The Washington times., 1903-03-23
EXPRESSIONS FROM TINES READERS.
EXAMINATION FOR POST OF
MEDICAL SCHOOL INSPECTOR

MEDICAL SCHOOL INSPECTOR
To the Editor Of the Washington Times:
1t has been testified to by many prom
inent people of this city, as well as by
outsiders. that your paper is the pluck
lest in this city, and will. at least
speak the truth when requested. /
hope you Will publish my opinion in
the columns of your paper for the bene-
fit OF those directly interested:
l notice that the Commissioners Of
the District. jointly with the Health
Officer. are about TO appoint twelve
medical school inspectors, and some
physicians to the poor, and their sub
stitutes. In accordance with the pro-
visions of the law authorizing these
Offices. the fortunate appolntee Will be
required TO spend three or four hours
daily in examining the pupils of the
schools in his bailiwick, and in due
time report his findings to h'= ~--71-i,'s
The salary attached as an inducement
to the fortunate job-hunter is $500 per
annum. in return for seventy-two to
ninety-six hours Of professional labor
in each month, averaging about AZ cents
per hour. The job-hunter must be an
actual medical practitioner of FIVE or
more years standing in the District, and,
according to Mr.. Macfarland and DR..
Woodward, as further guarantee Of
his ability, must pass competitive ex-
animation before the District medical
I board
/ Let us view unbiased this last prOpO-
sition on the part OF the District Com
missioner and Health Omcer. and see
whether II deserves friendly criticism or
derision and ridicule on the part OF
! the hunter. and the entire medical
fraternity of the District. The would
| be medical school examiner may frankly
say, Il am a graduate Of a medical
school. passed the required medical ex-
animation before the board of the Dis
trict medical examiners five years ago.
and morally and legally am qualified 20
practice. and have been practicing, my
profession for five or more years. which
alone is the best guarantee OF my abil-
ity for the Office"
The Health Officer, It is true. was a
physician before he became Health Of
4 fcer. but had no experience In the ad-
ministration of the office he is presid-
ing over Yet he draws. and has beer
drawing, a fat salary. even though he
had no experience whatsoever in th5
work he undertook, and passed no ex-
animation 20 prove mis- qualifications foI
the Office OF Health Ohhcer. and yet il
may be said to his credit that his Office
is well administered.
Mr. Macfarland passed no examination
and had no experience in the work of ;
District Commissioner. yet he cOul'
draw and is still drawing a handsome
salary very deservedly.
Now II a man without experience ant
no examination can creditably admins
} ter a high Office. why not take It 70
granted that a physician of five o. NOR,
years actual practice in the District
after passing a creditaUle examinatcl
! before the District Medical Board. whe
he first began to practice in the Districi
and who is willing to sacrifice his tim
for the public good with a paltry re
muneration OF 43 cents per hour for hi
labor, is equally as capable and quail
) fed to do mis- duty IN the line OF medi
cal school examiner or inspector. withou
a special examination? But no; the sati
ated dog growls and barks at the hun
gry one for the sake Of growing an
barking and even biting, while the latte
is not strong enough 10 defend himsel
l am a practicing physician for twely
years. and would be only too willing
accept the position OF Medical SehoS
Inspector even without any remunera
ton, for the sake of public good. as
have three OF my children at school an
see the necessity for il, but will n6
submit 10 an examination by my equal
The examiners are by no means bett'
Z qualified than myself, except perhap
on the particular questions they are
E PROFOUND, and that. only after readir
p it up an hour or 50 before the examin'
) | tioB.
Any physician is well able to SER
his community as Medical School II
spector.
GEORGE S. CHAINS. VI. d.
Washington, ID. C., March q. 1903.