Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-13
NEVER Gotta QUORUM
THE DOCTORS FOR THE POOR COM
EITTEE HAS HAD NO MEETING.
Members Explain Why the Ordinance
Has Not Been Given Consideration.
Views of Physicians


ed 10 advocate before the Council and its
committees the adoption Of on ordinance
providing for tho appointment of four
physicians for the poor OF Richmond has
revived interest in this matter and caused
considerable comment among the members
OF the medical profession and of the City
Council.
At meeting of the Board of Aldermen
held August 1lth the subject Of providing
free medical attention for the poor was
taken up. and upon motion was referred TO
the Committee on Health. In lieu of the
resolution referred 20 them this committee
recommended another. which, upon mo-
tion Of Air. Hargrove, was subsequently,
referred to joint committee composed OF
the members of the Committees on Finance
and Ordinances. Since then no action has
been taken by the Joint committee, as they
have never been able TO obtain quorum.
MATTER OF IMPORTANCE.
The subject IA one OF no little import
anee. as every physician will testify. and
although the committee appointed by the
Academy 20 urge the passage of such an
ordinance reported that they were unable
after repeated attempts 10 get meeting of
the Joint committee 10 whom the matter
was referred by the Board the Academy
seems determined to urge the matter, and
II possible 10 secure the appointment or
the physicians.
Nearly all cities have doctors who are
employed solely for this purpose, and Rich
m0nd with her large negro population
would be greatly benefited by such physi-
clans to attend the poor and needy. More
over, il wOuld make visible decrease In
our mortality. TO say nothing of being
measure of common humanity.
Several members OF the Joint committee
of tine Council to whom the matter had
been referred were seen by q Dispatch re-
porter yesterday and asked why no action
had been taken by them.
1T Is HARD TO GET \ QUORUM.
Mr.. n. u. HargTove, chairman Of the FL
nance and also of the joint committee. said
that he had called meeting of the COM
mittee some weeks ago. but no quorum
was present. Nothing could be done re-
gardng the matter ut present besides re-
commencing 1t, es no appropriation had
been made for such n purpose. After the
first Of next year the physicians might be
appointed, provided the committee recon-
mended il.
Another member when asked about the
matter said that no one was more willing
and more anxious than the City Council to
help the poor people in their distress. but
that the necessary money was lacking.
VIEWS or orRER SBMBBRs.
Mr. A. B. GuigOn, chairman of the Com
nittee on Ordinances. ssid no attended one
meeting ia the latter part OF October, but
nj that time a quorum of the Commrttee
on Ordinances was not prosent and the
meeting consequently adjourned. Since
thon no notice 20 attend another meeting
OF the Joint committee had been received
by him and for that reason he could not
say what would be done, although he was
of the opinion that no action would be
taken regarding the mnttor at present, a3
an appropriation had not been mado for
such phvsiclans when the last annual bud
get Of the city was made up. He thought
possibly Chairman Hargrove might coll
meeting some time before the 1st of jan
uary. when the appointment of the physi-
cians might probably be recommended.
Mr.. Guigon said that for his part he had
always attended the meetings which were
called in relation 10 this subject.
Dr. George b. Steel, one OF the members
of the Committee on Finance, said that up
20 tine present time no action had been
taken regarding the matter. as there had
never been q quorum from both commit
tees present. The Committee on Finance
had always been on hand, but the Ordi-
nance Committee had failed TO be present
with the necessary members. This matter
had been referred 10 these two commit
teos Jointly so that the Ordinan 20 Com
mittee might frame the ordinance and esti-
mate the cost Of the maintenance of such
physicians, while the Finance Committee
was TO say whether IN their opinion the city
could spare the money.
DR.. Steel was asked by the reporter
whether the committee seemed to favor
the appointment OF the physicians. He
said that be was not in a position to com
NIT himself, but generally speaking they
seemed 20 be- He thought the matter
would probably como up before the Coun-
Gil next month.
THEY SHOULD BE APPOINTED.
DR.. W. L. Oppenhimer, president Of the
Board of Health, was found by the re-
porter in his office with Drs. Isaac Curd aud
benjamin Harrison, the other members Of
the board.
When asked about the question Of APP
pointing the physicians for the poor all Of
them said that they heartily approved Of
the Klea, and had done everything in their
power to have these doctors selected.
DIR. Qppenhimer SAID that the num-
Der of persons who die here without medi-
cal attention IL very large. This is especi-
ally the case with negroes, who never seem
TO realize the dangers OF allowing their
companions TO lie sick without being visit
ed by doctors.
MAY DIE WITHOUT ATTENTION.
"Amost every day. said he. " / hayo 10 issue
death certificates for persons who have died
without being attended by physicisns. When |
ass their relabous why they did not have some
doctor 20 LOOK after them they say, Wen, |
didn't think he was sick much; he was out yes
to-day And this is tue very reGsOn We need
these physicians for tho poor. as negroes with
teyer upon them Will 20 about In all sorts OF
weather ana gorge themselves with food until
the last moment and then when they die sud
denly their relations are amazed
As an illustration of how many persons
thus die from sheer want of medical atten-
tion DR.. Oppenhimer said that since Octo-
Der 10th he had issued h-certlhcates
for thiTty-hye persons who had died with
out the attendance of physicians. While
this alone indicates how much physicians
for the poor are needed it is not the only
evidence, for frequently doctors are called
in at the last moment and arrive Just in
time TO be at the bedside of the sick when
they die. In these cases, of course. the
physician who attends the person when
dying issues the death-certidcate. The
Coroner issues the certificates for deaths
that come under his attention.
THE PHYSICIANS DO ALL THEY CAN TO HELP.
Every physician continued DR.. Oppenhi-
mer, knows how many poor there arc who
need medical attention. Calls are made upon
them eyery day 20 attend persons In indigent
circumstances from wnom they know th0Y WIN
nearly every doctor aud although most OF them
attend such patients Ous Of charity there arc
few who turn deaf ears 10 such appeals and
think only Of tho almighty dollar
"A great number OF people he concluded,
call at my Office every week api request me TO
zee some poor person wh0 Is sick and unable TO
receive proper attention. thinking that physi-
cians Tor such cases are provided by the Board
Of Health"
Drs. Harrison and Curd also made SINH
lar statements regarding the necessity for
providing some means by which the poor,
when sick, can receive proper medical at
tention.
WHAT DR.. PARKER THINKS.
DR.. w. ". Parker was one Of the prime
movers in this undertaking aud IS a MEN,
Der of the committee which he was instru-
mental in having named to press the mea-
sure before the Council. Perhaps no doc
tor in Richmond has devoted so much Of
his time and talent 70 charity practice as
he, and certainly none IS more earnest in
his efforts 10 ameliorate the suffering and
distress Of the destitute than he. To
Mspd'el reporter who called on him last
night he SAID:
There IS no veto against the claims OF hs-
ncn0g Even on the bloody battlefield the