The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-01-13
OPPOSE so
MANY FREE CLINICS
Propose Public Health Council to Regu-
late Activities of All State
Organizations

BURLINGTON. Jan. 13-Ap attack
against the public health activities of
Vermont which characterized them as
paternalistic was launched at the confer
ence or state medical men and public
health workers held in the roof garden of
the Hotel Vermont. There was a con-
siderable difference of.opinion among the
medical men as to the public health work
and the discussion waxed warm at times.
Charges were made that the public health
WORKERS. especially the Vermont TuIer-
cuioSis association aud the public health
nurses, are taking liberties in the holding
OF clinics and the conducting of examina-
tlonS free of charge. regardless of the
ability of patients to pay. and are in
other ways interfering with the privileges
OF the medical profession.
In the opinion of a number of members
OF the State Medical society, this is tend.
ing steward the danger of paternalism in
medicine, which. if allowed to continue.
VIII pauperiZe the people and fix ii so
they will do nothing to take care of them
selves, but will expect free treatment and
Tree care. This view was expressed in one
torn or another by DIR. c. I'll. Beecher of
burlington, Dr. :. w. Hammond of Rut
land and DIR. Il. ID. Colby. district health
officer of district No, z. with headauar-
ters in Rutland.
The elimination of the meeting. which
lasted all day. was the CARRYING of a mo-
ton made by DIR. w. G.. Kicker of ST
Johnsbury which proposed that n p1an
presented by Secretary c. +. Dalton of
the state board of health for a public
health council in Vermont be referred
10 special committee consisting of the
three members OF the state board of health
and four councillors of the board of dele
gates Of the Vermont State Medical So
ciety, TO draw up plans for such a public
health council and report at the next
meeting of the State Medical society.
This committee of seven is made up as
follows DR.. G. +. Dalton of Burlington.
lDr. W. II. Slayton of Morrisville and
DIR +. Thomas Hidder of Woodstock. com
prising the State board of Health: and
Doctors. Lyman ALLEN of Burlington. c.
f.. Bartlett of Bennington. f. r. Farmer
fof st. JohnSbury and NJ f. Mcguire of
! Montpelier
| The committee is empowered to confer
with Representatives of the public health
workers in the state with reference to the
formation Of a public health council a.
| long the lines proposed by DR. Dalton
and taking into consideration suggestions
made by other speakers.
Dr. Daltons plan proposed that this
| public health council should be made up
| of one representative from each organiza-
| ton or society doiag public health or vel
fare work IN Vermont. This would include
| the executive department. the State
Board of Health, the State Board of
| Charities and Probation, director of state
| institutions. State Medical society. Yer
mont tuberculosis association. American
Red Cross, and Children's Aid society.
The executive officer of each of these or
EXAMINATIONS would naturally serve on the
public health council without pay, the
council TO meet monthly or bi-monthly,
discuss and formulate the plans to be
carried out along health lines
Any other public health organization
proposing to start work in the state would
present its claims before this council
and, if admitted, would have a representa-
tive on the council.