upon his own physical exertions, is below a certain standard to be designated by them by some appropriate term, whether this be 'low vitality,' 'poor physique,' or some other similar expression, or that he is 'senile,' such immigrant should be excluded, subject to certain reasonable exceptions." Commissioner Williams also has a kindly feeling toward the illiteracy test, his idea being that while illiteracy does not of itself render an immigrant undesirable, yet much of the immigration which is undesirable on other grounds consists of persons who are illiterate, and that the immediate practical effect of an illiteracy test would be to exclude a large number whom we are obliged to admit under existing laws, but who are very undesirable additions to our population.
Exportation of Ellis Islands.In response to a personal inquiry, Williams states that he does not consider it practicable to apply exclusion tests at the place of original departure. The obvious hardship to the individual involved in exclusion after arrival at Ellis Island or other United States port entry suggests at once to those who become interested in the subject for the first time, that through the co-operation of the United States Consuls, or otherwise, investigation should be made before immigrants have started from their homes. Mr. Williams contends, however, that no plan can be devised to accomplish this laudable purpose. It would be necessary, he thinks, to have Ellis Island stations scattered throughout Europe with their facilities for investigation and careful scrutiny. Of course, no foreign government would countenance such inquiries, and our own government could not meet their expense. Superficial inquiry relating to many of the physical conditions of immigrants is possible, but a thorough inquiry as to their liability to become public charges would be impracticable. This is his position.
Clinics in Cook County Hospital.E. J. Brundage, the newly installed president of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, Ill., has expressed strong opinions regarding the wrangle over placing the consulting and advisory physicians of the County Hospital under civil service rules. Originally the dispute was started between doctors of opposing medical schools on the ground that favoritism towards a certain school was being shown. Mr. Brundage takes occasion to criticize sharply the attitude of most of the attending staffs of the hospital in so far as they consider their work there primarily of a clinical nature. He accuses doctors of neglecting cases not possessing unusual interest, leaving their care to internes even when the complications are serious. On the other hand he declares that in interesting cases group after group of students have been brought to a bedside, sometimes as many as twenty groups, one after the other. Mr. Brundage has announced that "there will be no bedside clinics while I am in office."
In a recent address he said:
Some of the very men who as physicians are urging a permanent staff at the hospital have been in the institution only four times in the last year. I have said to these men that if they go on the staff permanently they will perform the duties they are supposed to perform there or get out. They have neglected patients and the internes have prescribed for them to keep them from dying. As I said before, it is the fight of the colleges. I am in favor of science and its encouragement, but while I am president there will be no offering of these unfortunates on the altar of science.
"Right or Wrong Our County."An instance of the difficulty experienced by a state board of charities in influencing counties to maintain proper standards in the accommodation and care of the county poor is given at some length in the Times of Glens Falls, Warren County, New York. The County Board of Supervisors received from the State Board of Charities a report on the Warren County almshouse by one of the state inspectors. This report is thus summarized in the newspaper:
