The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-02-08


for out OF the Territorial treasury
we're the subjects of discussion in
the Board of Health yesterday after
noon. The question of economy in con-
nection with dispensing with the SER
vices of the Territorial physicians was
brought up by President Raymond. He
spoke earnestly in favor of radical
changes in that department of the
Board of Health and urged reforms in
the present system of salaries and the
furnishing of drugs.
The whole question arose over the
requisition OF DR. Mallory. newly-ap-
pointed physician for Kona district,
Hawaii, who asked for $44 worth of
drugs IT was reported that he was al
ready overdrawn on the drug list. 1t
was questioned whether he should be
allowed to overdraw and the discus
sion finally merged into the question of
whether the Territory or the physicians
themselves should supply the medicines
of their INDECENT patients. 1t was stat
ed that in the latter case it would ma
terially cut down the expenses of the
Board. Nine thousand dollars had been
appropriated by the last Legislature
for the purchase of drugs and of this
only $1,000 had been expended
President Raymond said he was
aware of the labors performed by the
Territorial physicians in the country
districts where they had to travel many
miles a day to treat the sick indigents
In the estimate prepared by him for the
next period he had left out the amount
for drugs, based on the last appropri-
alton. This did not include the supply
for the Honolulu Dispensary. which
was on another basis from those in the
country. His idea was to employ Ter
ritorial physicians and pay them on
scale according to the population OF
their districts and the amount OF
ground covered. In other words, it
meant a reduction in their incomes. In
answer to DIR. Cooper, the president
said the largest drug account of any
Territorial physician was $500, but the
average was s125 all around. DR.. Coop
er thought for professional men the
salaries were small enough and to de-
duct from their salaries would be to
give them an income OF but 5000 year
in many instances. To deduct 5000
year-the cost of the drugs furnished
would work hardship upon them. If
the drugs had to be purchased with
money taken from their own pockets
the compensation for services rendered
would be ridiculously small
Mr. Dole was of the opinion that for
the physicians to contribute drugs out
of their own pockets the temptation
would be strong with them not to fur
nish what was really needed He did
not believe they should contribute out
OF their own pockets what should come
from the Territorial treasury. DR.. EN-
erson agreed with MIR, Dole. The two
physicians in the Kona districts We're
not overpaid for the amount of ground
they frequently had to cover in one
day Forty and fifty miles a day were
often covered by them in their vista
ton of the sick ones. Mr.. Dole further |
stated that the tendency OF the measure
was to make the horse carry more of
a load than he was capable of. DR..
Cooper did not think 5000 for drugs in
populous district was a heavy drain
upon the treasury. DR.. Raymond said
as far as he was concerned personally
ne desired to see all physicians become
and retire, but he thought the
was quite the reverse.
Doctors go to their graves poorly
paid" said he, meditatively, unless
hey go in for bonds, stocks and a few
,ther dividend-producing affairs"
"Or cattle ranches" quoth DR.. Coop
r. The president took the alluson to
lis 100000 Maui cattle ranch with
milling equanimity.
However" he continued, there Is no
personal feeling in the matter, 1t is 1
,nly to reduce the expenses, The calls
'or drugs have often been for the most
expensive quality and entirely unnec-
assary for public patients. The ques-
ton OF economy is one that this de-
partment is bound to consider because
as a matter OF fact the revenues Of the
have been cut down and II Is
absolutely necessary for this depart
ment as we'll as in every other to
sconomize. Two hundred dollars In
each case seems small, but in the ag-
Il is large amount 10 the
Conditions have changed here.
American laws have gone into effect
The rule an over the world Is that the
INDECENT persons are not treated nearly
90 We'll as they are under the system
n vogue IN Hawai- ! honestly believe /
hat 10 be consistent with the other
parts ~ the United states the physl-
llans should be done away with, There Z
are plantations in an ~ the districts
The parties most benefited are the own ,
irs of those plantations No reduce tho /
natter 81 a ine point the Territory II \
siruHs Coz the plantations. \
la other words "A 10 subaldlzlnE the |
more Con their benefit than a
~ ihe INDECENT sick ! hage had ca 3
in lhr cnuntry and hH9H what
sn talking about
This question naturally arises II yau
VA On tho dWea shat aie Sps FnipH \
y d9f ~ answer ~ mas lba plania I
lons sfe salns - h'ir ~ plyaielan Z