The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-28
AMERICA FACES DEAR1H
OF PHYSICIANS SOON
DR.. Aubrey Straas, al Meeting Of B'naA
Birth. Says Medical Students Are
Decreasing in Numbers.
LODGE PRESIDENT VISITOR
Edwin l.. Levy, President Of Grand |
Lodge, Makes Eloquent Address, |
Pointing Ont Aims of Order, Ayow.
ing Patriotism.

That there is a. dearth of physi-
clans in this country was pointed out
last night by DR.. Aubrey II. Straus.
professor of bacteriology at the Medi.
cal College OF Virginia. in an address
at An open meeting of B'nai B'rith,
held In the auditorium of Beth Aha
bah Sabbath school. DIR. Straus stated
that in 1894 there were 1S6 medical
colleges in the United States, but that
at this time there are only ninety-five
The war. he declares. will take twenty
per cent OF the doctors to Europe, de-
pleting the supply of physicians here
to a large extent
The open meeting of the order Of
B'nai Birth was the occasion of the
visit of Edwin l.. Levy. president of
the grand lodge of District No. 8.
Charles Hutzler, president OF the To-
cal lodge, presided and pointed out
the fact that this organization, Rich
mond lodge. has furnished more grand
lodge presidents than any ether body
in the district. Mr. Levy Is himself
a member of RimuoG lodge. Mr..
Hutzler, after calling the meeting to
order. took up the regular program,
and made short address on the his
tory of B'nai Birth. He said that
the order was organized in New York
in ls43. and that twenty-three years
later the first Richmond lodge was
founded. After his speGh, Miss Bet
tie Geilman rendered a vocal sclo. &C.
companied by Miss Esther Ehrs;ein
DIR. Straus. in his very interesting
talk. remarked az length on the straits
America is to find herself In for medi.
cal attention unless extraordinary
means are adopted to prevent 1t. He
said that IN the whole OF the Cn,ted
States there are only y 36s medical
scholarships and that there are only
ten at the Medical College of Virginia
Thus 1t is extremely difficult for
poor ann. to receive medical train
ing sufficient to pass the rigid exam
nations required. In the last ten or
twelve years the number OF medical
students throughout the country has
decreased remarka bly, but DIR. Straus
said that doctors were becoming few
er and better.
Mr.. Levy. the grand president.
spoke of the work of B'nai Birth, and
stated that its aim and purpose was
to bring together all wings of the
Jewish people. The order does all
1.-THE good it's resources will allow, the
speaker declared, and its beneficial
work is measured only by the limits
OF the means Of the organization.
The reward for this, he said. is the
consciousness of duty we'll performed
Two features of the order are out
standing, ne pointed out, one being
the social service, or Big. Brother
movement. which consists IN he'ning
the younger or weaker fellow over lifes
stony places. and the other the anti
defamation league. seeking to remove
objectionable matter from magazines.
theaters and similar in
stitutions. Either OF these organiza
tions alone. the president declared,
would justify the existence of the
lodge
Patriotism. the most vital thing In
American life today. is taught in the
ritual of B'nai B'rlth the speaker
stated. and 1t lis the right of each
member Of the order to demand that
all Jews become members likewise.
The speech OF the district president
was a striking one, and made In an
impressive manner. Other features Of
the program were refreshments served
at the conclusion Of the speech OF Mr..
Levy. and a violin solo by Miss Pau
line Ehrsteln. accompanied by Miss
Esther Ehrsteln. was much enjoyed.
1Ft'fsfaypsif the efforts OF satzner Eowr
man. in charge OF the program. a
very successful meeting was held.