The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-12
WOMEN PHYSICIANS
NEEDED IN SERVICE
Medical College Throws Open Its
Doors to Educate Young Ladies
as Doctors
BIG PRESENT DEMAND.
state Council OF Defense Urges the
Fair Sex TO Appropriate Advantages
Offered In Established Professional
Courses.

with the cordial endorsement of
DR.. Ennion G. Williams. health COM
missioner of Virginia, the state eoun-
Gil of defense is urging young women
to take advantage of the opportunity
offered by the Medical College of Viz
ginia. which has esta hlished courses
in medicine. dentistry and phar-
macy.
The demands OF war have drained
the medical profession OF Virginia.
Already one-fourth of the doctors in
the state are in active government
service or awaiting call. and 500 more
will be demanded from Virginia be-
fore 1919 arrives.
1t is not a new thing for Virginia
to have women doctors of medicine.
but invariably their education was re-
ceived at some northern or western
college. SO this course offered by the
Medical College of Virginia Is really
the first opportunity given to the
women of the state to learn the arts
OF the physician without having to
leave home.
AS a distinctly war measure this
innovation makes very decided ap-
peal 10 the sympathies of the Vir-
ginia council OF defense, which. how
ever, sees in II also great oppor-
tunity for peace time work later Tor
the women of Virginia.
Women Needed TO Recruit Ranks.
Some time ago the rgeon-generai
issued a call for 1000 physicians.
With the extension of the draft age
and the consequent enlargement OF
the national army more hospital
units will he necessary for camps and
cantonments, leaving immense areas
at home unprovided with medical aid.
Since the medical college age COIN
cides with the draft age. 1t Is obvious
that medical ranks cannot be hlled
from among the young men OF the
country. The government has there
fore issued numerous appeals 70
women to take up medicine in one or
its branches
War Courses Offercd to Women.
The Medical College of Virginia
offers courses in medicine. dentistry
and pharmacy. TO all OF which women
are admitted, and to fill very definite
need special war courses" have been
outlined, which In periods OF one ana
two years will equip women TO hold
the position of laboratory technician
In army camps and cantonments and
In city and state health departments.
The very necessary work OF stand
ardizing the medical colleges has been
accom- plished. but resultant OF the
movement is the inability of the pro-
fession to supply very extraordinary
war demands now being made upon
it. Hence during the spring OF 1917
campaign was started for the purpose
of turning young men andkwomen TO
the study of medicine. Cnless women
matriculate at once In the medical
schools the situation will become
acute. The Medical College OF Vir-
ginia, having now opened its doors to
women Is earnestly appealing to VIZ
ginia women to recruit the medlcai
ranks Of the state.
Much After-War Work for Women.
Young women are asking what will
remain for them after the war; asking
whether the need for women doctors
Is permanent. In the first place.
many Virginia physicians are OF tbs
opinion that numbers OF the medical
men now going abroad will remain In
definitely, for It is thought that II
will take years in the depleted coun-
| tries OF Europe to restore health con-
ditions to normal. In the second
place. the war work Of medical wo-
men has demonstrated the capabilities
OF women in the profession. thus re-.
moving the popular. distrust she hal
heretofores encountered. In the third
place, the period OF reconstruction
| following the war will require m IN.
creased number Of physiciane- And
ID addition thera are tyso Department.
lot medicine destined to ercw aIaAsins'