The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-22

Ga "a SASss . A6Ss oSAANS
is pertinent to the prevailing c
now going on as to the good n
There are fewer physicians IN the
raj sections Of The country than
In the cities. there are very few
nurses. and practically no hospital
facilities In rural regions. In some
communities, even In the older states,
there is only one physician to 1900
people and many cases can be found
whore there Is only one physician
to 5000 people. while the average
for the cities il generally about one
physician to $50 people.
The inadequate supply Of physicians
In the country IL not due to the super :
Tor health OF the people there 10 just
A. much work needing to be done by
the physician In rural Al in urban
actions. The reason Is rather to be
a-ound the country without extreme
h rdships. II 10 becoming harder
and harder for the young medical
graduate to choose a rural location
where he must face intolerable travel
Ing conditions for the greater part Of
the year. After nine years Of train
ing for his profession, there Is small
appeal In the prospect even OF 4 good
practice when the hardships OF travel
over the country roads are taken into
account. Yet hundreds OF young
medical graduates would by inciina-
ton fav1r . rural practice II 1t were
possible to avoid the unhappy fea-
tires Of country travel. The problem
Is important TO physicians. not only
because It IL difficult to travel through
A.,A -
because 1t II quite difficuit II not i'm
possible to transport patients need
In special care, or to consult with
specialists At a distance or to counsel
with other general practitioners
The results of these conditions have
been serious. The death rate OF the
country districts IL only slightly lower
chan the city and has not improved
as rapidly as inythe city: the sickness
rate IL no more favorable: the pro-
portion Of young men physically unfit
for the army was nearly as great in
spite OF the boasted physical prowess
Of the country, and all surveys have
proved that \ higher percentage Of
clrabie defects Ia found amoung rural
children than among city children.
But there II q worse condition still.
The number of deaths OF women In
in the country, and the number Of
babies who die within the first thirty
days after birth Is far greater. Forty
per cent OF all the babies that die in
their first year in the cities die within
thirty days after birth. while the COR
responding figure for the country dis
tricts is ~ per cent. No better In
dex OF medical care could be given
than these facts. They tell the story
that nearly every one knows; viz, that
adequate medical care II not available
for the rural mothers and babies.
Good roads would enable the rural
sections to secure nursing and special
lists service which are now practically
impossible in many sections. Much Of
the future development Of public
health work, visiting. nursing and
medical service generally III the rural
communities depends upon the de-
velopment OF goods roads. 1t Is quite
impossible to provide such service
effectively under present conditions.
There Is also looming UP the pos
stbility of q rural hospital service
with facilities for transportation to,
and care in. community hospitals in
which the facilities for diagnosis ana
care would far exceed the meager
provisions Of the home. The coming
OF good roads will hasten this devei-
opment
The city residents are concerned
also in the condition OF rural roads
from the standpoint Of health protec-
ton because they are dependent upon
good roads for fresh milk. Large
cities are furnished milk from re-
mote rural regions. Bad roads delay
its delivery. 1t 10 not uncommon for
milk to be allowed to accumulate for
two or three days before delivery from
the farm. Bacteria often develop
dangerously In the meantime. Good
depending upon existing clumsy means
Of transportation"
The Highways Transport commit
Defense Ia anxious, especially just 1t
this time. tfat Its attention he directed
to any sections throughout the coun-
try In which products of the truck
garden and the farm are In danger
OF being wasted as result Of lack Of
HIGHWAYS transportation TO rail- lineP
In the markets. direct. Those who
know of srch situations will aid In
promoting the interests not only Of
the community directly affected but
Of the country. generally. In prompt
~ putting this once In touch with
them.
The time OF the year has arrived
when quick action often II necessary
10 save local food situations The
Highways Transport COMMITTEES will
be glad, once its attention II directed
to situations where aid would Be Ap-
preciated, TO Immediately cvmmuni-
cate with ~ proper sta&e. orsant1A-
ton to thu end that n possible pro.
vision be madc for moving such pro-
ducts over the hiehways
The following digest Of letter re-
ceive6 BY the Hlehways Transport
committee from. . stock and grain
farmer of Omaha suggests one Of the
problems which those engaGed IN psyD-
noting the return load bureaus Nee
has = 49, wtth. II smDhasisas fAe