Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-03
VIRGINIA HAS ALREADY
SUPPLIED 1870 PHYSICIANS
and 300. Says State
49, Council.
MAR CENSUS is BEING TAKEN
Will Show What Doctors Can Re-
s. spond to Call and What Commune
ties Can Spare Men Without I'M
pairing Public Health Conditions.

Virginia has already supplied it's
quota of physicians to the army and
navy. according to figures compiled by
the medical section OF the State Coun-
ell Of Defense. The medical section
has about completed its census of all
physicians in Virginia and Will soon
be in a position TO announce which
individuals. In its opinion. should go
into service.
THE object Of the census was two
fold-to determine which doctors
should volunteer for military service
from the viewpoint OF health condi-
tions and proportion of physicians to
the population in the community in
which they live and work and the fam
: lily obligation OF the individual. Vir-
Ginia will he asked to furnish from
two to three hundred physicians.
This State has already contributed
approximately $50 physicians to rari-
BUS branches of the service. This con-
tribution will. of course. he credited TO
the number asked FOR from Virginia.
With others who have volunteered for
the medical service since the last fig
ures were compiled few days ago /;
is believed that Virginia has already
contributed zoo or more
In the opinion of men who know.
the army and navy medical branches
pared to care for the men as now The
present war crisis has brought to the
aid of the medical branches of the
service the advice and active cooper
alton of the highest scientific opinion
and best medical Judgment in the
whole country.
In addition to caring for the Sam
mics. American doctors must be lent
to France and England. so there will
n
enough for the needs of the United
States forces.
HIGH EFFICIENCY OF
ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
DR.. Franklin II. Martin, chairman OF
the committee on medicine and surgery
of the advisory commission OF the Ma
tional Council in Washington, in n let
ter to the Virginia council. calls atten-
ton TO a few points about the effic-
iency of the army and navy medical
corps that are Of wide interest just
now. DIR. Martin says:
1t would be well to emphasize that
the work OF safeguarding the health of
the army and navy could not be in bet
ter hands than ii is right now The
medical corps of the United States
army and navy have led the way in
many directions in the development of
military sanitation and disease pre-
vention. and the confidence the coun-
try feels in their leadership is thor
ouEhly justified
The general medical board OF the
Council of National Defense. COM
posed of the country's biggest medical
men, including surgeons-general of
the army and navy. has served as a
clearing house OF professional opinion
and has brought to the solution OF the
question at hand i'll concentrated form
the best medical thought of the nation.
On the board are such men as DR..
Simon FleNner. of the Rockefeller In
stitute; Drs. William j. and Charles II.
Mayo; DR.. Victor &. Vaughan. of the
University of Michigan; DR.. John NJ. r.
Finney and DR.. William H. WEIGH of
Johns Hopkins: DIR. Frederick a. Bcs-
ley. of Northwestern; Dr. George w
GIRLS, OF Western Reserve, and DR.
Charles L. Kahlkc, OF Hahncmann Col
1cge, Chicago to mention only n few
Through frequent conferences with
these men the ons-gcncral, them
selves occupied constantly with admin
istrative tasks. have been able TO gain
new points of view and gain de-
tached perspective in looking at their
problems from time TO time. The OPP
portunty TO exchange opinions has
been invaluable. AS the time for the
mobilization vi the army approaches
many of these civilian physicians are
themselves entering active administra-
tion in the army and navy medical
corps. but with the additional adyan-
tage Of having helped to plan far
ahead for the campaign in which they
are called to assist.
THE question II planning for health
now seems somewhat academic: when
the army is modified il will be vital"