Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-01-19
WILL WE SEE HOE NOR.

To the Editor of the Union and American:
1t is a burning shame on our State that
during an existence Of more than eighty
years she has given no practical sid TO Sc
cure to her destitute thousands adequate
medical attention. Are We less philaI-
thrcpic than our neighbors? or why is it
that so many INDECENT persons are allowed
TO suffer weeks Of agony, and huaily die
for want OF that attention which can alone
be secured through the assistance of prop
erlY educated physician OF surgeon? Now
we doubt not this question will be promptly
answered by extra humane % thousands
in the old-fashiored way-by throwing up
their hands in holy horror and letting fall
fresh instalment of that same old stereO-
typed damnation on the heads of the hard
hearted brutes who peddle pills all over
the country. Bat, before repeating the
dose, would it not be well to stop and
make careful and unbiased inquiry into
the consistency and eXpediency Of this
mode of proceeding? We are al ready 10
admit that by no Law, human or divine, is
one mans Obligations to humanity greater
than another's. LII poor fellow goes bare.
foot TO your store, Mr.. Merchant, or hun
cry to your meathouse, Mr.. Farmer,
do you giVs hin shoes or bacon?
Do YOU allow him to have the best
article you have, without regard TO cost?
OF course you DO not. If this same fellow
unknown alike TO "Fame" and yourself
should write you 3 note or send his ragged
boy to tell you some rainy evening that he
only lived six miles from you, that his child
was sick, needed coffee and sugar and
would be glad you would come and spend
the night: although he could not offer you
decent chair TO ST. in, that he lad no money
but you must come as yOu were needed.
You would go--wouldn't you Mr.. Banker,
MR. Merchant, Mr.. Farmer? We hOps you
won't have any such calls, as you would be
almost certain to forget your rain coats in
your haste to do duty 10 tbs cause Of hu-
manilY. Allow us to persuade you not to
be rash-'tiust this Once"-keep your seat
and allow your family physician the pleas
ure, he viii be more likely 10 do something
when he gets theEe--.his dTencbi0g rain, this
loss OF sleep, this constant walk with dis
ease and death. This irregular life does
not interfere with his health or his social
comforts % Now, in all sober earnestness
we would hold up this imperfsctly drawn
picture TO the public, not for the purpose Of
exciting sympathy for the medical profes-
sion, but to ask them to assist in shouldering
that burden that the ply ysicians Of Tennes-
see have for so many years labored in vain
to carry alone. They have worked most
faithfully-a very large per cent. have abso-
lutely bankrupted themselves and left thsir
families destitute, and still the work is very
imperfecly accomplished.
The reason is apparent. The profession
is too poor to supply the necessary medi-
cines and apparatus for TIE successful treat
ment of many cases. Where physicians
succeed, financially, in their business, the
bills OF paying patients Of course have to
be made 50 as to cover the pSupar practice;
so hat persons who are most unfortunate,
that is, have most sickness in their families,
are the ones who pay for the attentions to
the poor. 1t would look more like justice
tJ let those pay this practice who have none
of their own. The only plan that can Sc
crr9 equal justice TO al parties, Is to levy a
tax az er the plan Of some Of our neighpOTs
snd let every man pay his pro rsta and the
State or county pay tR5 physician a Tess)n-
able sum for bis serNi es. TIE justice of
the pesce might be empowered to issue or
der for physicians services t1 such persons
as are in his Judgment, entitled TO such
benei s-the mediCa! attendant be required
to sayson oath, before hisi County Court,
thai bis visits were necessary, and such
guards thrown around tine act as our Leg
islature may think necessary to prevent lis
abuse.
Something should be done at once. The
interests of the people, both rich aud poor,
demand it. Our present laws on the sub
ject are miserable sham. JUSTICE