South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-03
DOCTORS RECEIVE
IMPORTANT CALL
Physicians of State Are Urged
to Enlist in Army Medi-
cal Reserve.

More doctors from Indiana are
needed for the army medical re-
serve corps and as the state stands
Ear down in the list in this respect
with other states. urgent appeal 10
the patriotism Of Indiana doctors is
made BY the surgeon general Of the
army.
A rally for ST. Joseph county
physicians. whether or not members
OF the st. Joseph County Medical
society. will be held In the medical
room OF the South Bend city library
Tuesday evening. May :. at s o'clock.
and II is desired that every doctor
in the county be i'm attendance. Let
tiers explaining the situation and
calling attention TO the meeting are
being sent out 20 the members Of
the county medical society by Dr.
r. b. Dugdale. secretary treasurer
Of the county society. and a mem
Der Of local draft board No l. and
Dr. r. L. Sensenich Of local draft
board No. ?. A copy OF the letter
follows:
South Bend. Ind. May 2. 1918.
Dear Doctor:
The surgeon general has made a
special appeal 20 Indiana doctors
TO enlist in the mediczl reserve
corps. According to figures from
his ONCE, Indiana ranks 42nd in the
list OF states as regards the proper
ton Of her doctors who have en-
tered the reserve corps. This is a
deplorable record for our state.
which ranks among the leaders in
every other line or patriotic en-
deavOr.
There are a number Of expIana-
tons for this showing on our part.
or which the chief one seems TO be
the prevalence OF an erroneous i'm
preston that more doctors are not
needed. The point is-the govern
ment is now appealing to the med
icla profession Of Indiana TO pro-
vide 400 more doctors for new draft
quotas which are daily being rushed
10 the various training camps. Med
zeal officers are being called 10 ac-
tive duty in greater numbers than
they are being admitted 70 the re-
serve corps and unless the entire
profession is modified the avaiIa bic
supply Of physicians will be speedily
exhausted
To meet the governments request
the Indiana committee OF the med
zeal section or the national council
OF defense has planned TO hold
meetings in every county i'm the state
on May :. the anniversary OF the
sinking of the Lusitania. To in
sure the success OF this raifv. the
defense council is depending upon
the county organize tons Of the In
diana State Medical association. but
the appeal goes out 70 every reput-
able physician I'm the state. whether
he is a member OF the society or
not.
The plan outlined by Or. Joseph
r. Eastman, president Of the state
organization, and endorsed by the
state committee OF the national
council calls for simultaneous
meetings in every county at which
speakers will present the govern
ments appeal and will outline in
detail the situation which confronts
the medical profession. At this
rally cards will be signed by those
doctors who are willing to offer their
services TO the medical reserve
corps and at a date TO be arranged
later a medical officer will be de-
tailed 10 visit various centers TO
conduct physical examinations OF
al applicants. In this way the
doctor will not sacrifice his time i'm
making a trip 10 Fort Harrison for
examination.
SO much depends upon the sue
cess OF this drive and so essential
is Il that every doctor in your
county attend this meeting that Or.
Eastman joins us i'm asking that
every other activity be subordinated
10 this rally Therefore. we urge
you 10 attend the meeting on MAY
Z at s p. m in the medical room of
the public library Medical men
now in the service will be present
and tell us Of the needs OF the med
ical department
DO not allow this 20 pass by un-
noticed. but make an extra effort
20 attend. Never in the history OF
our organization has the state been
called upon 20 make such sacri-
fee Indiana must not and can not
fail when the lives OF our BOYS are
az stake
Yours for success.
DIR. =. T. SENSENICH
President
Secretary.