The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-20
Physicians Needed
Throughout State
Local Council of Defense to Consider
Railroad Schedule situation in
Richmond.

At the call OF George Bryan. chair
man of the Richmond council OF de-
feNse, qtsire a number pf the mem ocrs
assembled last night IN the senate
cham Der OF the capitol building Afs
ter stating the objects OF the call as
related 30 the general work of the
council. the chairman called upon Or.
Ennion O. william. head OF the state
health department. to discuss such
matters in the line Of his activities as
might prove instructive TO the mem
bers present
Or Williams called the attention
OF the council To the great need of
physicians in all parts Of Virginia,
and estimated that ~ least one third
OF the doctors had responded 10 the
eoioFs, and many of the communities,
as consequence, were left helpless
in the matter of medical attention
The present length OF the medical
courses Of the various colleges would
not permit OF any remedy through
those sources, inasmuch as il required
four years 10 prepare men for prac-
tice. No immediate relief therefore
could be expected from any effort TO
prepare new physicians for the pres
ent emergency,
( II was pointed out, however, that
! first aid training schools could be
esta hlished throughout the state. out
! of which, in very short time. men and
women might be released for certain
service that would answer many of the
miner calls of the physician, They
could be quickly trained 10 respond
efficiently TO thousands of demands
/ for simple injuries and thereby re-
lieve the doctors, now very greatly
iovertaxed with calls. There is just
such class in Richmond, he said.
which has been doing wonderful
work along this line, But the doctor
urged the necessity of enlarging the
Scope of the enterprise in order 70
meet the present great necessity.
| Or, W A Brumheld, OF the federal
! health services, was called upon to
discuss the present status Of the fight
I that is being waged in the state
against specific diseases. DR.. Brum
| field hokis appointment for Virginia
as IA specialist in this line and dis
cussed the progress of the work in
the state particularly as related TO the
health OF the soldiers being drafted In
i tho army He demonstrated that OF
all diseases the most difficult to OBJ
tain comprehensive statistics this class
stood in the lead. 1t was not possible
he stated to give a very accurate &C
count of the work because OF that
fact. He pointed out. however, that
wonderful progress was being made
in stamping out much OF the malady
| that had been the cause of distress In
the army.
The chairman called upon the last
speaker of the evening. r. c. Diggs
travelling man out of Richmond. who
directed the attention of the council
Ito the unfortunate arrangement OF
1.-THE railroads leading in Richmond
with regard to connections with differ
ent parts OF the state. 1t was shown
that large portions of Virginia were
entirely out of touch with Richmond
and could scarcely ever find out Wha
was going on at the capital city
Remedies were suggested in the Sigh
modification of certain schedules thai
change the distances in point of time
from more than a day to a matter o.
a few hours.
The chairman referred the matter
TO the. committee on transportation
with instructions to report compre
hensively upon the subject at the mex
Injecting OF the council