The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-06-13

Dr. Carver, for $118 for services rem
dered in care of smallpox patients.
They claim it should not have been
allowed by the commissioners as he
is not a regular licensed practitioner.
He was never granted license by
the Montana Board of Medical -Ex-
aminers, and for that reason should
not have been placed in position to
draw public funds from the county,
and thus deprive physicians who pay
their license from getting part of
their money back.
Appointment physician of the city,
and a member of the state medical
board, who is in a position to know
the Carver case, stated that the lat
ter at one time presented himself for
examination by the state board, but
failed to pass, ana since then he has
been allowed to practice his profess
sion on sufferance. The physicians
of the city had no objections to Cary
er's private practice, but they did
register a big kick when he was put
over their heads and placed in posi-
ton where he could draw the public
luuQS, WnlIe paying ho hCShoC 40
other physicians are forced to do.
1t is claimed by them that DR.. Mac
donald, as well as the county com.
missioners, knew that DR.. Carver
was not entitled to practice medicine,
and, therefore, his selection to take
charge of the smallpox patients was
a direct affront to the doctors who
Tho ms G
called to the attention of Chairman
Griffin of the board of commissioners,
but he claimed that he did not know
that Carver was not a duly author
lied practicing physician. Inquiry at
the county treasurer's Office shows
that Dr. Carver does not pay any Ii
cense and never has paid any.
When the circumstances first be-
came known an effort was made to
stop the payment of the warrants in
favor of Carver, but it was shown
that he had sold them, so any further
prosecution would only serve to in
lure innocent parties, and the matter
has been dropped for the present.
Incidental to the publication in the
Bee of the smallpox expenses and the
bills for the same that were allowed
by the county commissioners at theil
recent quarterly meeting, a howl OF
large proportions has gone up from
all sections of the county, and espe
cially here in Kalispell, where the
circumstances surrounding the care
and treatment of the disease are bet
ter known.
1t is claimed that the expenses fol
the past quarter are out of all pro
portion, and that the commissioners
were remiss in allowing in full bills
presented by DR.. Macdonald Hints
of a pull" are made, and it has beer
stated that the health officer at differ
ent times mas not visited the pes
house for days but that when he pu
in his bill he made no allowance TO
such absences and was allowed hi
500 per day just the same.
1t was stated by a prominent KaI
ispell physician that there is not an
other county in the state where tn,
physician in charge of the smallpo,
cases receives as large salary a
does DR.. Macdonald In Butte during
the smallpox epidemic. the physician
in charge received $500 per month
but he was obliged to go to the pes
house and remain there until the las
case was discharged, and was not a.
lowed to leave at any and all times
and come to town, as is the healt
officer in this city. If the physical
was compelled to isolate himself an
give up all other professional duties
$500 is not considered by other men
bers of the profession too much 70
the service, but DIR. Macdonald wa
not compelled to sequester himsel
hence the charge he makes is consit
cred exorbitant
The bills for medical attendant
for a few patients were certainl
huge, but might have been passe
up by the average citizen had nc
the medicos themselves subjecte
the account to unfayOrable criticism
In one way or another there is
general feeling developing that in tn
alleged cost of the smallpox patient
to this county, there is a graft" fc
some one. and the physicians do nj
hesitate to point out the channt
through which large portion of tn
money is wastefully disappearing
DR.. Macdonald was interviewed b
the Bee and was told in substanc
the ground covered by this articl
and especially was he asked concern
ing the DR.. Carver matter He r
fused to make any statement for pu
LEGATION in regard to the charge
made against him by other phys
clans. and also declined to state no
many patients had been under h
care in the county during the pa
three months. However. he did stat
that smallpox had never ceased |