Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-14
A TWo-MAN JOB
That's What the Modern Practice Of
Medicine ls Coming to 6e--The
Dangers That Menace us From
Medical Standpoint
BY GEORGE NOx MCCAIN


The person who uttered these unusual
words Is a prominent physician and mem
Der of the faculty of one Of this city's lead
ing medical colleges.
Then he continued:
In no science, unless 1t is possibly that
OF aviation, the science of the mir, have there
been such phenomenal strides In the last
half decade as in medicine and surgery
You forget the strides that have been
made In the science of war; / suggested.
War Is the science of destruction. Med
icing and surgery are the sciences OF saliva
tion of human lives; they are constructive.
I'm not counting war in the same category.
And what is to be the ultimate result?''
l inquired; !3& rsID,.t. revo,.t,o, in modern If,
with reference to these professions. The
physician and surgeon will attain to a
higher position, the highest among the pro-
fessions in our civilization, than ever be-
FORE" '...
nR. THOMAS KLEIN, late Of the Mcdi-
- cal Service, A. e. b., is assistant pro-
fessor of medicine in the post graduate
school Of medicine at the University.
He has no uncertain viewpoint on this
subject. 49,. IT.. ..
Unquestionably he is one Of those who
believe In canonizing their profession.
The practice of medicine today, as the
direct outcome of the advancement and dis
coveries of the recent war years, is assuming
the position Of a two man profession he
said, commenting on the above statement.
The physician or practitioner, the dag
nostician and consultant, and the laboratory
man, the scientist.
.''It isn't enough to examine the pulse and
respiration and institute polite inquiries as
to the operation Of the bodily functions, as
was once the universal practice.
Patient investigation, correct analysis
and the registration of facts Identified with
every case are now O part of the work OF
every physician who deserves that name.
And do you believe that the physician
who was up. to date, Informed down to the
hour five years ago, Is today back num-
berH' / asked.
DIR. Klein smiled. Then almost verbatim
he quoted the words of my friend.
Il should say that he is behind the times,
unquestionably, unless he has kept himself
abreast of every late development and dis
covery in medical science
DR. A. G. ABBOTT-perhaps I should
- write Colonel A. G. Abbott-eminent
bacteriologlst. is and has been a member of
the University faculty for many years.
AS man Of vision. wide experience and
practical ideas, DR.. Abbott chershes no IL
lusions as to the future of his profession in
its concrete relation to humanity's needs.
''The menace to American life from my
standpoint" said DIR. Abbott ''is in the
lack Of hygienic conditions In rural dis
tricts. Every great city suffers the loss of
valuable lives from this cause.
philadelphia in recent years has, fortu
natey, suffered to no alarming extent.
She has been forewarned for years and
has benefited by experience. The annual
outbreak Of typhoid fever following the re-
turn Of the people from country vacations
and excursions has been materially les
sened.
Years ago, when 1 was connected with
the medical department of the city, we in
stituted Investigations that proved indubi
tably that over series of years the city
suffered from this typhoid invasion directly
hygiene.
sTTNHE intelligent administration of our
l. State Medical Department is lessening
this typhoid menace to the cities,' DIR.
Abbott continued.
but it still impends. The lamcntable
feature of it is that 1t is so unnecessary.
We are fully aware of the cause of this
sacrifice Of human life. We could. we
should and we can halt 1t. But the people
almost say-to theS thing
And the remedy?' l asked
Education. Perpetual hammering.
Ceaseless endeavor to point out to the
millions that they are the victims of their
own Indifference to the most ordinary rules
of life
Attention to rural hygiene is the impera-
tive demand of the moment
GA ND the other dangers of which you
"A spoke?" l suggested.
'"rhc loss of human life for lack of proper
medical attendance in the remote country
districts of this country" was the reply.
There is a dangerous lack of doctors In
the distant regions Of every State said DR..
Abbott And then this man Of wide ex-
perience added:
II am seriously of the opinion that the
eNactions of many Of our medical colleges are
contributing to this condition.
"Once a young man has finished his col
lege course, entered a medical school, spent
years in 1t, and afterward takes perhaps II
post graduate course, he does not feel that
he can, after his sacrifice, maroon himself
In country village where half his time will
be spent In the open or In visiting remote
sections over almost impossible roads at all
hours of the twenty -four.
'Our cities attract these brilliant young
chaps. But why should there not be condi-
tions In our medical colleges that would
permit the graduation of men who are will
ing to undertake this other work? Possibly
not as physicians of the front rank, but men
who are competent to cope with the ordinary
ills and accidents of life.
II think the subject is worthy of great
and careful consideration concluded Dr.
Abbott.
DOLCE magistrates are not Solomons
l. Yet there often arise situations that
might well claim the wisdom of the wisest
of men.
Whenever there is difficult question to
settle the other magistrates often side step
it by referring the problem to Presiding
Magistrate Mccleary ut the Central Police
Station.
One day this week two clcrgymen called
and in broken English desired that a war
rant be sworn out for Jake Schmidt for
dsorderly conduct. That wasn't his name
though.
Where does he lve?' inquired the
magistrate.
at the Home. He Is one of our In
mates. We are in charge of the Home"
'How old is hcT'
About eighty years. He makes a nuis-
ance Of himself, We have ordered him to
leave and he refuses to go. That is why
we want him arrested for diserderly conduct.
He viii not leave
But don't you see If l issued n warrant
and he was arrested OH this charge and
secured bail, he would return at once to
the home? 1t is his residence and he has
nowhere else to CO." commented the puzzled
Judge.