Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-04
The New District government.

The plan for a dispensarv system for the Dis
triet OF Columbia, proposed By the medical
board of the ChIldrens' hospital, and endorsed
by medical boards of other hospitals aud dispsu-
saries, and submitted 20 the District Commits
sioners, seems to possess the merit of simplicity
and convenience, as well a. of economy. The
plan proposes the establish ment OF dispensarles
for the relief OF the poor of the District at the
Georgetown general hospital, Columbia hos
Iital, National Medical College, Central dispen-
sary- Childrenss hospital, Freedman,s hospital,
and Providence hospital. All of these institu-
tons being already furnished with necessary
aect mmodatiens for the inspection of the sick
and dispensing of medicines, the system can 90
into Immediate operation as soon as adopted.
The District government will incur no expense
for rent for the pay ment Ofthe attending physi-
clans o. apothecaries. Out door or visiting
physicians are to be attached to each dispeu-
sary with annual salaries of $50 to $500, whose
duty shall be TO visit at their homes such indi-
gent SICK persons as may apply for medical re-
lief, the prescriptions ordered by such physi-
clans TO Re dispensed at the dispensaries to
which they may be attached. Books are to be
furnished by the District government to each
dispensary in which shall be recorded the
name, age, sex, color, nature of disease, history
OF case 81 each patient who may apply for re-
lief. The medicines are TO be purchased by the
District government in bulk and furnished on
reqnisition at stated times of the year to each
olspensary.
This plan Is claimed to be superior TO the svs-
TEN formerly in vogue OF charging the govern
pent with each prescription dispensed ,inasmuch
as II II more economical. snd affords less oppor-
tunity for error or abuse. The details OF each
dlspensaTy are to be managed BY the Dispensary
Board, composed of the physicians attached
thereto. The purchase and supply of drugs
DOCKS, and necessary medical appliances are to
De provided by the gov eminent through a board
composed OF an equal number physicians with
ont salary or through one sslaried Office The in
ktltutOns above named have, with one exception
dlspensSrles already in active operation supply
ing medical advice to the sick. The Character
OF the physicians associated in this system IL is
claimed, would be a sure guarantee of honorable
desiing and general efficiency in the case of the
poor.
Some days since the Board of Health sub-
mitted TO the Commissioners a proposition TO
attend the sick poor OF the District. The state
ment shows the amount required for medical
AID and purchase OF medicines for the sick Door
OF the District to be $1,000, and which they
pledge themselves not 10 exceed. This sum Il
predicated upon facts and figures furnished by
the late physicians TO the poor. The board saws
ire average number OF prescriptions given by
The nnnber OF physicians 10 one half, the num-
Der OF prescriptions would be at the rata of
about twenty daily. Ii is believed that the
board can devise and adopt a system OF rigid
supervision which, while 1t prevents misappli-
cation OF this charity, will largely reduce the
amount formerly expended. After fully con-
sideriDg this and other plans proposed the Com
missiOners have issued an order Charging the
Board OF Health with the performance of this
service from month to month until otherwise
ORDERED, the expense OF the same not to exceed
S6f6 per month.
The Commissioners think thew will be able to
nhish the payments OF al the laborers this
week.
The engineer has directed that two Ianp posts
De erected at the corner Of sth and street.
southwest, and one at the corner of North
CuOllna avenue and Sth street southeast.