National Republican., 1876-09-25
u SANITARY CONDITION.
UNfAVORABL.
IMMEDIATE REMEDY NECE ,sARY.

Many of our readers will be astOntShed to
learn the real condition Of some of our ciri-
zens, as indicated by the facts, meagre as they
are, which are presented below:
For years past provision has been made for
the proper care and treatment of the sick poor
of this District. Since September 1, 1874, the
Board of Health has been responsible for the
discharge of that public duty, which was well
and faithfully discharged. Competent and re-
liable physicians and apothecaries were select
ed, and rigid system of reports and account
ability in the treatment of the poor and the
supply of medicines was inaugurated. Each
physician was required to make weekly repor5
to the health office of the names of the patients
attended by him, and OF the residence, sex,
age, color, social relations, disease, prognosis,
number of visits, and such remarks OF interest
as cases might demand. Each apothecary also
made weekly report of the number of pre-
scriptions, name of patient and of the attend
ing physician, and the value of medicines dis
pensed to each patient, specifying whether
they were tinctures, pills, powders, plisters,
&c. These several reports OF physicians and
apotheCaries we're all carefully examined, com
pared ard recorded, ard weekly synopsis of the
work made to Il he Board Of Health.
Under this system the most encouraging re-
suits were developed. Between eight aud nine
thousand persons were treated annually by
the physicians to the poor, which iuvolyel an
average of two or three personal calls upon
each patient. Eight sanitary divisions were
made of the District, in which competent
physicians were designated to attend the poor,
and one or more apOthccary in each division
was contracted with 10 supply medicines upon
prescriptions from suthOrized physicians. AL
together, the expense OF keeping up this praise
worldly syste IN amountsdto to less than 5000 per
oft fli.iF
pished and the pay of the physicians. For
years prior TO 1874 the cost OF ths service to
the poor was about S25, 900 q year, or fully
three times as great during the past two years.
Latterly, while it was much more eConOnically
administered, the service has been steadily and
materially improved aud exteuled.
Things went on smoothly until about a
month ago, when is was discovered by the Dis
trict Commissioners that there was no author
ity in law for continuing the expenditure of
money TO keep up the effective system pre-
viously mentioned. Consequently, the con-
tracts between the Board OF Health and the
physicians and apothecaries to the poor were
abrOgated, and the sick poor have since been
compelled to suffer for waut ef medicines, and
in maDyinstauces for proper curative advice
and treatment.
Some of the physicians have continued to
treat gratuitCusly a few patients, but the
apothecaries at once shut down on the supply
ing of medicines. Both physicians and apothe-
carries have offered to continue to serve the
poor as heretofore, and to take their chances
of obtaining pay therefor in future, provided
the Board OF Health would advise such
course, but the board declined to take any lib
erty or to assume any undue responsibility in
that direction.
In the meantime the District Commissioners
have allowed $50 per month for the purchase
of medicines for the poor, the same to be dealt
out of the public dispensary on Tenth street.
But it will be readily perceived that that
method of dealing out relief in the form of
medicines is unsatisfactory and inefficient, and
fails utterly to meet the more serious cases
requiring relief or attention, or both. 1t is
impossible for very sick persons to go or send
TO the public dispenssry for medicines, even if
they should be fortunate enJugh to receive
gratuitous treatment from physician. In
short, that small allowance Of $50 per month
is virtually of no assistance or benefit to the
really needy sick poor, and will be little better
than an absolute waste IL expended as now pro-
posed, for the reason that the materials pro-
vided will be applied for and obtained by per-
SONS in comparatively comfortable circum-
stances, some of it 10y imposters, while the
needy are left to suffer.
In relation to this subject read the following
concise paragraph, which is contained in the
last annual report of the Board of Health:
Public free dispensaries supply n necessity,
students of medicine, but when economy of dis
bursements is considered, they constantly sub
lect to imposition, and no positive knowledge Of
the character of the applicant as worthy of
charity may be had without personal visit to his
house or careful investigation, which physicians
to the poor are required TO make in every case.
5"Much more real practical good would result
could the sum annually appropriated by the city
for charity be dishuTsed upon the certificates of
the physicians to the poor, under direction of the
Beard of Health, who, from their daily expert
eDce with the sick poor, know better than all
others who are really deserving Objects"
We have learned of instances in which poor
people have obtained prescriptions for their
ailments, but were unable to get money enough
to pay for the medicine. In some cases per
sons have inquired of druggists the cost of the
remedies prescribed, and then left the store,
promising to return if they succeeded in pro-
curing enough money to pay for the medicine.
Reports come in of the alarming condition
Of the poor in some sections of the city, and,
in the opinion of practicin2 physicians, there
will be a great increase in the death rate in
this District unless some adequate remedy for
tie evils complained of shall be afforded st an
early daV