- Email: [email protected]
Lincoln medical protection fund.
1526 Such dispensaries are not only injurious in themselves to the interests of the medical profession; they compel medical men who try to start private dispensaries of their own to accept equally low terms. But such private dispensaries are slipping out of the hands of the profession, they are better organised, or rather more actively pushed by the canvassers in the employ of insurance companies. As agents canvass so actively for these companies, medical men who have private dispensaries of their own now also employ a canvasser, so that, as far as the dignity of the profession is concerned, it all amounts to much the same thing. I was assured that at Derby there are some private dispensaries where even girls are employed to collect and to canvass for subscriptions. So keen is the competition that members of medical aid associations or dispensaries are emboldened to make exorbitant demands on their medical officers. One club medical officer complained that he was compelled to give death certificates for nothing, though the Registrar who only copies the medical certificate is always paid for such copies. There is also at Derby a sort of charitable provident dispensary, and at this institution, after the drug bill, the dispenser, and other expenses have been paid, there only remain 2s. per annum per member for the medical officers. It will be seen, therefore, that club practice at Derby stands at a very low ebb ; but what is far more discouraging is the fact that at present no action is being taken to remedy these evils. Perhaps, however, when the Derby practitioners read what has been attempted and already achieved in many other towns they will awake from their present lethargy. In any case the younger members of the profession with whom I discussed the matter agreed that nothing but a strong union could save them from still further degradation. Unfortunately these younger men are not sufficiently influential to start the movement, and in the higher ranks of the profession there unfortunately at present prevails much
apathy.
-
THE GAINSBOROUGH DISPENSARY. It seems to be a generally recognised rule among the members of a certain class that workers of all kinds are entitled to full payment for what they do, except in the At the annual meeting of the Gainscase of medical men. borough Dispensary a "requisition"was read from the medical officers of the dispensary, and the following are the main points of the said requisition. In 1872 the remuneration of the medical officers was fixed at 66 2/3 per cent. of the whole sum received by the dispensary. From 1884 to 1894 the sums received by the medical officers have varied between 50 and 57½ per cent., thus falling far below the remuneration fixed by the rules of the institution. Other sections of the requisition dealt with the boundaries of the district, the payments of members, fines, &c. It appears that the medical men attached to the dispensary who drew up the requisition held sundry meetings to consider it. They were all unanimous in its favour, and all signed it. Then arose the question what should be the course of action in the event of the Dispensary Committee refusing to accept the requisition, and according to our information they came to the conclusion that if the committee rejected it they would withdraw it. This seems to be a weak method of procedure. It savours too much of "These are my opinions, gentlemen, but if you don’t like them I shall be happy to change them." The example of Cork shows what can be done by steady refusal to work for inadequate sums and by firm organisation. The tone of the Dispensary Committee was not of the best, witness the speech of one member, who, according to the Retford and Gainsboro’ News, characterised the requisition as an "auda" cious solicitation" and also talked about "two new doctors." a and to secure of the chairman the efforts just Despite equitable settlement the requisition was withdrawn. Now, we have no knowledge of the circumstances other than we have procured from newspapers, &c., but if the medical men of Gainsborough want their bond they will have to fight for it. It is no possible use saying, " We want this, but if you sayNo’ we won’t ask again." A little firmness, a little unanimity, and the battle will be won. LINCOLN MEDICAL PROTECTION FUND.
SIRS,—The
To the Editors of THE LANCET. following subscriptions have been received to
the above fund since you the 16th inst. :-
so
kindly published
our
appeal
of
Two of the late officers of the medical clubs are now associated with the New Lincoln Provident Medical Associa. tion, whilst the third is at present engaged in loczama tenens work. It is impossible as yet to estimate the amount that will be required for the purposes of the fund, but should the practical sympathy of the profession enable us to carry on for a few months we have every hope of an ultimate victory. Mr. C. Brook, Dr. C. Harrison, and Mr. G. Mitchinson, together with myself, have been appointed trustees for the fund. I am, Sirs, yours truly, cxr W. A. CARLINE, Hon. Treasurer. Lincoln, May 26th, 1896. -
_
_
__
__._
1’1. ----
____
TT__-
m
_..
_.__
"A DOCTORS’ STRIKE."
To the Editors of THE LANCET.
SIRs,-May I, as a general practitioner, thank you and your Special Commissioner for the able and interesting way in which you are calling the attention of the medical profession to their present state of degradation ? It appears that now is the time for us, as a body, to work out our salvation in this matter. The defeat of the profession at Lincoln and other places would clearly mean the subserviency of the pro. fession to the medical aid associations and the absence of wage limit and the continuation of the present small rate of pay. I append a cutting from our local paper showing that in places medical men whose demands are reasonable suffer temporarily from our want of union. THE LANCET, since the days of its founder, has been the friend and journal of the general practitioner. I would suggest that you should :(a) Issue a circular to all medical men and students stating the principles contested-viz., (1) the establishment of a wage limit ; (2) the abolition of paid canvassers and medical aid associations as at present constituted; and (3) the increase of rates of club pay-and asking them to subscribe to the same and join an association for the establishment of the same. (b) Open a subscription list to help to carry out these objects. If every medical man in practice subscribed from one to three guineas, according to his means, you would have a fund of at least £ 20,000 to compensate those who may lose appointments and to enable those with little means to tide over their temporary embarrassment. (c) Form a central and local committee to carry out the above objects. If your journal would undertake this it would earn the gratitude of all general practitioners and especially that class whose livelihood depends on club-work. Yours faithfully, CLUB DOCTOR. May 23rd, 1896. [Cutting.] A Doctors’ Strike. The medical men of and (near -) recently gave notice to the friendly societies of the district that after next month would a not attend for 4s. they patients year as before, and also that they would not accept men earning 30s. a week as club patients. These demands are not assented to by the members, who are a numerous body, and the difficulty has been overcome by the appearance of a new resident medical practitioner, who has taken over the clubs on the old -
-
terms.
