Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-23
TO TAKE OVER DOCTORS
Government Arranges to Assume Con-
troll Of Entire Medical Profession.

Government Arranges to Assume Con.
troll Of Entire Medical Profession.
The government. says a Washington
dispatch, is about to assume control Of
the entire medical profession in the
United States to obtain sufficient doc
tors for the fast growing army, ane
nj the same time to distribute those
remaining to the localities where the!
are most needed for civilian work.
This mobilization Is to be accom-
plished either by enrolling all doctor:
in voluntary service corps under
pledge to accept whatever service
military or civilian. Is assigned then
by the governing body Of the corps
or. il the voluntary plan is not sue
cessful. by legislation providing fol
drafting them into government ser
vice. Medical officers of the govern
ment believe compulsory conscriptior
will not be necessary.
Plans Already Made.
Organization plans for the volun'
tecr medical service corps alread,
have been made and enrolment
started in n few states under authori'
" OF the Council of National De-
fense. Instead of enrolling in thi:
corps only those physicians not suita'
hle for military service. either be-
cause of age. physical infirmity. de-
pendency, or institutional or public
need. as planned at present. the gov
crnment is expected shortly to throw
open the membership to all doctors
and to bind them with n pledge dur
ing the present emergency to accep
service. military or civilian, wherever
whenever, and for whatever duty III
may he called by the central govern
ing board"
Keep Continuous Survey.
Under this projected plan. the arm,
and navy would take those physician:
and surgeons best fitted for active
duty. and who can be spared from
civilian requirements. At the same
time. the government would mantair
continuous survey OF the country
and assign doctors to those communi
ties in which there are too few prac
titioners.
The practical operation. official!
believe, would cause little of this re-
location, however, since physician!
who ar. needed in certain communi'
ties, hospitals. schools or other es
scntial civilian services would not b'
commissioned in the army.
Conferences of doctors were hcl,
in Washington and n number o.
other cities to discuss the operatio,
of the voluntary enrolment plan. 4
committee Of army and navy 5ut5,",n'
also have completed recommends
tions for inclusion in the voluntee
medical service corps all doctors, in
stead of only those qualified for mill
tary service.
Number Of Doctors.
or the $4,000 doctors in the Unit
ed States, it Is estimated between so.
900 and $4,000 are in active practice
and $4,000. or about one-fourth. ar
i'm the army or navy. Nearly $1,000
will bc required eventually for tn
army. The active practitioners remain
ing, together with those who hav'
retired. but who can be persuaded t
resume active work. must carry oi
the health maintenance work in thi
country.
1t is known that Surgeon Genera
Gorgas of the army, Braisted Of tn
navy, and Blue of the pub bile healtl
service, ARG considering aNpifP TO
'''' .Tedfcu
thei
nstitut
III mcin- ~sr dls
ruption OF mcuI,ai teaching stats ant
at the same time recognizing tn
public service of these men.