Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-12-06
Physician to The Poor-A Much Need.
ed Officer.
Communicated.
of Evening Capital:

Editor of Evening Capital:
Dear Sir-Among the various depart
ments OF municipal supervision, there
SENS 20 be lacking in Annapolis one
that is greatly needed. a physician TO
the poor. A very merit0Tious work is
now going on in the city Of. Baltimore
10 raise money to relieve the suffer-
ing Of the destitute and sick who are
unable TO meet extraordinary demands
by reason of their condition. Now il
occurs TO me that the good people Of
Annapolis who have always cheerfully
come to the front and contributed to
the relief Of suffering whenever it has
been brought to their atten o n
through the columns Of the press or
otherwise. These good citizens SHOULD
have the support and cooperation OF a
duly authorized physician. appointed
By the city TO minister 10 the physical
needs Of INDECENT sick. A movement
in this direction was started by the
Civic League a year or two ago. but
seems 10 have been stifed in its birth,
Another step was inaugurated when
the Disthirct Nurse was sent here
Since then Miss Doyle all honor to her
be il said. has done glorious work in
relieving distress and everything that
only q trained nurse can do, but that
is only a Part Of the labor. arduous as
il is Many times In the course Of heI
ministrations she finds that the serv-
ices OF a physician are needed, ant
size has appealed 10 probably al of thC
medical fraternity here at different
simes in behalf OF poor patients. ans
all have responded and given theiI
time and professional advice freely
But is not this an imposition? Other
cities have regularly appointed med
cia1 officers district physicians. PAL,
by the city-to visit and prescribe TO
the sick poor. The District Nurse
the Hospital Club, the Public Dispen
sary of our local hospital are all he.pt
in the noble cause of charity, but still
the visiting physician is necessary
Many people have the impression tina
this is one of the duties OF the healtl
officer; that he is paid by the city fot
this work, but let me say here tina
this idea is erroneous. 1t is no part o
the health officers legitimate work t,
visit and prescribe for the indigen
sick He is frequently called on, il
common with other practitioners Il
exercise that charity, but wheneve
such is the case il is purely charit,
aside from his duty. The Holy Scrip
lures tell us that charity is long-suf
fering, and endureth al things, an,
that the poor we have always with us
Let any of your readers enter witt
the District Nurse the humble abod
of the man or woman dependent 70
daily bread upon the labor of his o
her hands, but who is now incapac
itated by sickness, and maybe has
family of small children. Something
like this will be seen: Insufficient
nourished, scantily clad bodies shiv
ering in the frosty atmosphere when
window is opened to admit a it'll
fresh air. or burning with fever; badl,
ventilated apartments and other disre
gard Of all principles of hygiene
These are some OF the elements of pow
elty WHICH ever SOhS VIII duLiiil SliBeil
der sickness. Doubtless some OF thes
people are shiftless and improyident
but the average daily wage Garner cal
hardly be expected, even in vigorou
health, TO make frequent deposits il
savings banks for a rainy day an,
when sickness stops the income the,
soon become more or less cnarge
upon the public. SO | think, Mr. Edi
tor. a physician to the poor is great,
needed WM. S. WEIGH.