The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-26
Effort Being Made to Re-estab-
Iish City Dispensary-
Kansas Medical College Proposes
to Take Charge.
is UNDER AMUSEMENT.
Board OF Health May Act Favor
ably on Proposition.
DIR. Judd is Strangely Silent on
the Subject.

An effort Is being made to re-estab-
aish the old Topeka Free Dispensary in
connection with the Kansas Medical
college Three doctors. representing the
faculty of the Kansas Medical college,
accompanied by DIR. c.. f. Judd, city
physician, called on Mayor Hughes
"wednesday afternoon for the purpose
of explaining the plan to him, and Sc
curing mis- cooperation The medical
men on the committee were DR.. nj. r.
Mitchell, Dr. H. l. Alkire and DR.. f. H.
Martin
The proposition which the Medical
college makes to the city is that the
college viii place the medical staff of
that institution at the disposal of the
poor OF the city. IN consideration Of the
payment to the college by the city Of
S25 month, for the support of the free
dispensary. Medicines will be given out
free from the dispensary to sick people
who can not afford to hire doctors.
Or. Judd. secretary Of the board Of
health. stated that he would call
meeting Of the board within q day or
two to take the matter under advise
ment. He refused TO discuss his views
IA tine matter, and even refused to adj
INIT that any plan for the giving OF a
subsidy to the dispensary was under
c0ns1G Grafton.
Tt formerly was the policy Of the city
10 give $50 a month to the suppoFt of
the free dispenSary. Subsequently that
amount was cut down to S25 a month,
and still later was abolished altogether.
The council decided that the city paid
for the taking care of the sick in its
contribution to the county taxes, and
refused to pay out any money directly
to the dispensaFy. The city pays one
mill every year to the county poor fund.
This amounts to about 100000 The sick
of the city are supposed to be treated
by the county physician
The doctors who consulted with
Mayor Hughes stated that they wanted
to locate the proposed free dispensary
at First and Kansas avenue and not at
q building at First and the avenue
could be secured, provided the city
Would put up the bonus requested
The doctors gave as a reason for
locating the free diSpensary at First
and the avenue that the Medical col
lege building was too badly crowded to
admit of giving more than one room to
the work Tt is proposed to secure sew
eral rooms at First and the avenue, and
fit no one Of the rooms as sort Of an
emergency hospital. where cases may
be taken for treatment As far as pos
sible the students of the Medical col
lege viii be given opportunity to be
present and see the work done by the
dlspensary force.
The board of health is said to be
backing the scheme for the establish
ment OF the dispensary in connection
with the Medical college The Medical
college faculty considers such an adj
5unct to the institution desirable. in
view Of the clinical material which il
tends to bring to the college
The board OF health will likely rec
ommend. to the council that the appro-
priation for the free dispensary be
made. and the council Will act upon the
recommendation at its meeting on Oc-
tcber z.