The Free Rural Population. 289 
comforts to procure the same themselves. Medical 
comforts, by which I mean proper and nourishing food, 
should always be provided by the relieving officer 
upon the order of the medical officer ; and the 
enquiry, regarding the ability of the parties to pay for 
such should be left to subsequent proceedings, resorting 
if necessary to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate. 
II. It may naturally be presumed that much abuse of such 
a charitable undertaking would ensue ; but if such were 
properly guarded against by the appointment of, say, 
the clergy, magistrates and estate managers of a district, 
as the only persons who would be authorised to issue 
tickets for medical advice or visits, I consider that in 
this way, and with the services of the relieving officer as 
a check, and also the occasional meetings of the above 
classed gentry as a kind of Medical Relief Board to 
report progress and examine returns etc., any abuse 
would thereby be minimised and use augmented. 
That such a change might carry with it no injustice to 
medical officers, whose duties would thus be vastly in- 
creased whilst their earnings would be proportionately 
decreased, I would suggest that, in lieu of such private 
practice as this would destroy, they receive a fixed sum 
in exchange. To take this district as an instance, about 
£200 per annum would be a low remuneration consider- 
ing the extensive villages, increased responsibility, and 
the excessive medical attendance and duties that would 
unquestionably arise. I am quite aware that the financial 
aspect of such a suggestion is a serious difficulty, but 
this possibly might be overcome by some form of indi- 
vidual tax. I am confident at the same time that such a 
proposal would be strongly opposed by the Executive in 
