The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-04-15
CALL DOCTORS IN
Time OF ACCIDENT

During the recent period of disaster
and havoc ordinary events were rele-
gated to the back pages of the news
papers. Every issue of the dailies was
full of heartrending and pathetic
stories of disaster, storms and floods
The people responded TO the call for
help with the magnanimity and
promptness which characterize the ma
tion. From the scenes of the disaster
came the call for food, clothing and
shelter. But before this there came n
call for physicians to minister to the
wounded, the sick and the dying.
From almost every afflicted locality
soon came the same statement, GA
special train carrying volunteer physi-
clans, nurses, dressings and medical
supplies is on the way to the scene of
disastero
So it is after every great calamity.
The first men on the scene are physi-
clans, performing their sacred work of
saving life and relieving the suffering
This happens so constantly as to be
an accepted occurrence. No one ex-
presses any surprise. On the contrary,
surprise would be aroused only if the
nearest available physicians ever fail
ed to respond in numbers equal to the
need. Leaving their own work, volun-
teering without hesitation for the
hardest service, they toll often for
days and nights without intermission,
without asking for or expecting COM
pensation. Instances are not hard to
find. Following the recent cyclone in
Omaha, our correspondent writes: "I
have personal knowledge of physicians
whose homes were DESTROYED. vet the
moment they knew their families were
not injured they left them and worked
all night, ministering to the MANNED
and DYING There never has been a
public calamity in which the services
of physicians were not instantly of
fered without money and without
price.
At such times what becomes of the
innumerable seets and cults which
under ordinary conditions, are con-
stantly irving to usurp the place of
the scientific medical profession and
undermine the confidence of the pub
lic9 Apparently they sink into OBJ
security and silence. When the emer-
geney arises, what have they to offera
Suppose the dispatch from Ohio had
read: GA special train containing
one hundred osteopaths is on the way
to Dayton. All of the sufferers will
be given spinal. adjustments as soon
as the train arrives Or "It is re-
ported that two hundred people are
dead and thousands rendered homeless
and in danger of their lives through
exposure due to the floods in Column
bus. A special train containing one
hundred ehiropraeties is being sent to
the scene at once. Those suffering
from injury and exposure will be Civ
en- immediate treatment for nerve inn
pingement. Or let us even suppose
that those who disdain all material
methods should emerge from their
state of absorption long enough
to do something practical: "Senator
Works telegraphs that he has arranged
for special train, containing one
hundred Christian Science healers, to
be sent to Omaha. This train has been
given the right of way over all rail
roads. All persons injured in the
cyclone and the blizzard will be given
mental treatment as soon as the train
arrives No such items have appear
ed in any of the newspapers. They
would be greeted with laughter from
all over the country. The popularity
common to all of the unscientifc and
irrational cults and fads is that, in
times of real peril and need, they have
nothing to offer. When lives are in
danger and when death rides ON the
wind and waters, the people want the
men of scientific training and expert
ence, of cool Judgment and steady
nerves, who can carry to them all the
aid the human intellect in its centuries
of struggle has been able to discover.
Fads and isms may be followed by
some of our people in times of peace
and safety, but they fail when real
danger threatens.-Journal American
Medical Association.
--0--