Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-19
socleTrs DEBT TO paUpeRs.


A Physician Takes an Unexpected Attitude
ON the Question Of Public Charities
''The pauper has always had hard
time in this world said New York
ply sician to q reporter. Men whose
hearts have been crowded aside by
plethoric pocketbooks,'' he added, dole
him their pennies in the same spirit that
characterizes their dealings with unfor-
tunate relatives. Yet the pauper has be-
come an indispensable element in the
march of civilization and science
Before the Christian era and for many
centuries after he WAS crowded out OF life,
like Lazarus in the parable, dying on the
doorstep Of Dives palace, covered with
sores and in all respects veritabie old
time tramp. In this enlightened age.
however, he has no one but himself TO
blame If such a misfortune oyertakes
him. Society needs him and is willing TO
build and maintain extensive public insti-
tutions, where he may eat, sleep, be
clothed and die at an annual expense in
this city. for example, of less than 100
per capita. including pine coffin and a
grave in Potter's field"
But IL not the pauper a great drain on
the taxpayer
Hardly. The obligations Of society 10
the pauper, and the pauper's obliGat lons
to society, when weighed in the scales OF
primitive justice almost balance each
other II anything different can be found,
the pauper has tie worst Of IT. Unlike his
brother, the criminal, whom the public Is
Obliged to maintain. he has not become "a
burden on society through laziness or evil
incliuations Disease old age. accidents
are his irremediable m!sfortnnes. He =
compelled TO accept charity; yet in the
public estimation this fact oyerweiglis all
former services ne may have rendered his
fellow men In the discharge Of his duties
US citizen, and society holds him body
and soul until his obligations are ful-
filed"
I'm what manner can he possibly cancel
his obligationsy'
''In many ways. When disease over
takes him he becomes the object OF nedi-
cal experiments. Professors and students
gather around his bedside and seek for
some new Light which may guide them in
their practice among the independent
classes, and surgeons undertake in his
case operations they would never dream
OF attempting IL the life Of n pay
ing patient were at stake. Thousands
upon thousands die each year, giving up
their lives in the interests Of science; and
the wealthy taxpayer derives in the
end this benefit, that when some deadly
disease strikes him Down, his cure in
many cases Is effected by new method
OF treatment perfected by experiments
which cost the lives Of perhaps q hundred
paupers Glance at the medical experts
in different diseases. The results Of their
experiments read something In this way:
Total number of cases, 100; died, 20; i'm
proved, %; cured, :. Then follow the de-
ductions az to the best treatment OF the
mnlady under consideration. Such com
pilatiuns may be found in any medical
work, and pauper cases have been in al
most every instance the basis of the calcu-
latiOns.
Aside from this how many obligations
does one pauper cancel in sacrificing his
body upon the dissecting table, How many
physicians OF reputation are indebted to
hun for their knowledge Of anatomy and
the functions OF the various organs in the
human body What az important part
he plays in the elncation and training Of
professional nurses Thus he repays
doubly whatever Oil, ,atiOus he may owe
to his fellow men Asa final consldern-
ton how couI the commissioners Of c.
and G. manage to spend 81 500, coo per
annum OF the taxpayers money if it were
not for the paurrrss New York Mail
Express