New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-25
DOCTORS IN LIVELY DEBATE
ABUSE OF MEDICAL CHARITIES DIS
CUssEp BY THE COUNTY SOCIETY.


HAD WORKED AGAINST THE BILL TO PLACE
pIspENsARIEs UNDER THE STATE
CHARITIES BOARD.
The onposition Of the medical profession to the
indiscriminate treatment given to patients by the
dspensaries of this city was again manifested last
night at a meeting OF the Medical Society Oh the
County of York The allegation that medica
charities are Systematically abused because OF the
neglect of the dispensares TO inquire properly into
the pecunary position Of the people who apply Tor
treatment was also renewed. The matter was
brought forward by the presentation or the report
OF the Committee Abuses of Medical Chari'!,
and the discussion which followed more than once
was on the verge of developing into heated argu-
ment.
DR.. John Hawey Burtenshaw read the report
which reviewed the efforts made by the committee
TO obtain the passage OF the act for the regulation
OF the dispensares and placing them unuer .'ie
control of the State Board of Charities ms Dill
had passed the Legislature and only required the
signature of the Governor to become a law Inc
thirty days allowed to the Governor In wnich 10
sign the bill after the adjournment Of the lfgis-
lature expired at ~ o'clock last night. but before
the meeting closed II was learned that the uo'-
err or would withhold his signature
Dr. d. b. St. John Roosa, after the Adoption Vi
the report had been moved, spoke upon the ques'
ton of the alleged abuses. He Characterzeh HucH
of the talk on this subject exasgeration, par
ticularly on the part of the medical press lie was
proceeding to explain the methods adopted by inc
Manhattan Eye and Ear Infirmary and the New
York POSTGRADUATE Hospital, with both OF "hich
he Is connected for the investigation OF the peope
who went to those Institutions for aid, when III
Eebert H. Grandn jumped 10 his feet and pro-
tested that DR.. Rosa was out Of order
"Tbe motion before the house." he said. us
whether this report shall be adopted out Ut
Rosa Is entering into a defence of the medical
charities. and particularly of two INSTITUTIONS 10
| which he belongs" (Cheers)
| "Well II the County Medical Society wishes TO
| sthe free speech 1t is a matter for the members
| to determine" retorted DR.. Roosa-
| 81 have no intention Of sitting free speech" re-
| piled DR.. Grandin Il simply wish the business Oh
the society to be conducted in proper and orderly
| manner"
| The motion TO adopt the report was thereupoD
| put and carried, and then Dr. Rosa continued his
| speech. He criticised the action OF the society 10
| York-"a society of men," he went on, whose resi-
dence is mainly confined to one part OF the city
| bin Is not because as the report says. he has not
had time to consider 1t. but because he has consid
fort Of "a sei-constuted society" to take the man.
agement Of the dispensaries out OF the hands o.
that II was Unconstitutional that the State Board OF
Charities should be vested with the power to annui
| Dr. Grandin, in supporting the recommendations
of the report MADE an exceedingly animated speech
| y
! us one OF the greatest evils that threatens the
medical profession DR.. Roosa Is at the head OF
good and worthy institution. but stiH III u an lHstl-
| tuition which helps to defraud the medical profes-
sion (Cheers) | know OF the hard LOT Oh the gen
eral practitioner, and when & man pays ~ cents %
| a dispensary for a prescription, or II a inohth IL
that is not robbery what Is robbery IL Is )Ist as
unethica for a man connected win Il nosplthl U q
| dispensary to rob me OF a patient VINO can alloru
| 10 pay me fee as Il would De LOT neiS hpoi iIs
| society can do nothing when 1t has against IL Ihe
rich and influential hospital people OF ths CITY, bus
the time will when this society VIII sIIhe me
wood al the root. The time VIII come Wneh the
| Hoard OF Managers will find that they VIII not 50
readily get medical officers Indispensable adJuncis
In arriving ON the work of the hospital to Join their
stafTs and for my own part propose that upon .ne
1rs occa sion the future that OBTAIN khoWieuse
n So which can pay a fee being treated free
~ n dispensary shall try TO bring the olncers OF
| that dispensary up for disciphhe III '"e "'""
In The course of the debate that was continueo
4, a,ber members of the society Dr. j. r.. GanVrln,
Wy yyoo,dent of the County Medical Associhtioh anu
Rr Alexander Hadden who were depuoeu ~ ,aS az
Gwar1nor Black TO sign the bill entered me meet,
,nr and reported that they had been Unsuccessful
| IN men 9 e nr MADDEN left the platform DR.: w
| u!ieshhnrn arose and asked IL any member OF the
MasnDuiMN eJicaI Society had visited Albany with
oou, n,,rnose OF defeating the bill 49,. ~,
'n rvs replied DR. MADDEN, II heard 'ha' III
| 80 was there with that object . 49,,
storm OF Kisses greeted this aa, ~"
IT, Dr. Roosa's action were heard VI so'"e P"'''
or i,nen nu resolution nstructing the commit
10 nnnfnue its labors In the drecti9h OF
| ing legislation for inc Iesuia''o" "
] was unanimously adopSs@