Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-05-21

ton for the Medical Service tor
Small Towns
Small towns and rural districts In all
parts of the country are worried over
shortage which the city dweller can
scarcely comprehend. This is the short
age Of doctors.
In the cities and large industrial
towns about every square has doc
tors sign. Whole office buildings ARE
given over To medical men. And If you
still doubted that doctors constitute
fair quota of the population, n glance
at classified city directory would show
you exactly how many columns Of doc
tors stand ready TO tide you over any
attack Of germs, writes Frederic j.
Haskin in the Chicago News.
But 20 out In the country or even
to a remote town, and you might have
10 send - miles or more for II doctor
in case of an emergency. And there
would he no ambulance to take you
TO hospital on short notice.
This is difficulty So serious that
the neglected communities are trying
to do something about II. II is widely
advertised that In Massachusetts doc
torcss towns are offering bonuses to
young medical graduates to come TO
practice for them Similar inducements
are held out In other states. In some
cases Il house has been offered TO the
doctor, wcighty argument in time
when houses are. If anything. more
scarce than country doctors. In al
most every case noted the community
seems Ia he able To assure the physi-
elan that he will have plenty to do and
that he should make 5000 or more a
year.
Some of the doctOrless towns have
conducted their drive for doctors with
success. Others are still hunting. II
generally takes more than house
and a prospect of $1,000 year 10 lure
a doctor To the country nowadays.
Doctors Hard to Make.
The fact is, IL costs so much money.
time and work To become a doctor now
that the graduate feels that he de-
serves large reward. II IN not so
long since two years was the length
of the medical course and a high
school diploma was not always re-
quircd of the medical student. From
that point. the medical colleges have
been steadily raising their standards
until now Il first class university de
MINDS either IN \. Il. degree before
the student can begin his medical
course. or, as is more generally the
ease. two years of prc-metlical college
work is required. This gives the stu
dent Latin. chemistry, biology and 9th
or regular college subjects which will
lay the best foundation for medical
work.
The medical course which follows
this college preparation is four years,
and after that the doctor very often
spends two years as an inferno In n
hospital. The graduate is therefore
81 years old. at least, before he can
begin his career. lie represents an in
vcStment of $1,000. Columbia university
figIreS. About $500 of this he has
paid in tuition and the rest the college
has estimated.
Every branch of medicine constantly
shows more problems 10 be solved by
men who can give some time 10 re-
search. Then there is demand for
even more expert service than the
graduate practitioner can give. and
so the young doctor often combines
practice with further study 10 become
work leads him far aticld lie stays
close 10 his university or goes 10 some
other city where opportunities for
study may he even more desirable.
Majority Cling to City.
Even IL he decided To he n general
practitioner, the graduate doctor Still
cllngs "a the city In the city he has
the benefit Of consultation with other
doctors. There are medical societies.
hospitals. clinics and libraries where
he can keep in touch with progress
In n rural district. unless II Is near
city. he must forego these advan-
tageS. and there is added the further
trouble of transportation difficulties.
II costs around 10 cents II mile 10 run
an ordinary car on good road. II
cents on n poor read. At this rate
doctor who Is called 10 home five
miles ont has Ia spend dollar TO get
| there and back. And five miles Is ac-
counted a short distance in the coun-
try.
To make such visits takes up good
deal Of the doctors time. Usually h.
discounts this loss. Rui he does add
n charge for distance 10 his fee when
he has To travel beyond certain fixed
limits This makes the fee higher
than II would be in city. and may
cut down his income In the long run
because patients can afford 10 send