ANNUAL REPORT OF THE manent records of the dispensary. Any such applicant who declines to sign the required 'representation' or statement shall be refused admission.” It will be observed that the above regulation calls for both an investigation of doubtful applicants and also requires that the results of such investigation shall be kept on file. In a majority of instances the investigation has consisted of simply questioning the applicant. Something more than this, however, is clearly contemplated by the rule. In certain parts of the State private organizations, such as the Charity Organization Societies in New York city and Buffalo and the Bureau of Charities in Brooklyn, have indicated a willingness to co-operate with the dispensaries by investigating doubtful cases referred to them. These offers have not, however, been taken advantage of by the managers of dispensaries as extensively as might have been the case. A more general and frequent use of the representation cards with which the dispensaries have provided themselves is urged, together with a subsequent investigation relative to the ability to pay of all doubtful applicants who are admitted to a first treatment under the rule. Rule VIII. requires that 66 The managers of dispensaries shall comply with the ordinances and orders of the local board of health, and shall annually make a minute showing compliance therewith upon their official records on or before September 30th in each and every year." This rule has evidently not been clearly understood by certain of the institutions concerned. Its intention and purpose is that the managers of dispensaries shall at least once a year indicate upon their official records that there are no ordinances and orders of the local board of health uncomplied with. The following is a form of minute approved by the Board: MINUTE OF COMPLIANCE. The following minute is made in compliance with rule VIII. of the rules and regulations governing licensed dispensaries in the State of New York, made pursuant to chapter 368, Laws of 1899, which rules were amended October 10, 1900: This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the Dispensary has complied with all of the ordinances and orders of the local board of health, and that since September 30, 190, no orders of the local board of health have been issued against this institution which still remain unsatisfied, or which are not now complied with fully. (Signed) (Title of official) The "separation of the sexes in both waiting and treatment rooms, except in cases of family groups, or of infants," as required by rule IX., is not always as faithfully observed as it should be. On the whole, however, the rules of the Board have received respectful consideration and there has been manifest an increasing co-operation between the Board and managers of dispensaries, including the physicians directly in charge, with a view to remedying the abuses which the Dispensary Law is designed to check. The annual reports printed by many of the dispensaries take occasion to refer to the law and its results, and serve to emphasize the wisdom and timeliness of the enactment of such a statute. Respectfully submitted, STEPHEN SMITH, M. D., Chairman. |