Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-10
Physicians Wanted-War
Causes Scarcity of
Doctors and
Surgeons
By BISHOP W. A. cANDLER.

the war In Europe threaten Christen-
dom with a scarcity of physicians and
surgeons.
Concerning this matter the Philadel-
phia Record, in recent issue of that
excellent paper, said:
THE urgency of the demand for the
medical service is testified to by the
fact that rural England has been
stripped of physicians and surgeons un-
der the age of fifty-four years. The
cause is the terrible mortality in the
medical service which has become
greater than that of any service at the
front Hospitals 10 to Is miles behind
the line of battle are frequently wiped
out by shell fire; and in recent retreat
of the allies, 267 doctors were killed in
an hour"
Undeterred by this record of NOR
tally in the medical service on Eu-
ropean war-fronts, many American
physicians are not hesitating to go forth
with our troops to France; and for such
an exhibition of patriotism they de-
serve unqualified praise.
If the new army is adequately served
not less than $4,000 additional physi-
clans and surgeons must enter the
medical service. The navy also de-
mands an increase Of men in it's med
zeal department. Thus the supply of
physicians and surgeons, for the heal
ing of the peole at home, will be great
ly depleted.
Meanwhile the standards imposed
for admittance of students to medl-
cal colleges, and the conditions of grad
uation, have been so raised, in recent
years. that the number of graduates
has been considerably reduced. The
medical colleges of Georgia never
maintained higher standards than they
do now: but it is, believed that they did
not graduate enough men this year. to
supply the various hospitals in the state
with internes. .'.'
Such being the case, Georgia, in COM
mon with other states, is confronted
with the danger of "a scarcity of physi-
clans, especially in the smaller towns
and the rural districts. And this
scarcity will be more keenly felt sew
eral years hence than now, unless steps
are taken to remedy the situation.
Young men, under the age of twenty
one years, and. therefore, not subject
to draft, must betake themselves to the
study of medicine In order to take the
places of men who have gone to the
front who may never return, and to
supply the deficiency which arises nat
urally all the time, by reason of death
and disabling Affections and infirmities
For a young man to prepare himself
for such medical service is just as
patriotic as for him to enlist for active
service in the army at the front. Peace
has its duties no less heroic than those
of war, and in civil life unselfsh service
is not less praiseworthy than that of
military life. Patriotism demands of
competent young men, who are pre-
pared for the study of medicine, that
they set about it at once. No tempta-
ton to accept some lucrative position,
made vacant by the going of an older
man to war. should allpre from the dis
charge of this patriotic obligation, any
young man whom Providence leads to
enter the medical profession. Nor
should any parent or guardian of any
such young man allow him. to yield to
such temptation Otherwise thou
sands in our land must suffer for lack
of medical attention. Already condi-
tions are becoming acute in some
places. .E... .r...
Before me lies a letter from a lead
ing citizens of thriving town in Ala
bama, who writes: This community,
for several years, has, had the service
of three physicians. Now one, on ac-
count of age and indrmities, has re-
tired from the practice of medicine and
will not respond to any call. Another
has enlisted in the medical department
of the army. Only one remains here.
There is an opening in this community
for some one"
In view of my official relation to the
medical school of Emory university, he
appeals to me to know if l can direct
some capable physician to go there.
Unfortunately as yet l have not been
able to find the man. Our graduates
in medicine often have places waiting
for them before they get their diplo-
mas. This year, on account of the
conditions which have arisen from the
war, the demand exceeds very far the
supply ..-
Thus it appears that both duty and
interest coincide in the appeal to many
fession. But under the standards now
imposed by law upon medical colleges,
q young man must have considerable
education of a general and prepare tory
nature before he can be admitted into
school of medicine 1t is necessary,
therefore, that young men, who have
not such preparatory education, begin
without delay their preparation for the
formal study of medicine. Most of the
"A grade" colleges Of the country offer
special courses, called "pre-medical
courses" for the benefit of young men
who desire to prepare for entrance into
medical colleges. Hundreds of young
men in the south should enter upon
these "pre-medical courses" next fall.
Otherwise their graduation in medicine
will be delayed to their own disad-
vantage and to the hurt of the country.
This is a supremely important mat
ter, concerning which. widespread pop
ular interest should be aroused. 1t
has not yet received the attention which
ii deserves.
FOITNDED IN 1890
The Woodmen of the World is a fra
ternal beneficiary order founded in Oma-
ha Neb In 1890, by J, c. Root. Its
name is symbolic of the early American
pioneers who carved nation out of
the wilderness. The founder served as
sovereign commander until December,
1918, when he was succeeded by the
present sovereign commander, w. a.
Fraser, who is a Texan.
The unit of organization is the camp.
The camps in a state form state iuris-
diction known as the head camp, and
the state officers are known as head
camp officers. The camps send dele
gates to the head camp and the head
camps send delegates to the sovereign
camp, which is the supreme law-making
body of the order, and meets every two