Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-08

In tho field only because they feel tho.
! cannot abandon the posts they hold
know may who. deans OF medical col
| leScs or directors Of hospitals, arc
eager for army service. but feel they
have no right to volunteer becaus,
their present paramount duty is the
education Of others who are needed for
the care Of the sick and the afflicted
know Of important hospitals having
| to-day not single inferno. n condition
which needs immediate rectification.
| In one instance that has come under
! my observation a physician who is :.
laboratory worker has been offered IN.
! post OF patholoSist to the King OF Sian,
an appointment Of the highest distirc
| ton and Of the utmost Importance IN
the welfare Of humanity. involving a
compensation larger than he received
or can ever hope TO receive. He has
refused it, because all of his former
colleagues in the laboratory are /,
France. and he alone remains to CARR
OF the work.
III the government will take all such
men INTO " nationally organized ser
vice and assign them TO such duties ,x
In its Judgment. they are best fitted ia
perform. ii Will be the faircst a,d
wlsest thing that is feasible now
The plan. unuucst!onably. viii ancc,
adversely the material prosperity OF
many thouaands among the indiv iduals
can physician who becomes a surgeon
IN the army docs not begin "a oar,
what ne docs In his private practice
nc h!Ehcht rang assigned such men is
thit OF major; tho discrepancy between
Il majors pay and the income of a sur-
se'h Oh recognized ability in civil life.
or OF any expert In medicine is verv
large. But the medical profession 40
"ho!e is too devoted 10 i.y ethics ard
100 InaSnanimous as BODY TO ono,
that as ground for opposing tho p,an.
!, VIII support any measure our gov.
eminent deems necessary for the ma
tional snfety
On tho other hand. the disturbance n.
existing conditions in the practice a,
mcdlc!ne throughout the country viii
De reduced 10 the minimum that is cor.
sistcnt with successful adoption Of tn.
profession TO the emergency Tho
Surgeon -Gcncrals Department, IS In
close touch with conditions evcrywhere
and knows exactly where men ar.
needed or not needed
1t is highly probable that present,
conditions in our medical schools will
be much beitered. They have been
hard hit in their teaching STATS. whiIa
their freshmen classes are increas.nt.
markedly IN size. All OF these !nst!,l-
tons. as regards their resources for
instruction. are nov seriously over.
crowded.
Large numbers OF young mon have
turned to the study of medicine be-
cause OF the new honors tina, attach
TO the profession. and because in /,
ihey discern the opportunity for eS.
ccptiona! service to their country In
aer governmental system capable
teachers can be assigned in numbers
suWcicnt TO provide instruction for ali
mere !s no class OF our population
mat - more mighty trained technically
than are Physicians; there Is none thar
~ so directly responsible for the lives
ana the health OF those composing the
nation. AT home and in the field Here
II anywhere, the Responsibilities of
the volunteer system must give way 10
mobilization OF our forces under gov
eminent direction
Copyright. 1879