, 1888-09-08
Translation.
INSTRUCTIONS
for the Public Physicians IN
st. CYoix.

not given over to Landphysicus, are to be performed by the
two Public Physicians, who are appointed in accordance
of whom one shall reside in Christansted and the other IN
Frederiksted, in places conveniently situated for the per-
formance of their public medical duties.
Each Of the two physicians shall have the medical care OF
the poor and Of persons without means lnhabtlng the
Jurisdiction wherein he is resident.
Among the poor inhabitants must be included everyone
who during sickness cannot by lawful means procure the
necessaries Of life for himself and those dependent on him,
and who, at the same time is not entitled TO demand me"-
cal attendance and medicine at the expense OF others.
They must be always to be found, both by day and by night,
and must, therefore, when they are absent from home, leave
information as to where they may be found.
For absence from town for a longer period than "a hours
on other than official business, the PERMISSION OF the G9v,
eminent must first be obtained, aud IN such case the
Public Physician shall arrange for the performance OF his
official duties by another physician, and shall inform Land
physicus and the Policemaster as to who IS to act tor him.
The Public Physicians shall fix one or more tunes OF the
day Sundays and Holy Days eXcePt5ed), IN ii no1 less
than two hours daily, when they will be found in their con
sulhng rooms, and shall give public notice of such times in
They shall afford free medical treatment to every person be-
longing to their respective districts, who presents himself IN
their consulting rooms at the stated times referred to in 4.
They are, moreover, bound to attend poor persons free OF
charge in the homes Of such persons as well as at the consulting
rooms.
In so far as any such poor person is living in the
country and does not belong under those who receive
public poor relief, the Physician is allowed travelling ex-
penses according to regulations. A requsltlon from the
PoHcemaSter is, however, required IN order to obtain pay
ment Of such travelling expenses.
Patients without means, such as small mechanics, labOurers,
seamstrcsses, domestic servants, and the like, shall be at
tended by the Public Physicians for a payment OF % cents Tor
the first consultation, whether at the home Of the Physician or
Of the patient, and % cents for every subsequent consultation
during the same sickness,
For night visits, between Z 7. m. and I a. m, double fees
must be paid.
Operations of importance must be paid for separately.
The Public Physicians are entitled to demand from those who,
outside of the hours for consultation, claim from them medical
aid gratis, that they give proof of their poverty by a certificate
from the POhcemaster or from two reliable ana well known
men; the most necessary assistance must, however, be gwen
without delay, and even before the certificate OF poverty has
been produced.
The Public Physicians shall without refusal, attend at night as
well as in the day, any poor person who may need their ASSIST
ance, in which connection it IS remarked that when the Ply
stefan is called before II o'clock, noon, he shall as a rule attend
the patient in his home the same day, otherwise on the next
which shall then be given at once, Where they md that a
sick poor person cannot be properly attended to IN his nome,
they may by application to the Chairman OF the Hospital Com
mission procure his admission into one Of the pubic hospitals.
), The Public Physicians are entitled, with ~judicious economy to
prescribe medicines for the poor on public account, so however,
that in this regard the rules laid down by the Government are
to be observed.
Besides the abovenamed most essential duties in regard to the
medical attendance on the sick poor, the Huonc physicians
have the following duties:
The Physician in Christansted: to have the medical super
vision of the public hospital at Richmonds and other In
stitutions for the sick at the same place.
The Physician in Frederksted to have the medical superW-
sion of the Communal Hospital, also OF the Ponce force
and the prison in the same town.
Both Physicians shall have the following duties:
to assist Landphysicus in post-mortem examinations, and IN
other public business where the presence OF another phySl-
clan is required;
to perform without separate compensation such public medl-
cal duties as it may be necessary to place IN their hands
including the examination OF the health condltlon j mm'
grants on their landing on the island;
to act for Landphysicus when he is prevented
to inspect frequently those parts Of the town Wncn are
more especially inhabited by the poor population and
to superintend both the private and public hygiene IN
town and country, and by reports to LandphySlcuS
and the Board of Health to endeavour to nave ABUSES
stopped and defects remedled;
to direct their attention to means OF reducing II S6dO mW