The sun., 1894-09-30
DOCTORS IN Town AND COUNTRY.
Russia's Woman Physieians. aad the InAs
portant Work OF Trained Nurses Here.

Hussia's Woman Physieians. aad the In
portant Work OF Trained Nurses Here.
There are more doctors in the United States
physicians and surgeons-in proportion TO the
whole population than in any other country.
The official percentage here is l25 10 every lo0-
900 inhabitants. against 0l In Scotland ths
Scotch take high rank surgeons), 20 In Ger
many, 90 in Ireland, "a in England. 81 in Bel
gum. 80 in Italy, 81 in Spain, 90 In France, 81
in Hungary, Is in Russia, and IA in Sweden.
1t may be generally set down proposition
which is almost universal In its application thAs
doctors most numerous, In proportion 70 the
population, where the ratio OF inhabitants 10
most dense. and scantiest In thiniy populated
agricultural countries.
Sending round for the doctor" Is easy
enough in big city. but In a country district 10
may involve considerable hardship IL the
weather is unfavorable. for the doctor musS
drive 10 see his patients lhe cannot walk, and
such a visit may consume half day.
Country folks being, 20 great extent. de-
prived OF medical attendance within easy Gail.
come to do their own doctOrinR Few farmers
wives are without some knowledge OF the eficacy
and power OF herbs and drugs for certain sim.
pie complaints, and in many cases, as the vital
Statistics show. grandmother's remedies arc
Of enlightened but patients-lacking prsetition-
ers Every farmer, Il may be almost said, Il his
certain remedies. which save frequent trips 20
the drug store In town.
In a large city the number OF drug stores isto
great and they are readily accessible that per-
sons suffering from any i'll WHICH medicine CA.
Is supposed tO. alleviate send 10 the druggists
for what they want and only when they want it.
II Is somewhat peculiar fact 20 which no.
where mas attention been called. that In Russia,
where the proportion Of physicians 20 the whole
population is 50 low, the number OF female phy-
scians is comparatively great. There are AbOnt
700 women doctors in Russia, and many bt
these occupy important positions in hospitals
and Work houses In educational esta blishments,
in factories and works OF various kinds and An
Government institutions. while others hold Ap-
pOintments from municipal bodies The remu-
neration for these different posts averages
from about 81 900 year downward.
The number Of female doctors in New York.
has not heen increasing 50 rapidly OF late a.
seemed probable ten years ago, but on the other
hand. in every branch Of hospital service women
are not only numerous but efficient, and the
standard OF knowledge and skill among trained
nurses has been heightened each year. This has
diffused accurate medical knowledge much
more generally than would probably he enected
by The addition of a considerable number OF fe-
male doctors 70 the professional list.
10 the skilled efforts Of these nurses is due 90
a considerable extent the low death rate which
New York now has. This Is especially true OF
the hospital cases. which constitute 50 large =
number Of the deaths in this city every year.
In the year S92 the number Of deaths In this
city was 4i.329. Nine thousand eight hundred
and forty seven OF these took place Ia public In
stitutiOns-mOr than 20 per cent. OF the whole
number. In 1898 this proportion Was lowered
though the accommodations Of the hOspllA1 80
being steadily increased