The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-01-15
I memorial to the legislature.

eli sMeneOftUt 10 TIE LeOtSf0tNfe.
At a meeting of the Medical Society of
Hartford county, held in November last, the
following memorial, addressed to tue Legis-
lature of the State, asking for Charity
Fund" to aid physicians in their labors
among the poor, was presented. 1t was
signed by every member present, and the
committee by whom the petition was pre-
sented, was instructed to lay it before every
physician in the county, prior to the next
session Of the Legislature: f4&-
"Io the Honorable Legislature Of Maryland.
"We, the undersigned practitioners of med
icine of Hartford county, respectfully pray
your honorable body for the enactment of a
law authorizing the County Commissioners
of this County to levy annually a tax to pro-
vide fund, which may be known as the
Charity Fund.- to be set apart for the pay
ment of the regular physicians of the County
such per centage as the Legislature may
deem proper, for the professional services we
render the poor,-ta those who are unable to
remunerate the physician. We leave with
you the arrangement of such details as may
be necessary to put the law INTO practical
operation; only suggesting that all accounts
so presented should be accompanied by the
oath of the claimant, as proof of their correct.
ness; and should not exceed in amount the
rates usually recognized by the majority of
the physicians of the County in their ordina-
ny practice. Much must be left discretionary
with the commissioners, who in most cases,
may be personally cpgnizant of the facts. and
thus qualified to render equitable decisions
. "We do not consider that in making this
application we are asking for anything that
it is not clearly our right to claim. 1t is well
known that the medical profession, as body,
are harder worked, mentally and physically,
than any other branch of business Their
education is expensive; they are exposed to
the vicissitudes of the weather in the night
as well as in the day; and of necessity pass
large part of their time in the atmosphere of
malignant diseases; but notwithstanding these
hardships and the slender pay, there are but
few physicians in active practice who do not
annually dispense more charity, in the form
of professional services, which constitutes
their stock in trade" than do ninc-tenths of
other members of the community who are
more abundantly provided with this worlds
goods
"a vile outlaw, who commits gross and
fragrant outrage, is furnished at the expense
of the county with legal counsel to defend
him from deserved punishment, while an
honest poor man, who may be stricken with
disease, has no provision made for his relief
the physician must contribute of his own
means, or he is left to die.
'"The aid we ask from you is for the benefit
of the afflicted poor,-we do not expect to
receive the one-half of our usual fees, but
only sufficient to assist sustain, and encour-
age us In our works of charity.
"All of which is respectfully submitted"
We sincerely hope that the Legislature, at
its next session, will enact the law asked for
in the above petition, No one will deny that
it is the duty ofthe community to relievcthe
wants of its destitute members; but upon
what principle of right or justice should
physicians be required to bear so large q
share of the burden? In common with 9TH
er citizens they pay their proportionate share
taxation for the support of our almshouses
and for the care of out-pensioners and be-
sides, they contribute more, in the way of
"charity practice" to relieve the sufferings
of the afflicted poor, than any other class of
the community; and we have yet to hear of
member of the profession refusing his aid,
because the sufferer was unable to render
him compensation for his services. 1t ap-
pears to us, therefore, that in common justice
to this profession, law should be passed by
the Legislature, authorizing our County
Commissioners 10 levy sum annually to
compensate physicians, in some degree at
least, for the valuable time and medicines
constantly bestowed upon the needy and fies-
titute in our midst.