New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-05

10 the Editor or The Tribune.
Sir: Your comments in The Tribune OF the 10th
inst. OH the subject OF doctors and dispensaries
were read by me with interest and. while admit.
ting the correctness OF your views in the main,
would add word or two prompted by expert
ence OF some years In private practice in addition
to hospital and dspensary service. The abuse al
uded TO exists TO a greater degree than those not
directly interested have any approximate knowl.
edge. or than those mainly interested will admit
The institutions chiefly responsible are those en-.
| gagged in tea ching. To make their schools a sue
cess they must have clinical material II the lessee
| Of the rear tenement does not in his pathological
state excmpify the subject under consIdera-
ton, and his landlord does, the latter receives the
! personal care and attention Of the professor e.
| The reputation OF the teacher and that Of the
school are In competition with others similarly en-.
gagged, and they outweigh all other considerations.
| AS the diffusion OF knowledge the part Of med
zeal men IS so far-reaching and sau,ary in It's In
Huence exc laudabe effort should be put forth In
| aiding thosy thus engaged
To this end however. IL is not necessary for pur-
of illustration draft into the clinics those
| easy circumstances. The deserving poor will IN
| their own persons more than meet the demand
| The proper remedy here. 1t would to me-
| would be honest and unsehsh effor, the part
OF those having the direction of affairs In exclud-
| Ing those able TO pay. Legislation should not be
| necessary. regret to say that. having had good
| opportunities for observing the methods adopted
for restricting the privileges of the clinic the
| poor, can speak with assurance in saying that
| they applied with ukewarmness sngularly
| at variance with the principles OF true charity
1t must be admitted by the doctors in charge OF
| clinics generally that the following lire of srgu-
nent In its application about governs their action
| The patient is able to pay, admit but IL refuse
| treatment he will go other clinic. to
! some physicians Office and will lose all benefit
| that might accrue 20 me- directly or indirectly
| from his acquaintance; so will treat him. and II
| he does not eventually become a private patient, I
have at least placed myself In position to reap
| benefit through becoming that much more widely
known. There is meanness in this inconsistent
with the tenes Of a liberal profession. The doctor
| aids and abets a man who Is deliberately robblng
the poor OF their time. and in many cases prevent
| Ing them from receiving advice and treatment %.
sental 10 them.
To illustrate an abuse:
Mrs nd ,nrN Lives In CHEAP hat ,I she owed me
to pay it, Needing treatment. her landlady. who
s 5s Ss1 o Ss s KSss ny
where she vent MT for The frs, doctor
gested that she consult her family, physician In:
is the useS You can go in there just Wen" The
patient preferred to pay a moderate Zee for the
family physician 20 the publicity Of a clinic. but
S IN e a S ne hSs
pay but to advance the interests of the clinic: so
he must watch his dragnet and allow none to
escape
Such cases are SO frequent, and are repeated in
| the experience OF many physicians that a dis
| position is growing among the great bulk OF tho
profession ignore in the matter OF consultation
their colleagues with hospital connections. This Is
unfortunate as the physical well-being OF a
| munity Is better conserved by cordlaty among Its
| physicians I am obliged to dissent from you In
expressing. my belief that We have a sufficient
What we need is more financial aid to societies. or
| such like which furnish physicians treat tho
| poor at their homes and provide ocean trips. and
excursions to the country r The work done by the
| Fund ST. Johns Guild and similar agencies. is
| most beneficial and can be made still more so by
| applied to the endowing Of new hospitals.
| In the mean time have any suggestions In the
| matter of the abuse? Without the cooperation
Of the physicians. none. With I, would make the
| SUPERINTENDENT responsible, and require him 70
| trace ali those visiting the clinic who are able to
pay and to publish the names and addresses In
| the public papers. MEDICCS
| New-York, June 2. 1897.