New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-28
HOT DEBATE OVER
DISPENSARY FEES
Physicians Argue Bill That VIII
Abolish the Ten-Cent
Charge.

The question Of abolishng the fee or
ten cents almost universally charged oy
the public dispensaries IN this CITY,
caused a lively discussion at the Academy
If Medicine. No. II West 49d street, last
night. A bill is pending at Albany de-
signed to bring about that change, and a
conference was called by committee OF
the State Board Of Charities 10 debate
the subject. A large number Of promi-
nent physicians and the representatives
of many Of the large hospitals responded
The hospitals all oppose the passage OF
the bin on various grounds. Some of the
doctors. not connected with hospitals or
dispensaries. urged the change.
DIR. Cope land. head of Flower Hospital
said that II the l0-cent fee were abolished
that the dispensary Of Flower Hospital
would in all probability have to be abol-
ished.
Several of the physicians caused stir
i'm the meeting by their criticisms e pup
lie dispcnsaries generally DR.. W. >
Gottheil, who is noted for his Insurgency
said that in his opinion the public dispen-
saries masqueraded as philanthropic in
stitutions. but were really commercial
undertakings lie said the aggregate OF
Decent fees resulted in a considerable
profit.
It was Or. Gottheil. who in the same
room at meeting of the County Medi-
cal Society. accused Or. John A. Wyeth
Of violating a rule of medical ethics by
inviting a newspaper reporter to a clinic
OF the Polytechnic Hospital
! Dr. Bernard Gordon, Of the Peoples
Hospital. found his audience out Of sym
pathv with an attack on Mount SINAI
I Hospitals dispensary methods.
There was some serious criticism Of thC
existing dspensary system by Dr. 5. 6
! Goldwater Health Commissioner, and Dr
James Alexander Miller, who has charge
Of tuberculosis clinic at Bellevue. Dr
| Goldwater said that many Of the smaller
dispensaries were not conducted by the
I best grade Of physicians. Dr. Miller askC-
| for an Improvement Of conditions so that
patients might receive more time and a.
/ tentlon than they do at present
] The 1O-cent fee was defended by all OF
/ the speakers representing the hospitals
except a woman director Of the North
western Dispensary. who sad that the
! services there were absolutely without
| charge.
The general argument in favor Of con
tinuing the policy Of charging patients a
fee OF 10 cents and 10 cents for the drugs
dispensed was that the patient was eiver
feeling OF self-respect that would not
follow absolutely free treatment.
Dr. Lee. OF New York Hospital mad a
particular plea for what he designt ted
| the large class of people Of moderate
means who could not afford the relatively
high fees OF the private practitioner. but
who would not want TO be considered
paupers. and were glad to pay the 10 OF
% cents required by the out-patient de
partment OF New York Hospital
All the hospital representatives cited
figures in disproof Of the contentious that
the Decent fee netted profit. although
they all admitted the item consideraD III,
one In the matter OF income to their in
stitutions.
Those who are in favor OF abolishine
the lO-cent fee contend that the city OF
state should maintain the free dispense
ries, and only the absolutely poor be
treated