New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02
Doctors and the
Draft
THAT non-military nations like Amer
lea and England conduct the

carrier enterprises OF q war WIN
much laundering, and that the War De-
partment ruling to draft medical students
INTO the army exceeds most previous blum
ders, is inferred from the practically
unanimous opinion Of the editors who
have commented on this special subject,
and from reports issued by the doctors
themselves. Also this opinion seems
borne out by the unfortunate results Of
similar action in both England and
France, as reported by the press.
Summing up the actual British situs-
ton, an eminent surgeon, DR.. w. W. Keen,
declared:
such geniuses as Bragg and Moseley--
two of the most extraordinary men in phys
les and chemistry in Great Britsin-men do
ing work like that Of Sir Humphrey Dsvy or
Sir william Ramsey, and in their labors-
tories worth whole brigade, were soon
killed. The government was soon obliged 70
recall all such men to their expert work. We
have had to send our numerous hospital
units, not to work for and with our own
troops, but to make good the shortage in the
British and French armies. Their civil popu-
The situation so far as it relates to
medical students in America is even more
alarming, Or. Keen finds, as naturally
much larger proportion of students falls
within the draft age-over IS per cent, in
fact. Fourteen years ago." says the
press report, when our population was
much less than it is now, there were 27,-
6l5 medical students in the country; in
1915 the number had fallen TO 1895, and
last year to 1921. Yet the exemption
boards have no statutory power to exempt
medical students, whose numbers will nat
rrally diminish at an even greater rate
while the war lasts"
Doctors Cannot Be Manufactured
Overnight
And referring to the prospective short
age In doctors in the future, if the War
Department does not change it's decision,
DR.. Keen goes on to say:
Even one year hence we shall b. in great 4
need. Doctors cannot be manufactured over
hospital. General Crowder's idea that taxi
ing a student from his well-ordered, compre
hensive course OF study and putting him in
the army will suffice Is absurd on its very
face. Are we to give over our finest and best
young men to the care Of such 'half-baked
doctors? God Forbid"
Commenting editorially 1.-THE Macon
Daily Telegraph" says:
"A little foresight might have provided
against the grave shortage OF medical prac-
titioners and skilled men in other fields In
Great Britain to-day, and with this obvious
example before US it will be sesndalous II we
fall into the same error"
A statement made by Provost Marshal
General Crowder to the effect that only
about one-fourteenth Of the country's
medical students can be taken in the first
draft, arouses "The Journal Of the Amer
lean Medical Association" to this vigorous
reply:
General Crowder says that so per cent Of
those called will be exempted. II this is true
then it will require 100000 Of those regis
tered to supply the 100000; that is. It will
take IS per cent, or nearly one-hfth OF the
total number registered, to supply the first
call, using General Crowder's figures.
LET US apply these facts to the medical
student problem. Our estimate was that s5.6
per cent Of medical students (s,s7s) were
within the draft age. Eighteen per cent OF
the total number of medical students regis
tered is 1893; this number would be subject
TO the first call.
General Crowder, however, would have US
deduct so per cent Of this number for exemp-
ton. But the 90 per cent exemption is based
on the total registrations; it applies TO and
includes all classes Of the male population
between twenty one and thirty-one years old;
the lame, the halt the blind, prisoners, I'M
sane, those who are engaged in occupations
necessary to the conduct Of the war-every
male person In the United States between
twenty-one and thirty-one years old.
at is extremely rare that q medical stu
dent is q married man; extremely few are
supporting dependents. Obviously those who
are have independent incomes, or they would
rot be In tho medical schools.
"As to physical defects, there Is probably
no group Of men who, as a class, are physical
ly better qualified than medical students. As
to aliens, our investigation shows that the
number Of aliens Is a minor quantity, one
half Of per cent.
"We unhesitatingly assert that instead OF
there being so per cent Of exemptions among
medical students, there will be less than 10
per cent"
Some Hospitals Are Already