The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-12
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INEORMATTON BUREAU
By. FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director
WashinRton, ID. G.
THE WAR AND CIVIL HOSPITALS.

undernOur1Shed as a result OF tAS wal
Thousands of physicians and nurses
have left to join the army and the
Red Cross, and more are leaving every
day. The Red Cross is enrolling
nurses on the average of one thou
sand a month. Hospital supplies are
becoming scarce owing to the fact
that enormous quantities are being
shipped out of the country. More
over hospital funds-never too album
dant-are threatened with reduction
this year in order that more money
may be released for the sick and
wounded of Europe.
In short, the hospitals are hard hit
by the war. but they are not COM
planning. On the contrary the hos
pital boards of the country are trying
to figure out how they can possibly
release more men, more nurses ana
haps this is because the hospitals
know what war is. They are used to
fighting germs, which is not so much
easier than fighting Germans.
At any rate, trained nurses in many
hospitals are accepting extra duties
without a murmur. When you con-
slider that the trained nurse in times
of peace is always an overworked IN
dividua1, her war activities appear all
the more remarkable. Junior nurses
have suddenly had to take over the
duties of senior nurses while the lat
ter rushed off to pack their trunks
for France. Others have had to be-
come anesthetists, in the place of
corps. Still others have worked
straight shifts of twenty-four hours.
Civil Hospitals Not For Military.
The government has announced
that it does not intend to use the civil
hospitals for military hospitals, I'M
less some unexpected emergency
makes such a step necessary. Under
the present plan the majority of our
war hospitals will be in France, since
the return of wounded to this coun-
try entails too many hazards. If a
man is only slightly wounded he will
be taken care of in an American base
hospital in France and as soon as he
is recovered, will be sent back to the
front If his wound is so serious as
to prevent him from being of any
further military use he will be kept
in France until he is able to stand the
trip home. Only cases requiring
long period of convalescence or re-
education are, therefore, apt to be
sent back to this country.
Nevertheless, the hospitals are pre-
pairing for the Unexpected. Some of
the larger institutions of two hundred
or more beds have offered their serv-
| ices to the medical department of the
army, and are prepared to receive
wounded soldiers at any time. In this
event, the entire hospital, if necessary,
| or that section of it devoted to wound
ed, would automatically pass under
military control.
In the meantime, however, serious
problems must be faced. Many hos
pitfalls supported by private snbserip
| ton are having a hard time getting
| along for the reason that the sub
! scribers are showing a tendency to
withdraw their usual Contributions and
| put them into the more spectacular
| activities of the war. The high cost
! of food reacts upon hospitals the same
as upon other consumers. Moreover,
/ linen, cotton, steel instruments, acids.
| drugs-all the articles that go to make
! up the equipment of the hospital
| not only expensive but hard to get.
| European orders are given precedence
! by the manufactu and home
orders are slow in delivery owing to
| traffic congestion.
Care in Selecting Surgeons.
The medical department of the
army, it is true. has been as consid-
crate as possible. In accepting physi-
clans in the medical corps the sur
geon general and his assistants have
made every effort to work as little
hardship as possible on the hospitals
| of the country. They have exempted
! certain hospital staffs as well as
! teachers in medical schools.
The Importance of keeping up the
nations medical schools in spite of
/
eminent. Many physicians will be
killed, it is cheerfully predicted. and
| others must be trained to take their
places. The progress of science. all
authorities agree, must be interfered
with as little as possible by the war.
And the quicker students are gradu-
ated from the medical schools, the
quicker other physicians may be re-
leased.
1t is equally important that nurses
] schools O nd ut n
maximum capacity. There is really an
alarming shortage of nurses. The
majority of those who are joining the
Red Cross are those who have been
| doing private nursing, but hospital
nurses in great numbers have been
taken, too: especially, head nurses
and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES m n with
years of experience and training. To
| add to the difficulties, a much smaller
percentage of young women appear to
be taking up the study of nursing
this year. The probation classes in
the hospitals are greatly reduced, due
it has been pointed out by some, to
| the large number of opportunities now
! opening up for women in munition
| factories. Offices, banks, railroad yards
and other places that were formerly
occupied by men.
Special Course for Nurses.
In Buffalo not long ago the short
age of hospital nurses became so acute
that the medical authorities really be-
came alarmed. They realized that
something would have to be done at
once. After carefully going over the
problem they decided that the most
| practicable plan was to offer a six
months course to young women who
desired to become nurses assistants.
The applicants were to live at home or
to provide their own living accommo-
dations, their employment at the hos
pital being from eight in the morning
five oil in ha
This plan has proved very successful
There have been many applicants, and
the regular nurses have thus been re-
lieved of thousands of details that in
terfered with their work.
In other cities hospitals have at