The Washington herald., 1914-04-15
Passing Of the Family Doctor.
nv GEORGE w. GUTHRIE, N. D.,
CMilkesbarre. Pal


new and better way We travel literally, in chariots
with horses of FIRE Jules Verne's dream of Around
the World in Eighty Days" has been more than real
lied and the stories of the Arabian Nights are equaed
by the everyday events of common life.
Even our sentimental life has changed The beau-
fu story of Uncle Toby and the fly that was an in
spraton to our boyish imagination and the picture OF
the kindly old man opening the window and saying,
There's room enough in this world for both thee
and ME-" has been changed to the slogan, Swat the
hy" We have come to agree with Cowper in refer
ence to the lower animals that
If mans convenience, health or safety interferes
His rights and claims paramount and must extin-
guish theirs.
But in no realm of human activity has the advance
of modern thought caused such changes as in the
practice of our profession In the past physician,
the family DOCTOR was deemed competent to meet all
the exigencies of life requiring medical aid he was
physician, surgeon obstetrcan, oculst and pedatrst
1t is self-evident that the work of the profession
necessarily be specialized The field has become
so vast that mind can it only in general
way. But granting that it may require thirteen or
twice thirteen specialists to represent all that is known
in medical science and medical practice, it seems to
me that will be an unfortunate day for society when
the honored Office of family physician has become OBJ
solete. l know that it is now common practice for
people to act their volition in the choice of
specialist.
In this respect, in many others, people are not
able decide wisely for themselves. There are pre-
tenders whose true status can be known only by the
intelligent, conscientious family physician.
There is no doubt that never in its history was our
profession so competent and willing to give aid
and relief to the human family at the present time
Z
broader humanity which that the best the pro-
fession can give the best that charity can furnish
should be shared by everybody.
The work of the visiting and the hourly
nurse and that of the social service worker has
red the charity of the hospital and of the profession
in most intelligent the needy and deserv-
ing The wellequipped charity hospitals give the best
to the poor and dependent. The wealthy command
this either in their homes in private hospitals but
how about the mddle-clasS man, the cannot,
who will not, make himself object of charity but
who has not the to command the best the pro-
fesson give in all the special lines he may need? !?
Dr. Richard Cabot, in address before the med
ical alumni of the University OF Pennsylvania, in
ferring to the need of this class of better medical
service advocated the grouping of medical men repre-
sentng the several specalties thus securing for the
patient what he called group diagnosis which
should be furnished at figure within his ability to
pay.
This combination of medical men, representing the
various specalties is TO greater less degree pos
sible in every community. Call what you will, the
department store idea applied to medicine or any
other name, if the end accomplished helps financially
to bring the best aid of the profession to the middle
class it is justihable aye, more, it is necessity.
This grouping of medical men representing special
:. 49,
middle class can command the best services, unless
they pauperze themselves and enter charity hospitals
Patients referred these groups return for treat
ment to their family doctors personal advisers,
with scientific diagnosis they may hospitals
which should be managed that the expenses may be
within their financial possibilities.
Granted that such plan is feasible that the best
specialists associate themselves in groups for dag
nosng and treating patients does this do away with
the family physician? Not in the least
Weeum MacLure, the doctor of Drumtochty,
knew that he could not give Tammas MitchcTs wife
the treatment that was necessary He knew that she
required the services of surgeon and Sir George,
the queens surgeon called and saved the womans
life by operation DR.. MacLure equal to the ter
rible emergency that to a Burnbrae's family
when the boys hand mangled in the thresing ma
chine. He amputated the hand and saved the boy;
"the very look of him victory that day." He
knew how to treat Saunders when the fever ranged
above the danger point for he and Drumsheugh car
ried cold from the spring, dooked" the patient
and thus reduced the temperature, but when Mitch
ellis wife suffered from what was probably pelvic
abscess he summoned surgeon, who saved the pa
tient to her husband and children.
After everything possible has been said of the di-
vision of medical practice into specalties of the
cessty of the poorly paid combining to secure
operative insurance and medical treatment in their
homes at low rate the field of the family doctor is
still large one and the demand for his services
will ever remain, and a sorry day it will be when his
influence has been lost and his interest forfeited
And now in conclusion, let me repeat that the day
of the family doctor has not gone by. The individual
the family need his wise counsel his personal friend
ly interest much before. Our medical
schools wise in training in general medicine
in all its departments that they may have intelligent
perceptions of every phase of human suffering and
may be able advise and direct their patients to the
best of relief. The interest of the specialist
necessarily be general and lack the sympathetic
personal element belonging to the family physician
Just as the religious adviser is needed in spiritual
matters or the LAWYER in the affairs of business en-