The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-23
DOCTORS SCORE HEALTH BOARD.
Alleged Infringement or Their Rights Dis.
cussed by the County Medical Society.

Alleged Infringements or Their Rights Dis.
cussed by the County Medical Society.
The subject Of the abuses of medical charities
furnished two hours Of lively discussion for
members Of the County Medical Society at it's
annual meeting last night at the Academy of
Medicine. The new President, DR.. Arthur Mid
dleton Jacobus, opened the gate Of criticism in
his inaugural address by scoring certain
methods of the Board OF Health. and protesting
that it was surely exceeding its functions by
gradual and invidious enc~roachments on public
rights.
AS the spokesman for $500 reputable ply
sicians OF this city, he continued, Eve con-
denim the free vaccination and the inspection
and examination of school children for conta-
Rious diseases or defective vision. &C., regard
less Of the wealth of their parents or the rights
Of the family physician or other practitioner;
to the ever-increasing control. segregation. and
free treatment in public institutions and else
where OF patients suffering from even ordinary
infectious diseases which any ply stefan of to-
day is fully competent to quarantine and treat
at home In most instances. and that, too, with
out the frequent officious visits ana criticism Of
the department inspector or other employee.
ut may well be asked by what right in law
or equity does the Health Department or its
insatiiutions or eIsewh vH and in some Instances
attempt to dictate or to discredit the diagnosis
OF the condition or the treatment OF patients
under the care of q licensed practitioner.
not only in private life. but in public %institu.
tons also. II the afflicted persons are poor and
in need of hospital care, they should be treated
like other poor patients. by the physicians OF the
various public institutions under the care of the
Commissioner OF Charities. ltthey are well-to-
do. then they should be treated by the private
practitioner at home, or in a secluded public or
private hospital, II need be. and pay for the
services rendered."
President Jacobus recommended the thorough
investigation by the on Legislation
nf tho CnIuty Society Of tha exact rIKhta of the
Health Board. with a view Of securing legisla-
tive relief of alleged abuses. and urged that the
society. in, cooperation with other interested
to induce the Legislature to amend the law
members OF the medical profession from the
chief executive post in the Health Department.
President Jacobuss criticisms of the Health
Board were applauded with great heartiness.
and upon motion he a%ppofntei Drs. Sntter-
thwaite, Hadden, A. jacob. Prot. Piffard. and
A Smith q committee teiook into the subject.
President Jacobus had scarcely finished when
DR.. F. r.. Sturgis reused a fresh. outburst of
hearty hand-clapping by Introducing a resolu.
ton requesting the Committee on Legislation OF
the society to attend the next session Of the
Board OF Estimate to protest against the appro-
priation of public moneys to private charities.
1t was carried unanimously. amid great mp
plause. DR.. James Hawley Burtenshaw read
the draft of n new dispensary bill, designed 10
put a stop to the abuse of tho service In free dis
pcnsaries by those persons who were able to pay
for treatment.