POOR PATIENTS, AND DOCTORS AND PUBLICANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7648, 23 August 1886, Page 4

POOR PATIENTS, AND DOCTORS AND PUBLICANS.

:. TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —A publican by the name of Mr Fagan at the last meeting of the Hospital Board " referred to the system of patients coming into the hospital aftera doctor cad first extracted from - ~thenrasTriuch money as they had got," ana Mr Green proposed a remedy which the chairman said "would stop it." Now, Sir, will you allow me, as a medical man, to suggest to the board the desirability of extending the inquiry they make of each poor patient in the following directions: — (a) What amount of money he has paid to the publicans to get the drink which in the majority of cases has made him both poor and ill?. . . . . (i) The names of the publicans he has chiefly patronised? (c) In every case how much money he has paid to publicans for drink during the two years preceding-his application for admission? • (d) What has been the cost to. the public of those whose ailments are directly or indirectly clearly traceable to the consumption of alcoholic' liquors? . . ..-:.....

I think the board in attempting to stop a practice which one member or so of the profession is reputed to indulge in have unwittingly cast a slur on a body of men who, more than any. other profession, deny themselves much, and work unceasingly for the truly deserving poor.

There is not a merchant in this town, let him , be ever so princely or generous in his donations .1 for the poor, gives one-fourth as much as the ; poorest doctor does ia services he knows he will never get paid for. . . ■ . ■

But the doctor daily sees the misery, the havoc, the untold unhappiness wrought by', drink, for which the publican gets ready money. The poor wife must toil on and half starve, the children are often improperly.clothed and fed, ' the house is scantily furnished and the firing is in? sufficient. And why? Because part of the money that ought to go to keep the family comfortable and respectable only too frequently assists in filling the pockets of the publican. And yet we have these false friends of the poor holding public positions—members of this and: that body! Poor men of Dunedin and suburbs, are these your friends? Ask your wives and children for a reply.—l am, &c, A Medical Man.

August 20.