The Sentinel=record., 1912-12-27

H..
 dne to it's official sanction and eo,. eoS springs. "''ei rum the
 ne most practical first step in the
 oetterment of local municipal affairs
 IS uhat of providing adeouate rev.
 ehues rom clean sources. While
 tnese exists general appreciation
 oi the necessity for such action. pub-
 He sentiment has not crystallized in
 10 me concerted effort necegs sary to
 aohleVe the desired results under any
 Of the above plans.
 Bills have been introduced in Con
 gress to provide an adeuuate sewer.
 age system. a new Government free
 bathhouse for the indigent, and for
 the investigation of the physiological
 and therapeutic effects of the water
 of the hot springs.
 Considerable progress has been
 made in the paving of streets and
 laying of sidewalks during the year put the maintenance of an efficient street-cleaning service is impracti-
 able with the limited funds avail able.
 A difficult, distressing and eyer
 present problem for the city author ties is that of providing for the large
 number of indigent inyasids from oth-
 sr states, who come seeking the bene-
 tts to be derived from the baths. These sufferers come from every
 state, often as a last resort and in
 he hope that the water may effect
 l cure after their home physicians
 have failed to afford relief Church es, fraternal organizations, relatives, and friends often contribute small amounts to enable the sufferer to ob- |4ain the benefits of a course of baths IWrequently a man arrives practically destitute and unable to work, thus becoming at once an object of char ity A considerable number come iu he belief that the Government main tains. in conjunction with the free 5athhouse, hospital or home a. SIhich they will be cared for in every way Not infrequently the progress )f disease results in extreme help lessness and destitution. At times
 all has been spent in coming here for
 the relief of conditions in which the baths are of little benefit or are even lontrS indicated.
 A factor of great importance in the development of Hot Springs as aealth resort is the restriction of the ielht to preserve the water of the springs to those practitioners who noi )nly are qualified professionally, but whose appreciation of ethical and moral obligations is such as to insure their hearty cooperation with uhf Government in maintaining the best medical service.
 The visiting public are frequently confronted with statements which lead tn m to beliye that the author fly and control of tae federal Govern ment over all registered physicians absolutely and complete.
 The Federal registration board has been instrusted with the duty of de | terming. subject to the approval oi he department the eligibility fol egislration of physicians who make application for authority to prescribe the water of the hot springs.
 It is clearly the duty of the board
 a determine both the character and
 he professional publications of appli' cants. In the city of Hot Springs many patlents are strangers. They are in need O. the services of phy' sician and at once institute inquiries determine the one best qualified to treat their particular ailment. AS if ls impracticable for the Govern ment officials to recommend one reg stered physician in preference to an other. they do not know how O. where obtain reliable information. and so ara easily influenced in their choice
 nv solicitors. Under these conditions fl ia of the utmost importance that a searching inquiry be made to deter mine the moral risk involved In ac' sording the privilege of registration and such inquiry the board Is irs- auently without means effectively to | pursue. It is therefore recommehu- | cd that the character of applicants pc determined through an inspector or he department.
 Tn the determination of the profes- | sianal qualifications of candidates oy the board, as at present constituteu' if is possible that occasion migh'
 arise when an unsuccessful appiicans should conceive that he had been uh-
 fairlv treated. and while 1t may pos itivelv be stated that registration mas not been denied any worthy to rs- I eeive it, i. is nevertheless true that those who successfully pass the eN'
 animation and are registered lmmeo- atelv become competitors with the members of the board in the practlce i nf their profession, and that sucn compe ition is much closer and more direct than usually exists between
 .he members of an examining boaru and it's licentiates. |.
 If is therefore believed that Y
 would be an advantageous change i' administration .o follow the long-es' tablished custom of the Federal se.' vices which does not sanction the ap- | AA DAHE FIVE.