Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-22
Evening Session

1VCAaAuS OSSStUu
Following the excellent supper
served in the gymnasium of the
~" President Gulnac for the bene-
fit. of the many newcomers. re-
viewed briefly what had been said
and done during the two days ses-
sions and introduced DR.. Bristol.
Or. Bristol
DR.. Leverett D. Bristol. state CONF
missioner of health. speaking on the
subject Public Health Accomplish
ments and Needs in Maine" declared
that in some rural communities the
lack Of resident medical service is
acute and some towns are absolutely
without the services Of q physician.
Moreover. people are actually NOV
ing away from some of the country
towns for want of a resident physi-
clan. and any movement for the devel-
opment Of rural life, must take these
facts into consideration" said DR..
Bristol.
1.-The causes of this condition are
varied and numerous. the most impor-
tant being the development of spec
ialization in medicine and the arduous
duties Of a country practitioner in
Guiding long rides. exposure to the
elements and loss of Sleep" contin-
ued DR.. Bristol.
ITO combat this scarcity of physi-
clans in rural districts we must en-
courage medical students to enter gen.
eral practice. and country physicians
tn remain in general practice. The
spirit of sacrifice. unselfishness and
heroism must be fostered. Adequate
financial compensation must be in
sisted upon. There are many country
doctors along the coast of Maine toll
ing as heroically AS does DR.. Greenfell
in Labrador But we need more Of
them with this same unselfish devo-
ton to humanity.
THE state might well provide APP
preparations to enable the state de-
partment of health to employ what
might be called physicians at large
who could be sent to rural districts
in emergencies. and to make it posi-
Bile for the Bowdoin Medical School
dents who would agree to enter prac-
tice in certain designated country dis
tricts for period Of a year or more.
The employment CT trained nurses
by rural communities might also help
to solve the difficulty. The re-assur-
ance and first aid given by a compe-
tent nurse. until a doctor from a
neighboring town could arrive, would
mean much to an i'll or injured per-
Nnranunr To
on physicians might be obviated.
1T Is out of the question to expect
medical graduates of Johns Hopkins
or Harvard. or nurse graduates Of
Simmons to be attracted in any num-
bers to rural practice in Maine. The
conclusion Is forced upon US that we
must to a large extent train our own
physicians. public health officers and
public health nurses in the State of
Maine. q ~
II am not in sympathy with the
IDEAS and expressed sentiments that
the Bowdoin Medical School should be
closed. unless of course 1t is found alb
solutely impossible to maintain the
necessary standards. The state at
present needs and can afford to sup
port this school more than it did 100
years ago when 1t was founded as the
Medical School of Maine. What is
needed is not lesser, but a greater
Bowdoin Medical School; it cannot
stand still; it must go forward or
backward. and the state should do her
share in maintaining this institution
whose past history is glorious and
whose future possibilities are unlimit-
ed.
''Bowdoin Medical School must be
to Maine what the average medical
departments of our state universities
are to their respective states. Scholar
ships should be provided to induce
residents of Maine to take their train
ing here.
1T Is my belief that a greater Bow
doin Medical College should include
School of Public Health Officers
and Public Health Nurses. This would
serve not only to meet the constant
ly increasing demand for such officials,
but in thus training men and women
for public service. as well as for the
private practice of medicine. the School
would have a greater appeal to the
people of Maine. and would more GER
tainly warrant the financial assistance
of the state.
"A further suggestion of mine which
might be worthy of careful consider
alton is as follows. The State Depart
ment OF Health needs a new and larg-
er building for it's Increasing work
and personnel. 1t is not absolutely
necessary that the Department be To-
Gated at Augusta. 1t might be locat-
ed at Portland. housed in a building
adequate for its needs and the needs
also of a modern school Of public
health. In other words, the Bowdoin
Medical School and the state. through
its department of health, might Coop
crate in maintaining a creditable
school Of public health and a depart
ment Of health in the same building.
There should be certain manifest ad-
vantages to such an ARRANGEMENT.
The department would serve as a
practical demonstration of public
health administration for the students
of the School, and the School would
stimulate a constantly increasing EN-
cheney and scientific atmosphere in the
department.
There are certain advantages which
accrue from having a state depart
ment OF health located in the capital
city OF a state. These advantages
would have to be weighed carefully
against the advantages Of the above
mentioned arrangement. In the state