, 1891-07-29

hecould not see what we should do. To take only
West End at present there are only 2 doctors, if
one should fall sick, there would be only one
left to attend the whole own and all the sur
rounding country, the whole community would
have to depend on one physician for medical
assistance. But besides that, if we look at the
centre of the Island, we find there located many
families and large numbers of people on the
Estates; if any misfortune happens, a broken
limb, sudden illness. why, many hours could
be wasted in waiting for a doctor, who would
come perhaps when it was too late; for even if
the 2 doctors be both up, they may both be
absent on long voyages to far distant estates
and not reach their homes, until late to find the
call for them out in the centreOf the island.
There would seem to be sufficient inducement
to be offered by the estates in the centre of the
Island but it would require some more cOnidera-
ton. AS regards the present proposal, tits
his opinion, that the money for the two physi-
clans under the former agreement must be
voted, but at the same time it should be urged
that we need more physicians; if we cannot af-
ford to get 2 more physicians we ought at
least to have l more. For the last years we
have here in the Island had a very good state
of health generally, but for the last months
we have experienced a difference, and the doc
tors have been pressed, and it has within his
experience happened hat physicians nave been
called on particularly urgent cases, but could
not attend for hours, because they could not
leave where they were in attendance. Now is
the time when we should urge the necessity
of having more physicians engaged for the re-
quiroments of the Island. The present
amount should be divided in better manner
so as to afford inducement to others to come
here.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (HevitN would say, that the point as
far as West End is concerned, is not exactly
to get new Physicians, but to decide what
is to be done, should one of the two doctors
die or leave, as the one receives no public pay
at all, it would not be easy to secure another
person in his stead, and we would then have
but one Doctor virtually. AS regards the gene
raj question, he would say if in 1866,-400
dollars were considered sufficient inducement
for a medical man to come, it should be sutfi-
cient now. He did not wish the total sum Of
$1,000 now proposed to be reduced, but he
wanted to see this amount divided equally
among ) doctors-One new one besides the
present two-which would be in accordance
with the Ordinance of 1866, which has not
been abolished or cancelled by the Ordinance
of 1869, and whereby the salary of a Physi-
clan had been fixed at $500, while now he was
led to believe that one of the Doctors has $500
pa. If we divide the total sum equally, say
S400, we could reasonably expect to get a
younger Physician out for that amount now as
well as before, if assisted with an amount
for travelling expenses.
4th Member for Frederiksted's Country
District NC, DonaId) could entirely endorse
the views just expressed by the last Speaker
III fact it seems only fair and just to make such
a distribution of the amount allowed for the