The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-24

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
1 was present last night at the meeting
held at the Second Presbyterian Church, in
the interest of a State hospital to be To-
Gated in this city; and / read with interest
this morning the very fair report of the
same given In the Journal. Because / recog-
nize the need of such an institution, the
service it might render to the afflicted poor
Of the State, and the advantage it might
be directly to the physicians of the State,
and hence indirectly to their patrons, l am
in hearty sympathy with the movement
provided 1t can be founded on basis as
broad, in fact, as the purposes set forth
would seem to imply. The scheme seems TO
promise '1oaves and fishes to the multi
tude," but it must be to 1.-The multitude" if
the State is to foot any part of he reckon
ing. / wish in this connection to call at
tention to two significant points in the pro-
gramme of this meeting. First, there is
represented in the names of the reverend
gentlemen a wide range of theological opin-
ion, which is quite as it should be in a
movement the success of which must de-
pend upon a catholic spirit; second, that the
NJ. DIS named on the programme are all of
the self-styled regular brand. think the
local talent without exception, all belongs
TO one or the other Of the regular medical
face, does not seem fairly representative of
the profession, or in the interest of suchs
union" as the young doctor presiding as
Sured was so essential to strength"
Now, / ask, upon the the union of what
elements must this strength be secured?
1 submit the following facts as pertinent to
this question. BY the last report of the
State Board OF Health there were practicing
in the State of Indiana 4,44S physicians of
all sorts; of this number 3,427 were "regu-
10 rf nd nj na-fn sfirra
lar" These are all. and alike, by the laws
of this State, recognized doctors of medi-
cine, and Ii would seem that in any ques-
ton of State patronage. either direct or in
direct, they should stand upon an exact
equality. judge that the American sense
of flair play win require this in any
scheme calling for State aid. In spite of the
carefully worded pleas made by the med
ical gentlemen last night, two significant
referred 10 the country Doctors as the
prob able opponents Of the movement, and
another to the tendency of the brighter men
In the profession TO drift TO the cities. and
very properly citing himself as an example
l wish TO put these two facts together Of
such they are) and compare with them an
other fact derived from the Health Report
above quoted. 1t appears from that report
that in the city OF indianapolis the
called irregular, physicians are found in
a larger proportion than in the State at
large. The chairman OF last nights meet
ing very properly deplored that Tin this
State something over nine hundred physi-
clans were practicing who were graduates
OF no medical college" The report from
which / have drawn my data gives the num-
Der somewhat less; but in view OF the
Importance of urging every possible reason
for fair-mnded, broad, catholic handling OF
this delicate matter. that q good cause may
not fail, call attention TO the fact that this
report shows that the percentage of nom
graduates among the so-called regulars
in the State slightly exceeds the percentage
OF the so-called irregular non-graduates
With feelings OF friendliness to the pro-
posed hospital, ! enumerate and point the
bearing OF the facts above noted. deeming
IL important that, early in this movement
all the elements OF possible discord may be
considered. and by wise and predetermined
management the worthy end may be at
tanned. THE loaves and fishes will never
feed the proposed multitude IL there is
wrangling over their division and distribu-
ton. Fair play" will alone render any
play possible. p. 3. WRIGHT, NJ. d.
Indianapolis, Jan. q.