The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-08
THE DUTY OF THE DOCTOR

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Our attention has been called to the fact that the medical profession in the south, more particularly in the state of Alabama, have not measured up in re- sponse to the call of their national duty. The south in the history of our country has led in every line of thought and ac- ton. It was hers to proclaim independ- ence, and 1t was hers to lead in the struggle for it's achievement. A southern soldier planned and fought the decisive battle that silenced England In 1912 and southern hands received the sword of
 Santa Ana. To the students of the sea, how dear, and by the world how hon ored, is the name of Maury. In the war between the states we find greatness of leaders of both sides. To the victor it added to his everlasting fame, when he announced to the authorities at Wash ington that he would protect his fallen foe with the same army, if need be, that caused his defeat. To the conquered, his honor, courage and lofty ideals was still more exalted, when an insurance company offered him the position of it's president, and he replied that he knew nothing of the business, and when it was further suggested that it was his name only that they needed, he with dis dain said his name was not for sale.
 Then we have had Admiral Semmes, than whom no greater or nobler man ever commanded on the high seas. Not withstanding his terrific destruction of commerce. it was his proud boast that he had never sacrificed the life of an enemy when it was possible for him to avoid it. In this connection, l must not fail to mention the big-hearted, fighting Bob Evans. who said to his crew when the enemys ships were burning and sinking, Don't cheer boys, the poor devils are dying! What has become of the blood that coursed through the veins of our ilustrious ancestors? Has 1t been mollicoddled into whimpering Little Wilies, by the fond but misguided mothers. who did not raise their sons to be soldiers" and by those blots on our American manhood. the itinerant platform artist of the William Jennings Bryan, David Starr Jordan. and Rabbi Wise type?
 The medical profession at large has also had its heroes: Vesalius was the first who dssected the human body and wrote a textbook on his findings. He per- formed this arduous task when the church in its mighty power proclaimed that it was a sacrilege to touch human corpse Impelled by an abiding faith that all knowledge was mans domain, he procured his subjects from charnel houses and with doors and windows barred, with his scalpel in hand and his eyes fixed upon the Cross, he gave to the world .one of It's greatest benefactions. He was exiled and. died in a shipwreck at the age of 26 years
 Then we had Pinel who. inspired by the same spirit and under like difficult ties proved to the world that insanity was a disease, and thereby swept the last vestige of witchcraft--that dreadful calamity--from the face of the civilized world
 To the medical profession here at home. I would like to urge that as men. as physicians, as true Americans, and as humanitarians, your call to duty Is in-A perative. What your country, what de- mocracy, what liberty needs Is not the man who has failed In his vocation. or who Is otherwise unfit, but men of brains, men of brawh, men of ability and courage.
 Can we in an consciousness, as public spirited physicians, subject our young manhood to the dangers and trials of war and not of our own volition throw around them every safeguard and care possible to science? All heaven answers No! Furthermore, those who fail in the discharge of this duty may be assured that the finger of contumely and scorn will forever be pointed toward them by all manly men and womanly women. That we may fully realize the danger to the world. let us for a moment con- pare the soul of compassion incarnatedI in the heroes we have mentioned above.E by the conduct of the nation who cele- brated in their public schools the dam nable deed that sent unarmed men, de- fenseless women and helpless children to the bottom of the sea. Imagine II