, to examine into the conduct Of the
Hospital, is before the public. So also is the
rerly of Dr. Geler with his affidavits of pa
tients and his letter from Father Slattery-
AS to the truth or falsity of the charges
against DR.. Geler we leave the public to
Judge from the testimony before them.
We are quite certain that there never viii
be peace in this county. between the mem
bers Of the medical profession, until the con.
tract system, in connection with this County
Hospital, is abolished. There will be
struggle for it every year, and should the
present physicians of this county live to the
age of Methuselah, and the contract system
continue for that period, the Oldest grevbeard
of them all would be exercised to the highest
pitch of mental excitement over the next or
over the last Hospital contract.
Not for the sake of peace, however, among
the doctors, but for the reduction Of county
; expenses and to prevent any possibility o
e wrong doing on the part Of the conductors o
the Hospital, we think that the institution
ought to be put in charge of competent
saiaried physician, and the legitimate expen-
ses of the Hospital directly borne by the
county. Let bids be received for furnishing
provisions, medicines, et cetcra, and the low
est responsible bid be accepted. Letthe bills
charged to the county be strictly scrutinized
by the Board of Supervisors. and above all
things let that board be honest. BY this
means, the Hospital will be more economi-
eally conducted, and there will be far less
complaint among the taxpayers
MARKED IMPRovEMENT-Sincet the terri
ble tragedy Of the killing of Mr.. Hughes on
the levee at Sacramento, says the Standard
and the subsequent action of Chief Watson
IN regard to the deeeney and propriety Of
the runners, not a soul Of them has yentured
to open their lips except in the Legitimate and
, proper duty of his calling. There ;sro llos