Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-19

At q meeting Of the Board Of Health last
night, DR.. Verdi, from the ::ssnitary committee,
nade report upon the matter OF the storage of
a large quantity Of
MAXIMUM FERTILIZERS
on the premises Of Mr.. kinsolving, on Louisiana
avenue, confirming the opinion expressed in the
report submitted at the last meeting of the
board by their chemical expert, DIR. Craig, that
II Is nuisance, and should be abated by re-
Mr.. Msrbury dssented from the report, say
ing that II the Board OF Health propose to de-
clare everything q nuisance which is obnoxious
to the Oltactories they would have their hands
full.
DIR. Bliss was inclined to take the same view
he hoped the matter would be laid over tempo
rsrly. until the subject could be thoroughly
Investigated.
Here the matter was dropped, as
THE COMMITTEE OF PHYSICIANS
from the Medical Society of the District of CO.
lumbia was announced 10 be in waiting to have
invitation OF the latter to confer on the subject
OF vital statistics, &c. The committee-com-
posed or Drs. Eliot, Loveioy, w. w. johnson,
Busey, and Bulkiey-entered the room, and
DR.. Eliot said the Medical Society had passed
resolutions on last Wednesday night expressive
OF the sense of that organization. Upon invita-
ton of the Board or Health, the Medical Society
had chosen this committee TO confer upon the
subjects embraced in the resolutions, and in
response to the invitation they were present for
that purpose. He then proceeded to read the
resolutions from the manuscript already pub
lished in THE STAR.
The chair (Mr. LangstOn) requested Dr. Eliot
to point out
THE oBJKCTIONABLE PARTS OF THE RHGULA-
TIONs
promulgated by the board, so that they might
take them mp for discussion.
DR.. Eliot stated that the committee had not
been instructed to enter into any argument
upon the matter; the society had simply adopted
the resolutions as an ultimstum on their part;
he, hOweveg, cited the third, fourth and eighth
regulations as instances of what the society
could not assent to.
DR.. Bliss stated that the object of
AsKINGtPHYsIoIANs TO REGISTER THEIR NAMES
was two-fold-to exclude all persons not quail
fed TO practice medicine, thereby protecting
both the medical fraternity and the public from
impositions, and also to prevent crime.
DIR. Busey stated that all the society desired
was that none be allowed to register who are
rot legally qualified to practice. A legal OBJ
stacle was in the way of admitting mid wives,
and If the society and the board could unite,
the pubic might get rid OF this class of practi-
DIR. Bliss explained that this class were gener-
ally employed among the poor and ignorant.
Dr. Eliot inquired II any persons who are not
graduates from regularly chartered medical in
stltutlons had been allowed to register,
DR.. Bliss replied that there were none, nor
would any such be allowed to enter their names.
Some OF this class had applied, and had
teen refused. The object was to have the sig
natures of physicians, so that certificates Of
births, deaths, &C., can be compared with the
names in the book, and prevent imposition. He
cited cases which had already occurred. where
by this means n aud had been detected
Dr.. Eliot asked if the Board OF Health would
permit
A VIGOROUSLY BAD MAN
ID register, even il he could produce the neces-
fary evidence of having graduated from q rec
ognized institution.
DIR. Bliss replied that they certainly would
IotIsuen men as Leon and others Of his ilk
would not be recognized.
DIR. Busey said he was opposed to this regula-
ton, lnasmuch ss it does hot specify thai the
qualifications necessary to register shall be IegqL
evidence: license instead of diploma AS TO
THE QUESTION OF ALLOWING MIDWIvKs TO
REGISTER,
he thought this was matter on which the Med
ical Society and the Board Of Health could unite
to he satisfaction OF both.
DR.. Bliss replied that there were many mid
wives in this District employed among the very
ignorant classes, yet they follow this as a matter
OF business, and generally are successful aud
IL had been a matter or some astonishment to
the Board Of Health to see the amount OF infor-
nation brought in by them. The law recog-
niZes midwives and he could see no way of iS-
nOring them in this service.
DR.. Eliot asked if there could not be some
remedy devised to prevent mid wives from prac-
ticiDg when not qualified.
Dr. Bliss replied that he thought it could be
remedled TO great extent by the cooperation
OF the medical societies with the Board of
Health.
DIR. Verdi suggested that rule could be made
by the Board OF Health req uiring midwives TO
produce licenses from medical institutions as to
QUALIFICATIONS. This could be made test at
present until better regulations can be made.
DIR. Eliot said the objection to this was that
sometimes strangers temporarily residents in
the DlstTlct, sometimes members of Congress
and edical gentlemen of the army and navy
are called upon TO practice their profession AMI
can show 10 evidence that they are regular
physicians.
DIR. Bliss replied that in such easas ALI that
can be relied upon is their diplomas
Mr. Lapgston read the acts OF Congress and
the Legislative Assembly OF this District which
recognize midwives and accOuchers, and ar
gued that inasmuch as the law recogIr yes them
the Board OF Health must do the same; there
appears to be no help Tor it.
THE QUESTION OF MAKING FULL RECORD OF
BIRTHS,
thus extoTtgg from medical practitioners fam
lily secrets where such records would stamp
parents or children as infamous was discussed
The members OF the Board of Health disclaimed
al such motives or intentions and explained
that all that Is necessary in case OF births is to
state In general terms the physical condition OF
the children, whether healthy or unhealthy
births. &C., were fully discussed, and the gene
raj opinion OF the members Of the board was ex-
pressed that reports of such cases might be con-
sldered as left TO the option OF physicians.
DR.. Busey here stated that he az a physician
entrusted with secrets of famiIi- must GER
talnly decline to make record by which any
child may be identified for the purposes of IA
cllltatiDg the execution of testamentary or
tduciary laws; it is not the province of the
HtClcal profession ana sucn evidence must be
obtained through other sources. He was will
ing to cooperate with the Board Of Health in
every proper requirement, but in this and in
the matter OF making public history of eyery
new born infant whether born in or out OF we'd
lock or other circumstances, the effect of which
would be to make its history Infamous was in
his opinion wrong, and there is no regulation Of
the Board OF Health or any enactment which
could compel il.
Mr.. Langston asked DR.. Busey what he
would have recorded OF the birth of child?
Dr. Busey replied that he would report the
date OF birth, sex, color, and general physical
condition, but not particulariZe. II a particu.
lar description of physical condition be re-
quired he would exclude the parentage; SO OF
children born out of wedlOck.
DR.. Bliss suggested that where the physical
condition Is such that its record might be re-
garded as prejudicial to its future prOspertty
that its condition might be omitted.
DR.. Busey replied that he would object to
this, as by emitting this in some cases and re-
porting 1t in others the natural inference would
be that there was something wrong that re-
CURED covering up. The strict execution of the
regulations in all cases would be impossible,
but by relaxing from some Of its rigors the
Board OF Health could obtain all the data which
is necessary TO be made public.
Mr.. Langston said he presumed the law was
predicated on the presumption that the conmu.
nifty are virtuOus, and not adulterous, and IL
the law be faithfully carried out he tendency
would be TO encourage virtue, an brand yica
as infamous-it might work hardslip lbs in soma