The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-24
(Continued from Page 1.)

hospitals, where they are properly administered, are distinctly to the advantage of the employees. Indeed, in certain large plants, those cases of infection which are so frequent as affecting the general run of em- ployes, are practically unknown" adding that the danger is that phy- sician will not be called in every case where his services are needed" The most satisfactory results "are found in those plants where there is well-equipped emergency hospital with conscientious trained nurses and possibly an orderly in attend ance, the hospital being visited daily, or oftener, by one or more reputable surgeons in general practice in the community
 Physicians receive considerable at tention. The so-called contract doctor" who is employed on salary by insurance companies or large em- llployers, comes in for his share. So, too, do those physicians, who habit ually, either by a private arrange ment as to fees or for any other req son, treat practically all of the cases of certain employers or insurance companies.
 The commissioners point out that "aside from an almost unavoidable desire to stand by his employer, such physician deals almost wholly with | trauma, and fails of that broader viewpoint which comes from the study, diagnosis and treatment of dis orders as such, and independent o1 their source. He is apt to be unduly suspicious of the motives of injured workmen. Furthermore, he is espe- cially prone to disregard those symp- | toms which, although they are sub | jective, are none the less real" They also issue a warning that lone of the | besetting sins of physicians and sur geons. and often of practitioners ot very high standing, is to slip uncon. sciously into the role of advocate"
 On the whole, however, greater dangers would result from the choice of physicians entirely by the injured workmen, as less skillfu1 and conscien. | tious physicians on the average would be secured in that way. In order "Tc mitigate what seems to be an undue harshness in the existing rule" two important amendments are recon | mended. One of these provided tha | where an employer has neglected tt provide a physician and the work ] man has gone and secured his own 1 the employer cannot then come fl and order a change without the ap proval of the commissioner. The other gives to the commissioner II all cases the right to order a change of doctors for good cause shown.
 The discussion of the relation O. physicians to the act ends with tho reassuring statement that 'it is pleasure to report that the code o ethics which the medical profession has developed through a long serie of years has amply vindicated itself il the operation of the act, and not little of the success of this piece. 0, legislation has been due to the skill and high sense of honor of the phy sicians and surgeons who have aided the commissioners in applying thu law"
 Under the general caption, "Somt Points Set at Rest" there is an ex planation of the leading decisions 0 the Supreme Court, interpreting tn
 act. handed down during the perio
 covered by the report, the most i'm portant of which from a practica
 point of view is Franko vs. William
 SchollhOrn Co.,, decided in April o the current year, under which a work man, who has lost a finger or a lei may, in addition to the specific mum
 Der of weeks allowable for such loss
 also collect compensation for the per
 iod of total incapacity which ma have accompanied such loss. Cor
 nected with this are two other dec
 sions, limiting the period of time fo 1 which compensation may be so col
 tation.
 Another interesting decision WE that of Douthwreight vs. Champlin i which the Supreme Court decide , that, if the injury is sustained in Con
 necticut, the claim falls under tn
 Connecticut Act, even though tn
 contract of employment was made
 some other state.
 Perhaps the most important pal
 of the report is that containing tF recommendations as to Legislation , Nineteen amendments to the Act al , recommended or suggested. Sever
 of these are mere verbal chang,
 made necessary by experience
 avoid ambiguity or correct minor d.
 fleets. One amendment simplifies il - method by which an employer of le: than five persons can come under tf . --=-=---@-7@ --==------@@ ----@@