South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-10
DOCTORS PROPOSE TO
SPEED DRAFT OPERATION
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE)

a.
The factors involved in this pre-
paratory work would be the cost and
submission Of the recruits to the re-
spective operations. The cost would
comprise-the operators fee. hos
pital service and the compensation
to the recruit while disabled.
Operators Service Donated.
The operators service should and
would be donated. The hospital
service should be borne by the COM
located. and should be fixed at a
minimum. yet not so low as to
create a burden 10 the hospitals.
Compensation 10 the recruit would
be variable depending upon the
willingness or unwillingness of the
individual to sacrifice, temporarily.
loss Of wages. If not willing he
should be paid a fraction of mis-
usual wages, say, half or two-thirds
and this expense should be betrayed
by the community in which he lives.
The matter OF submission TO opera
ton prior TO arrival TO camp is a
]
through its medical branch would
have to work out satisfactorily.
Only competent surgeons should
be permitted to operate. Possible
failures would have to be consid-
cred and provided for and the sur
geons would have to be relieved Of
unnecessary criticisms and mal-prac-
tice suits. In this county there are
three hospitals and a number Of
competent surgeons and specialists
who could be depended on to do
first class work.
Put Services at Disposal.
II the plan as outlined strikes
your department as feasible. prac-
tical and a time saver we assure YOU
that our services are at your COM
mand and that we stand ready 10
do "our bit" As further evidence
OF our anxiety TO serve our country
the following resolutions were
Unanimously adopted at a regular
meeting Of the st. Joseph County
Medical society. to-wit:
Whereas, a certain percentage of
registrants registered in class a.
and found qualified for military
service who yet are afflicted with
some operable, easily correctihle de-
fects which would necessitate by
operation i'm camp unavoidable delay
before the recruit could enter upon
uninterrupted military training, and
Whereas. such correctible defects
could be removed by competent
civilian surgeons before the arrival
of the recruit in camp. and.
Whereas. such corrections. il
made. would relieve the medical
branch OF the war department of a
great burden and be a time saver.
Therefore be il resolved that the
St Joseph County Medical society,
in regular session. pledges its ser
vice without reservation to the war
department of the United States and
that the surgeons and specialists Of
this society stand ready to operate
without remuneration for all cor
rectible defects of any and all regis
trants who have been found other
wise qualified for military service
prior to their departure to the mill
itary camps at such times and in
such places and under such rules
and regulations as the medical
branch OF the war department may
see fit 10 impose.
In as much as the use OF civil
hospitals and the services Of civilian
surgeons is suggested in the instruc-
tons to examining. boards. the St.
Joseph County Medical society has
taken this opportunity to offer its
services to the war department.
Yours respectfully,
THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
MEDICAL SOCIETY.