Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-22
Women Doctors and War
Journal Of American medical Assn. :

~, HE present war. draining the belgcrent coun-
i tries OF their male population has naturally
thrown unwonted responsibilities women. In
various callings positions from which women had pre-
vously been vigorously excluded 20 which they had
been admitted only under protest are now being
thrown open and women eagerly invited to enter
In the medical profession especially the demands OF
the military produced deficiency in the
supply civilian practitioners which be remedied
only by utilizing the servies OF women physicians
The London correspondent OF The Journal OF the
American Medical Association repotts that the medical
journals in Great Britain fun Of advertisements
offering posts to women. and that the situation mas
become 80 acute that large hospital sent applica-
ton the secretary Of the London School OF Medi-
cine for Women send any women at any salary.
daily also states on the authority OF the
London School Medicine FOR Women. that an IN
firnary post in the whlteohape district. previously
held only by at a salary Of 500 year and
enolurnents s now advertised to open to woman at
5000 and emoluments.
This extreme demand for women, Of course, cannot
continue indefinitely after the close Of the war st
for many years after the cessation OF hostites It
will probably be literally impossible to I'LL all meoic
posts with men exclusively heretofore Not only
will the medical staffs Of the armies In the field re-
the front with ranks thnned by the hazards
and hsrdshps OF but also the younger generation
OF physicians will be greatly depleted for time
bv the fact that the men who should now be ac-
aurng medical education serving under the flag
This prospect Of continuance OF the demand for
physicians at least some years, mas Caubeo
a marked increase in the numbers OF women medical
students The registration in the London School Of
Medicine for Women has doubled Other British medi-
cal schools and hospitals said TO be considering
the admission OF women, and (Charing Cross hos
ptaD Il Ia reported has already opened its doors to
women students
In Germany according to press reports. In spite Of
the absence OF the customary numbers Of American,
Russian, English and Swiss students. the en-
rollment OF women medical students has risen from
S4 to 1.lGO. and the entry of German women in the
medical has been greatly facilitated by recent
recognizing the diplomas Of girls schools as
adequate entrance credentials throughout the empire.
While at the close Of the will tend to
dispece women physicians again TO greater or less
extent It may be taken for granted that the old order
will be reestabshed in its entirety II there
fields of medical work for which entirely
untitled. the fact will have been demonstrated
they will be replaced speedily possible; but "
there posts which competent woman may fill
well a competent at is said. by the way, that
In the organization and administration Of Red
Cross units have done excellent service). II
viii be impossible for conservatism any longer deny
all opportunity to II there Is any department
of medicine 70 which especially adapted,
that fact also will probably have been demonstrated
larger scale than has hitherto been possible After
the war in short there will be a readjustment accom-
panied by more less friction; but European women
physicians undoubtedly look forward In the
fair field from which old prejudices have been
considerable degree eliminated by the pressure of
necessity. II will be interesting what they
make OF their enlarged opportunities