New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-10
A COSTLY INNOVATION.

ABsURDITY OF THE NEW POLICE SURGICAL SYSTEM
a COMPARISON OF THE NEW WITH THE OLD
INFRINGEMENT IMPOSSIBLE.
Much comment has been excited by the
action OF the Police Commissioners in the appointment
Of police surgeons Under the provisions of the charter
OF 1910 the Police Commissioners were entitled to APP
point q surgeons salary Of $50 each, making
total OF S725O When the Board OF Appointment in
1872 reduced the o. the appropriations for the
Police Department for the current year. the Police Com
nsoners reduced the number Of surgeons from time TO
time until for time previous to the entrance into
office Of the Commissioners there were only 10 en-
ployed The Charter provides that ~ surgeons may
be appointed by Commissioners Instead Of doing this
The Commissioners have appointed three surgeons for
duty at the Police Central Office who examine can
ddates for appointment on the police force TO their
physical fitness TO perform the duties required The
BOARD Of Police Commissioners, at recent meeting de-
dd that the bulk OF the heretofore performed by
tho Police Surgeons should hereafter be done by pbysi
clans or surgeons -Four Of them were 20 be named IN
each Drecnc and their services were 10 be commanded
by the captains sergeans These surgeons VIII be
oouired Ia take care OF members OF the Department
WI may be sick from any cause Whatever, ana also 10
render service Of casualty: For attendance on
members OF the Department the physicians are allowed
A. yisit for casualties, they may charge "a lOr eaCn
o ~ are many persons experienced in the affairs OF
The Dspartment who believe that the new system VIII
he even more extensive than the Ola one, ana tnat
wOnld have been savea t h eu. char9y nd
surgeons under the provisions OF the new ha
been appointed. ihe ponce i6PviAs VI ".
wears are OF value In this respect. on April o. e the
nOce force consisted Of 1895 officers and patrol men
For the year ending that date there were 2lI day
lost y members the force by reason OF sickness ana
nj least that number Of visits should have been made
by the Police Surgeons, under the regnauyns. ln e
number OF persons treated for casnalueS ana
sickness at the various sauOnho1ses from aug l. e.v
10 Apr l. 1911, eight months. was 20Oo FOR the year
ending Aprl Q, 1872, with total on tbst
date OF ,22S6 officers and men, there were
1852 DAYS by members Of the force through sickness
aud necessarily equal number OF visits were mace Dy
the sut geOns, and there were 4S55 addH0na cases
treated at the statonhoases For The year enaing hp
1873, l65li days lost by members OF the force
The police port not been published for this year
but those the official figures Tue surgeons have Dot
handed reports 90 be tabulaed but u Is safe W
assume the Of the figures for previous years
fhst there were $500 additional eases treated ut the
With the average OF the past three years
a. basis IL will be found that the time lost by members
~ me force 1892 days II Is fair 10 that THIS
ill lie the for the coming yearpossbly little
or a. the Commissioners entitled TO increase the
syce by 100 men. On the basis thus given. however.
tGe visits 20 policemen alone. at ~ per visit,
oId cost $50 Ss7. OF the visits msde 20 the station
S,scs large proportion would be at night, and the
HS,esn would therefore be entitled 10 charge 81. If
nS Assumes however that there are 70 be no more pa
aO,s - sfatiOubOuses th8n there were IN 1917, when
tere were Is aud that onlY onehai Oh theSs were az