The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-25
Work Of Physician m
 France Full Of Interest

Dr. Ross c. Speir of Furman. who is with the forces in France and who is well known in Birmingham, has writ ten Mrs. Speir some interesting facts about the hospital and quartermaster's work in the army. He pays a tribute to Col. Bertram c. Clayton of Alabama, his letter being written before the death of this we'll known Alabamian, which was recently chronicled. His letter is as follows:
 France, April 2s, 1918.
 My Dearest Family: Again we are
 in hospital work. this time in the field. After we had pitched two tents we admitted eight patients. and now on the second day, our number has gone to 20 I am in charge of the gassed and general diseased patients and have one influenza very sick, and It gassed. The latter, however, have mild symptoms, and we do not keep them long.
 "One of the prime and most inn portant duties of & field hospital is to hurry men back to the firing line where they are most needed. One of the old-time generals once said, "The doctors rob me of my men. It is far different these days. The aim of the doctors is to keep the ranks filled, and to pOlSLSr the lHOEdle Ol itieit dliu III spire them to greater deeds.
 Occasionally, we encounter what is known as 'malingering. A soldier finding conditions in the hospital are much more to his liking than condi- tions on the front, will resort to all sorts of symptoms in an effort to de- ceive and mislead the surgeon. The conscientious doctor will frequently yield to a natural inclination, and out
 Al. 1lex.s ttr raQ = tient to enjoy the good treatment and protection of hospital.
 If he should, on the other hand, show curiosity and follow up the vari- ous symptoms. so glibly related, he would one by one, explode them. This is delightful work to me, for it not only sharpens my wit and skill at rep artee, but is likewise very amusing.
 An hour ago we admitted seven pa tients, returned to duty by French hospital. Four of us went to look them over. as we understood one wished to be admitted as patient or maybe more than one--as all vowed that they received no treatment at the French hospital.
 A UNIQUE CASE
 "One gave history of iaparot- omy, or abdominal operations, per- formed February 8. for chronic appen- Q1ClLlS ana KdSITiC uiIelS. 1lC iStbaiASA III this hospital--an American base hospital until March 20. He was admitted to the French hospital over week ago with diagnosis of exhaustion on march, While talking to us, he sud- denly announced that I lose all of my meals and l am going to lose my breakfast soon And at later psy- cho1ogical moment, he did get up, put on his shoes, with the same announce ment, go out, but whether or not he lost his breakfast, I do not know. Later, I suggested to him that he show more determination and when ever he ate, to eat with the determi- nation that the food should stick. ri you state, and continue to repeat the statement, I'm going to lose my meal, l it will so happen. Your stomach will believe and respond to the workings of the brain. If. on the other hand 1 you say, I'm eating, and gol-darn you l you are going to stick it will stick. This style of talk usually bears