The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-09-10
kenosha County Medical Society
Would Rout CommerciaIism
From Medical Practice
DOCTORS CONDEMN SYSTEM
Spirited Meeting of the Physicians Held
at the Home of DR.. G.. H. Gep-
hart on Friday Evening
Will Root Out Evil

The system Of doctors contracting
for medical work was the cause Of a
spirited discussion at the regular
monthly meeting Of the Kenosha
County Medical Society, held on Fri
day evening at the home of Dir. G. H..
Gephart on Park avenue and as re-
suit Of this discussion it is believed
that in the future Kenosha doctors will
unanimously decline to accept such
contracts. The question was brought
before the society by the host Of the
evening who read a strong paper on
the subject Of Contracting Among
Physicians" in which he denounced the
practice as harmful to the profession
as well as TO the people at large and
in which he urged the local society to
follow the lead of the American Medi-
cal Society and root out the practice
among Kenosha physicians. In the dis
cussion which was led by DR.. G.. Win
desheim, the fact was brought out that
there were many contracts made by
physicians in Kenosha and that the
practice was being extended all the
time. 1t was shown that factories were
contracting for the care of their help
who might meet with injury, lodges
were contracting for the care of the
members of the families Of their mem
bers and that the city itself was con-
tracing for the care of the people de-
pendent upon it. 1t was shown that a
lodge contract with one Of the physi-
clans of the city made it possible for
an entire family to receive medical
treatment for month for the small
sum of seventeen cents. The physi-
clans argued that it was impossible
for any physician to do justice to a
patient when his care had been pro-
vided for at such contract price and
that the practice was harmful and be-
low the dignity of the regular practic-
I ing physicisn. Several of the doctors
who hold contracts were present at the
meeting and they admitted that the
practice of the contracts was contrary
to the spirit Of the profession, but hint
ed that if they declined to take the con-
tracts they would be turned over to
some other physician.
The plan that is now being worked
out is to have all the physicians Of the
| city decline to accept such contracts
and it is said that some Of the physi-
clans have agreed to decline contracts
for another year if is shown that it is
the unanimous opinion Of the physicians
of the city that these contracts should
not be accepted.
The physicians of the city have long
protested against the plan of the city to
let the work of city physicians by bids
and most of them have declined to
make propositions for the work for the
past eight or ten years. It now seems
certain that there will not be a physi-
clan in the city who will be willing to
bid for the work after the present con-
tract with DR.. j. B. Spalding has ex-
pired. DR.. Spalding is one Of the
strong fighters against the contract
system and he declared this morning
that he would be willing to unite in any
unanimous movement which would
make it impossible for the city or an
other corporation to let contracts for
medical attendance
After the discussion DR., and Mrs.
Gephart entertained the members of
the society at dinner and the meeting
proved to be one of the most interest
ing as well as one of the most enjoy
able ever held by the physicians of
the city.