Arizona republican., 1918-03-01
MEDICAL MEN TO ,. .FORM VOLUNTEER.
 WORKING CORPS.

For the purpose of completing the mobilization of the entire medicai ana surgical resources of the coun- try' the Council of National Defense mas authorized and directed the or ganlzatlon of Volunteer Medical service Corps" which is aimed to enlist in the general war winning program all reputable physicians and surgeons Who are not eligible to mem- Dershlp in the Medical Officers Re- serve Corps.
 It has been recognized always that the medical profession is made up or men whose patriotism is unques- toned and who are eager to serve thelr country in every way. Slight physlcal lnfirmities or the fact that one IS beyond the age limit, fifty five yeaIs or the fact that one is needed TOT essential public or institutional serVlce While precluding active work Ill camp or field or hospital in the war zone should not prevent these patriotic physicians from close rela- tlon with governmental needs at this time.
 It was in Philadelphia that the Idea of such an organization was Ilrst put forward, Dr. William Duff field Robinson having initiated the movement resulting in the formation last summer of the Senior Military Medical association, with Dr. w. w. Keen as president-a society which now has 271 members.
 through the Committee on States Activities of the General Medical Board the matter of forming such a nationwide organization was taken up last October in Chicago at meet Ing attended by delegates from forty SIX states and the District of Co., lumpla. This committee, of which pr. Edward Martin and Dr. John D. McLean-both of Philadelphia-are respectively chairman and secretary, unanimously endorsed the project. smaller committee, with Dr. Edward |. Davis of Philadelphia as chair man, was appointed to draft condi- tlons of membership, the General Medical Board unanimously endorsed the committees report, the executive committee, including Surgeons Gen. eral Gorgas of the army, Braisted of the navy, and Blue of the public | health service, heartily approved and passed>i it to the Council of National Defense for final action, and the machinery of the new body has been started by the sending of a letter to the state and county committees urging interest and the enrolment of eligible physicians.
 It is intended that the new corps shall be an instrument able directly to meet such civil and military needs 1 as are not already provided for. The General Medical Board holds it as automatic that the health of the l people at home must be maintained as efficiently as in times of peace. | The medical service in hospitals, med ical colleges and laboratories must be up to standard; the demands incl dent to examination of drafted SOL diers, including the reclamation of men rejected because of compara- lively slight physical defects; the need of conserving the health of the families and dependents of enlisted men and the preservation of sanitary conditions-all these needs must be fully met in time of war as in time of peace. They must be met in spite of the great and unusual depletion of medical talent due to the demands of field and hospital service.
 In fact. and in view of the pros pective losses in men with which every community is confronted, the General Medical Board believes that the needs at home should be even better met than ever. The carrying of this double burden will fall heav fly upon the physicians, but the med ical fraternity is confident that ii will acquit itself fully in this re- gard, its members accepting the tremendous responsibility in the high est spirit of patriotism. It will mean doubtless, that much service must bt gratuitous, but the medical men car be relied upon to do their share o1 giving freely, and it is certain that inability to pay a fee will never deny needy persons the attention required
 It is proposed that the service. rendered by the Volunteer Medica Service Corps shall be in respons, to a request from the Surgeon Gen eral of the army, the Surgeon Genera of the navy, the Surgeon General 0 the public health service, or othe duly authorized departments or asso citations, the general administration of the corps to be vested in a centra governing board, which is to be committee of the General Medica Board of the Council of National De fense. The state committee of tn medical section of the Council o National Defense constitutes the gov erning board in each state.
 Conditions of membership are no onerous and are such as any quail fled practitioner can readily meet It is proposed that physicians in tending to join Shall apply by lette to the secretary of the Central Gov erning Board, who will send the ap plicant a printed form, the filling ou of which will permit ready classi fication according to training and ex perience. The name and data C applicants will be submitted to a executive committee of the Stat Governing Board, and the final ac eeptance to membership will be b the national governing body. An ap propriate buttom or badge is to b adopted as official insignia.
 The General Medical Board of tn Council of National Defense is con fident that there will be ready re sponse from the physicians of tn
 country. The executive committe
 of the General Medical Board com
 prises Dr. Franklin Martin, chair
 man: Dr. F. F. Simpson, vice. chair
 man; Dr. William F. Snow, secre tary; Surgeon General Gorgas, U { A.; Surgeon General Braisted, U. 5
 Navy: Surgeon General Rupert Blu
 Public Health Service; Dr. Cary !
 Grayson, Dr. Charles H. Mayo, D
 Victor C. Vaughn, Dr. William I