** Our correspondent states very clearly the principles which are at issue in the present crisis of the profession in regard to club practice-(1) the establishment of a wage limit ; (2) the abolition of canvassing and touting in all forms; and (3) the increase of rates of club pay. THE LANCET has sufficiently often published these points, so as to leave any member of the profession who disregards them or who takes the place of a medical officer who suffers for asserting them without excuse. It remains for the profession in each locality to apply principles so just and to organise club arrangements on the spot in which these principles shall be recognised. There remains the question
apathy.
-
THE GAINSBOROUGH DISPENSARY. It seems to be a generally recognised rule among the members of a certain class that workers of all kinds are entitled to full payment for what they do, except in the At the annual meeting of the Gainscase of medical men. borough Dispensary a "requisition"was read from the medical officers of the dispensary, and the following are the main points of the said requisition. In 1872 the remuneration of the medical officers was fixed at 66 2/3 per cent. of the whole sum received by the dispensary. From 1884 to 1894 the sums received by the medical officers have varied between 50 and 57½ per cent., thus falling far below the remuneration fixed by the rules of the institution. Other sections of the requisition dealt with the boundaries of the district, the payments of members, fines, &c. It appears that the medical men attached to the dispensary who drew up the requisition held sundry meetings to consider it. They were all unanimous in its favour, and all signed it. Then arose the question what should be the course of action in the event of the Dispensary Committee refusing to accept the requisition, and according to our information they came to the conclusion that if the committee rejected it they would withdraw it. This seems to be a weak method of procedure. It savours too much of "These are my opinions, gentlemen, but if you don’t like them I shall be happy to change them." The example of Cork shows what can be done by steady refusal to work for inadequate sums and by firm organisation. The tone of the Dispensary Committee was not of the best, witness the speech of one member, who, according to the Retford and Gainsboro’ News, characterised the requisition as an "auda" cious solicitation" and also talked about "two new doctors." a and to secure of the chairman the efforts just Despite equitable settlement the requisition was withdrawn. Now, we have no knowledge of the circumstances other than we have procured from newspapers, &c., but if the medical men of Gainsborough want their bond they will have to fight for it. It is no possible use saying, " We want this, but if you sayNo’ we won’t ask again." A little firmness, a little unanimity, and the battle will be won. LINCOLN MEDICAL PROTECTION FUND.
SIRS,—The
To the Editors of THE LANCET. following subscriptions have been received to
the above fund since you the 16th inst. :-
so
kindly published
our
appeal
of
Two of the late officers of the medical clubs are now associated with the New Lincoln Provident Medical Associa. tion, whilst the third is at present engaged in loczama tenens work. It is impossible as yet to estimate the amount that will be required for the purposes of the fund, but should the practical sympathy of the profession enable us to carry on for a few months we have every hope of an ultimate victory. Mr. C. Brook, Dr. C. Harrison, and Mr. G. Mitchinson, together with myself, have been appointed trustees for the fund. I am, Sirs, yours truly, cxr W. A. CARLINE, Hon. Treasurer. Lincoln, May 26th, 1896. -
_
_
__
__._
1’1. ----
____
TT__-
m
_..
_.__
"A DOCTORS’ STRIKE."
To the Editors of THE LANCET.
SIRs,-May I, as a general practitioner, thank you and your Special Commissioner for the able and interesting way in which you are calling the attention of the medical profession to their present state of degradation ? It appears that now is the time for us, as a body, to work out our salvation in this matter. The defeat of the profession at Lincoln and other places would clearly mean the subserviency of the pro. fession to the medical aid associations and the absence of wage limit and the continuation of the present small rate of pay. I append a cutting from our local paper showing that in places medical men whose demands are reasonable suffer temporarily from our want of union. THE LANCET, since the days of its founder, has been the friend and journal of the general practitioner. I would suggest that you should :(a) Issue a circular to all medical men and students stating the principles contested-viz., (1) the establishment of a wage limit ; (2) the abolition of paid canvassers and medical aid associations as at present constituted; and (3) the increase of rates of club pay-and asking them to subscribe to the same and join an association for the establishment of the same. (b) Open a subscription list to help to carry out these objects. If every medical man in practice subscribed from one to three guineas, according to his means, you would have a fund of at least £ 20,000 to compensate those who may lose appointments and to enable those with little means to tide over their temporary embarrassment. (c) Form a central and local committee to carry out the above objects. If your journal would undertake this it would earn the gratitude of all general practitioners and especially that class whose livelihood depends on club-work. Yours faithfully, CLUB DOCTOR. May 23rd, 1896. [Cutting.] A Doctors’ Strike. The medical men of and (near -) recently gave notice to the friendly societies of the district that after next month would a not attend for 4s. they patients year as before, and also that they would not accept men earning 30s. a week as club patients. These demands are not assented to by the members, who are a numerous body, and the difficulty has been overcome by the appearance of a new resident medical practitioner, who has taken over the clubs on the old -
-
terms.
** Our correspondent states very clearly the principles which are at issue in the present crisis of the profession in regard to club practice-(1) the establishment of a wage limit ; (2) the abolition of canvassing and touting in all forms; and (3) the increase of rates of club pay. THE LANCET has sufficiently often published these points, so as to leave any member of the profession who disregards them or who takes the place of a medical officer who suffers for asserting them without excuse. It remains for the profession in each locality to apply principles so just and to organise club arrangements on the spot in which these principles shall be recognised. There remains the question