Daily State sentinel., 1863-10-16

are other fields for the exercise of bepeyolence
We need House Of Refuge for the protection
and reformation Of the abandoned and dissolute,
and we need a City Dispensary. where the poor
and destitute Of our city and sojourners may come
and receive medical and surgical attentiod
gratuiiousy And this is the subject to which
e,rne,ty call the attention of cizs ply yscians
and the City Council
Every large city has found il necessary 90 e.
tabIish elemOsynary institutions for the unfortun
ate poor IN their midst; and the time has fully
arrived when the municipality OF Indianapolis
should 90 to work to furnish what benevolence.
humanity, and Christianity claim at its hands
In times of peace. the number OF poor has been
large we felt ourselves able 10 care for: but
that number, under the present circumstances of
the country, has been greatly enlarged. Our
unfortunate national struggle has added thous
ands TO the former list: and this class has
greater claim on Us than those who have become
destitute from almost any other cause. Two
years and half ago, thev had father, husband,
brother, at home around their own cheerful fire
side. with at least competency, but now they
are the unwilling objects of our sympathy and
care Those whom Ihey then relied for sup
port, DOW lie on mtny lone battle held. The
wife the child the brother, the sister, the parent,
of many fallen absent brave. are here among
u; they need assistance. still the subjects of
disease and pain, and must receive medical at
tchtioh 'S eiicItit anu prOup IL tue NcalluleSt
OF our citizens
Our profession is not a trade but benevolent
calling The true physician cannot turn deaf ear
to the piteous cry OF human being in distress,
however poor he may be. Though he receive no
pecuniary consideration for his professional ser
vices, the heartfelt gratitude of his patient aud
friends, are often richer reward than gold or
precious gems.
While all this is true 1t Is also true that no
all -lv for tha
benefit OF Others. IL i in violation of the law OF
reciprocity. la this city, there some physI-
citns who never refuse medical aid. account OF
poverty. whilst there are others who will save
those only who able TO remunerate them
There Is vast number of persons in midst
too poor even to pay for prescription at the
drug store; consequently, the burthen of attend
ing such tails very heavily a few who know
and feel their duty aud are willing TO do it, How
then shall we remedy the evil AMI equalize the
burdens To which we have alludell | answer, bv
establishing ID -pensary sustained at the cost of
the city. Let the Council at once make AN ap-
preparation sufficient To obtain suitable building,
pay for all medicines. Instruments, and medical
and surgical appliances necessary to meet the
requirements of public DIspensary, and for the
efficient treatment of all diseases that may be
presented The Council should also appoint a
sufficient number ofguahed physicians and sur
geons visit the DiSpensary a stated periods To
examine and prescribe for all who nay need aid
There should be division of labor observed in
appointing the medical men--one to practice.
another 10 surgery, another 20 diseases of women,
children. &c Other ,pecialties may be added as
the interest of all may require. | only give this
as u general outline, leaving the minutia to the
judgment and discretion ot the Council
If any citiZens Councilmen doubt the need
and utility OF a well regulated Dispensary in this
city, let them ask the practicing physicians OF
this place for their opinion. an | think they will
express the same views that | hive. Should any
charge with "A desire To- evade duty and expense
by suggesting this scheme, let give them a
few historical facts that point that will obyiate
the objection:
During the famine fever of lSil in Ireland
one hundred and seventy eight Irish medical
practitioners. exclusive of medical pupils and
army surgeons died, being proportion of nearly
seven per cent, or one in every fifteen medical
practitioners, IN single wear"
There were no inducements of pecunisry char
acter to the devoted physicians, but only the no
bic impulse TO relieve their suffering fellow beings
for - It happens that in all epidemic diseases
the chief dangers incurred by the ply yScians AT,
in attending the poor aud destitute, and the disso
lutte, from whom he receives no fees and Otter
not the slightest evidence of gratitude
Who Is it that goes about from day to day, an,
in the silent watches of the night, sacrfcin;
health, ease, comiort and even lite itself TO re
lieve pestience-stricken, fever schorched being
the inmate. perhaps, of cellar garrett
wmppel IN filthy rags on bed OF straw, in som
dark infected court or alleyl This simple minde,
man. who goes about his duty for duty's and hu
minlty : sake, Is only a doctor, one of a class a
whom every whiting is privileged to fling "a sar
casm, and whom every venal quack may accus
OF sel6-hueSs aud gree iiness for gold" ShaI
10 line OF poetry, historic page, celebrate tn
vaoruus deeds of these noble heroes of humanity
Let there be erected TO their memory some mOu
umental inscs siption, though it Le brief as tha
over the fallen Athenaus under Miltiades-
"rhey fought at Marathon"
During the plague of Marsailles, in 1920. an
the yellow fever of Philadelphia in 1893 tn
medical profession furnished more IN rrtyrs TO tn
cause of humanity than any other class of peC
| pie
Dr. Bertrand, i'm his "History of the Plagu
at Marseilles" says that 1.-the physicians wer
the first to face the danger of the pntagion e,
ing from street to street. from house 10 hou>
examining into everything, approaching the p;
tients, feeling their pulses, examining their Il
mOrS-even dressing them with their own han,
II II appeared necessary; attending them,
short, with the sime aSsiduity as could have bee
shown 10 wealthy person. who was aboru
under common IN lady, and from whom the
had expectations of great reward They nev,
refused any services required of them, either
hospitals, CITY or country, and all without aT
charge" Read the .scrpGon of the plauge
Athens. by Thucyddes, where friends avoiie
each other i'm the street. and all shrank from
| person in mourning as thev would shun a wipe
, When all the we ilthv hid fiel and none but q
: poor remained behind where we're the phy sician
Did they follow their rich patrons to the he ,lt
ful mountains or iid thes stay and battle with
unseen foe OF deadly aim for those who were tC
poor 10 leave the iniectee city, and from who
thew expected he slightest pecuniary r
wardf History has recorded their heroic deed
) and there YOU nav read it for yourself d
the physicians of Philadelphia, in 1893. folio
their rich patrons 10 the country when they le
10 the number of seventeen thousand-more tn;
one third tie population2 On the contrary
find "a Rush with host of Others brave Al
generous, remainii IN the city to attend Il
, poor and wretched without the fear OF death
hope OF pecuniary reward
/ But enough on thus point, though much mig
vet be added. Perhaps It WIS not necessary
have sid rnythiug. and should not but for Il
. iact that have heard chIrses made. which
. have anticipated and answered.
The great majority Of the PHYSICIANS Of Int
annapolis have always done their duty in ministt
ing to the suffering poor. and are still ready n
willing 10 contribute heir full share of benev
oent and cratutous labors in behalf OF the rea
needy and destitute They have always pe
formed more grltlitous service for the poor IN
u any other cl : o the community All they a