Laws, list of officers for the year 1870-71, and of the honorary members and members : to which is added a report of the annual meeting ... July 13th, 1870 / Poor-Law Medical Officers' Association.
- Date:
- [1870]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Laws, list of officers for the year 1870-71, and of the honorary members and members : to which is added a report of the annual meeting ... July 13th, 1870 / Poor-Law Medical Officers' Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![to light. It also ftrose from a misunderstanding and a want of^ ex- perience of the hardships and sacrifices which Poor Law Medical Officers had constantly to undergo. [Hear, hear.] He considered, therefore, it was the duty of those who were better oif in the service, or whose position as medical men enabled them to do so, to help those who were unfor- tunately placed; and so promote the objects of an As.sociation which desired to secure alike the efficient treatment of the sick poor on right principles, and such an equitable remuneration for the Poor Law Medical Officer as would enable him faithfully to do his duty. [Cheers.] Mr. J. E. Smith, of Hay Brecon, also returned thanks for the honour the meeting had done the Hon. Local Secretaries in mentioning their small services in such flattering terms. He was aware of many short- comings, on his own part, but trusted that the encouragement of this great meeting, which he had come nearly 200 miles to attend, would inspire him with more zeal and energy for the future. (Cheers.) It was somewhat dis- heartening to write to gentlemen, and to send them important documents and other communications and get no acknowledgement or reply. There were several reasons for this apparent apathy. Many union doctors were so hard woi'ked that they had not time or inclination for anything but what concerned their own practice. Others had known so many attempts of this sort end in failure that they despaired of anything being done, and would not take the trouble to examine the present organisation. Formerly, these attempts were made by the gigantic efforts of single individuals—now they had a powerful united body of earnest and intelli- gent men, aided by others high in position and influence. (Cheers.) But of this, and matters in general, it would be out of place for him to say much. He would, however, with their permission, refer briefly to his own experience on another subject. He had a district of the Hay Union, part in Wales and part in Herefordshire, and the workhouse. He lived in the town of Hay, which was not in his district, though that extendetl on both sides of him, commencing about 200 yards from his house. Thci'e was no place in the whole district that any medical man would ever settle in if he wished to make a living, and he could nowhere be better situated for visiting the district. Yet, though repeatedly applied to by the Board of Guardians, the Poor Law Board steadily refused to make his appointment permament. Again, the district was so thinly populated that he often went over 20 miles to find only two or three children to vaccinate. Yet the Board only allowed the maximum fee of 3s. above two miles, which was undoubtedly intended by the Legislature for thicklj'- populated places where a man would vaccinate 50 or 100 cases on a journey. (Hear, hear.) Another evil was the unwillingness of people to send their children ; and as his Board had never prosecuted any one, the Medical Officers suffered from their negligence. There ought to be a paid prosecutor in every district, as there was in Scotland, whose duty it should be to look after this matter. After a few observations on the bene- ficial results of meetings like that, in promoting social intercourse and esjml de corps, he concluded by once more thanking them for so hand- somely recognizing the services of himself and his co-Local Secretaries. (Cheers.) Dr. Dixon wished to sny a few words before the official business was concluded. He had not attended with any idea of making a speech, or proposing a resolution ; but a circumstance had been alluded to which he could not .«uffcr to pass over in silence. He referred to the contemplated resignation of Dr. Dudfield, of which he had heard with great regret. [Cheers.] He believed that every Member of the Council, and everyone who had been brought into contact with Dr. Dudfield in connection with the business of the Association had admired his tact and unwearied energy, and been gratified with the kindness and courtesy which he had](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21920606_0034.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
