Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-10-26
For the GaIlipolis Journal.
Gallia County Medical Society
vINroN, Oct. Is, 1876.

VINToN, Oct. Is, 1876.
Medical Society called to order by
DR.. JACOBS, Pres. Minutes of last
meeting read and approved.
Committee on violation of Code
of medical Ethics reported pro-
gress.
Committee appointed to visit the
County Inirmary, made the follow
ing report:
To the President and members Of the
Gallia County Medical Society:
We, your committee, appointed at
the. last meeting of the Society. beg
leave to present the following re-
port:
In company with one Of the gen.
tlemanly directors, your committee
visited the Infirmary and were shown
around the premises by the present
efficient Superintendent, Mr.. Cole.
If we were authorized to make sug-
gestions, and present plans, for the
improvement of that Institution to
the proper authorities, we would not
be at a loss where to begin; but as
this would be transcending our Off
cial privilege, we will be content to
state what we saw, and sen
passant," drop some hint as to i'm
provements which, we believe, if car
ried out, would render the condition
of the inmates much more pleasant
and secure for them an immunity
from many plaques to which they are
now liable through the influence of
bad ventilation and imperfect drain
age.
The Institution, standing as it
does, upon a gently sloping plateau,
is naturally adapted to a good sys-
tenn of ventilation and drainage,
had the original founders SO arranged
the building as to secure it-which
they utterly failed to do-placing, as
they did, the kitchens, wash-houses,
coal-sheds, stables-and in fact all
out buildings, with one exception,
above and upon higher ground than
that occupied by the buildings used
as the living, sleeping and eating
apartments of the inmates, so that
large amount of the accumulated
filth of the Institution finds its way
under and around the main build
ings, escaping the bounds of imper-
feet cutters and sewers, forming cess
pools here and Understanding forth
the septic germs, which in themselves
are sufficient to so poison the atmos-
phere which these poor wretches are
forced to inhale, night and day, as
to induce in them, if not active
febril diseases, at least a state ot
anacmiac, which renders them OBJ
noxious to the same.
The sleeping apartments of the
inmates are in no sense adapted to
health or comfort, being so contract
ed as not to contain more air thar
one pair of lungs would consume in
the space of three or four hours, il
shut off from the outside
Now, the question comes up for so
luton, why should this state O
things exist, when there are three
or four thousand dollars of appropri
ations, (surplus) lying idle, and
musting for want of use, in the
county's Golfers? The responsibility
lies with some one.
We are convinced that there is nc
economy in the plan pursued by the
county with roferance to tho medica
/ supply. 1t is known to all of you
that the loaeest bidder gets the job
The present "intime" receives thu
magnificent sum of sixty cents pei
visit. We understood that he hat
attended an obstitrice case just 6
short time ago, to whom had pal(
three visits, being called twice out o
time. Three times sixty are one dol
lar and eighty cents-a pretty lorg'
sum for an accouchment case. But
further, there Isl pretty weak poin
in this medical contract business
which should be considered by al
parties interested.
While it is true, that the medica
contractor gets but sixty cents PEE
visit, for his services, he is allowed
in addition, twenty-five cents fol
each prescription written by him
So it would not be a difficult matter
for him to very substantially raise
his revenue to very respect
able sum. Say he should write
ten prescriptions at each visit
land that is not large number when
we consider that there are at least 6
half-dozen cases of durable eye di
sease, aside from many other cases
needing medical aid, at twenty-five
cents would amount with the sixty
cents for visit added, to three dollars
and ten cents. In this consists the
weakness of this contract system, the
physician is unlimited in the mum
ber of prescriptions he may write
thus rendering the county liable tC
the payment of an exorbitant rate
for medical service to her poor. And
further, if the physician fails to take
advantage of this opportunity te
some extent, the pauper goes with
out medical treatment.
Shame on the county that, through
her authorized agents would employ
such cheap and doubtful material te
see to the health of her charges. Ant
shame on the man who under the
name of physician is SO lost to pro
fessional honor and dignity, as tc
place in jeopardy, and danger of gen
eral disrepute, the profession te
which he claims to belong for the
consideration of a few dollars and
cents.
Now we claim that this is a bad
system for the commonwealth te
economic upon, from first the Sc
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