, 1894-03-14


located in Christiansted or at kingshllI, to
be in tie centre of the Island; this part of
the Island in his opinion the place needing
the presence Of a Doctor if anything hap
pens to a persons on IN Estate in the centre
of the Island, and "A doctor is sent tor, ho
might be out of town, w 3mi9ht have to wait till
he comes home, and then he might have an
urgent call elsewhere. and this might be the
cal sc with both Of them, AS for the money
part of the ga %3stiOn, he must say, we all
make out some how to live, a competent man
would always make his way, and we could
find means to pay him; but even If there be
want felt in Christiansted, it lie not so great
as in the centre part Of the Island, and GER
tainly any want felt in Christiansted would
be met by he presence Of the physician in
the country district if Government would
but secure the man a small standing salary,
it would he an easy thing to make up a good
competency from the surrounding Estates
near KlngshiIl. 1t is of course so that that which
one gains IN practice, the other loses; but 1t
cannot be otherwise, and aIthoughhemust say
that be for one would not be willing right
away to change the old ones, still there is not
the smallest cause to doubt that a new ply
sioian located ut Kingshill would find q
good cOmfot table living, his colleagues must
share with him. that is a natural thing; no
one could prevent a medical man from es-
tablishing himself entirely on his own hook
and from gaining what he could of the prl-
vate practice. But at all events, something
has to be done, complaints are too loud and
100 much founded about the i'll conse-
quences Of the insufficient medical staff; if
one Of che two fall sick, and the other be
away on his country rounds. a case needing
quick and prompt aid in the town might end
disastrously from the want of such aid and
if this is 50 under ordinary circumstances,
why, it has got to be much worse in cases
Of any epidemic or general disorder, when
the position might be exceedingly dangerous
and awkward to all parties, people andGov-
eminent. His opinionis that there is a just
demand for another physician, but he should
he located in the centre district Of the Is
land. lie was sorry that the Committee had
not done it's work, and it might perhaps be
better to have a new Committee.
The Chairman resumed the Chair.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country Dis
trict (HelOitt) said he believed he too was a
Member of the Committee alluded to by His
Excellency; he was not quite sure Of the
cause why the Committee had not hitherto
rendered its report. He had in mind a pro-
posal for medical attendance for the poor in
the country and along with that was another
proposal for renewals Of engagements with
two medical men here already it was ar
gued that the money for medical aid to poor
in the country was not needed, since almost
all estates had contracts for medical atten-
dance including the poor on such estates,
hence when physicians are paid for that on
the estate, no expense was neetled from the
Treasury. The other question then turned
upon this if it would be advisable to renew
the old contract, or to make arrangements to
use some of.the motley to get another ply
sician, as far as hS remembered $500, for a.
man in the Country. But there is CHS one
thing he would beg to impress upon Gov
eminent, that whenever, in case of leave of
absence being given to any of the permanent
physicians and a competent substitute has
to be got, that Government there should see
to it, that no such clause or condition as that
which we have heard today be allowed
human nature is the same all over 'the world,
and it could be excused, if the parties should
look to protect themselves by excluding a
third competitor but Government should
not allow it, at all events not in future.
Now again we have the matter brought be-
fore us; if that gentleman who was here tenn
porarily some years ago had been allowed to
remain, W. would have been over the diff
Guilty. But the want is generally felt and
admit ed, and something must be done to sa-
tisfy the demand. Here we have the Land
physician; he is an elderly man, and he has