Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-15
SENATOR AND HEALTH HEAD
GIVE OPINIONS ON MERGER
DR.. Ennion G. William S
Would Place Single Med
ical College Here.

ChRracterizing II as calamity that
would he felt by all Virginia. DIR. En-
Mon 6. Williams. State Health Com
missioner. Lass night expressed his
opinion in regard To the possible
closing OF the Medical College OF
Virginia.
From the first mention of a med
ical college merger ] have felt that
the schools. il combined. sh, uld be
located I'm Richmond: but have said.
aid l Still say. that il Virginia can
AFFORD to maintain two well-equipped
and adequately supported medical
colleges. l would rather have two
than one" In these words DR.. Will
liams makes clear his position in the
controversy.
My interest" continued DR.. Will
iiams. lis not personal. AS tho Health
commissioner OF the State. cannot
anord to indulge in personal prefer
ences. i would be false TO my obli-
cations IL l were to consider this
important subject IN the light either
OF resident of Richmond or an
aiumnus OF the university. II did
not believe that the conservation cf
public health is the greatest work of
which ! am capable. would not be
in the health service.
II is the Liorince OF my life work
10 make the people, so far as possi-
bic, independent OF doctors: 20 tcacl,
them how IL avoid the communicable
diseases and &c show them how to
care for themselves: but I am not
credulous enough To believe that the
time is I.,r when the individual, CT
the community can sa ely dispense
with the services OF a physician. in
fact. that time will never come.
supply of Doctors Inadequate.
consequently" said DR.. Williams.
"a health officer must also consider
In relation TO his preventive work
the needs of communities for the per-
scnal service OF physicians. The
supply of doctors In Virginia Is now
far below the actual and pressing
demand. In normal times this is only
TOO apparent; in times of epidemics
the shortage seems tragic.
Now, in this medical merger con-
troversy. we arc faced by this single
fact-Nirginia. In the estimation OF
those best qualified to judge. cannot
support adequately two medical col
!eges. and l have been assured by
those in position to speak authori-
tatively that unless the schools are
merged in Richmond or sufficient
funds are given for the proper con-
duct OF the Richmond school that the
Medical College OF Virginia Will close
its doors with the end OF the pres
emit session. II being obvious that
the State cannot give adequate funds
TO both schools, the merger is the
only solution.
ITO close the Medical College of
Virginia would be n calamity that
would be felt by the entire state.
This school has given more practicing
physicians to Virginia than the unit
versity has given, far more. and. in
the very nature Of things. IL would
continue TO give more. There is no
particular reason why graduates of
lottesville, should do their post
graduate work in Virginia. Only
comparatively few OF them could re-
main as !nterncs at the university
hospital. on the other hand. there
is a real incentive 10 graduates of
the university. IL located in Rich
mond. TO continue their graduate
studies where they have worked as
Undergraduates.
Richmond Better for students.
This said DR.. Williams. zig so
evident that II scarcely needs any
proof. The young man or woman
whose entire student years are spen,
within the confines Of his native State
vii! certainly have less temptation To
practice his profession elsewhere than
the one who gets his early training
a. homo and goes elsewhere for the
finishing process. He is just as apt
or more apt 10 stay where h" CON
Guides his studies as he Is to go
back 70 the place he began.
There is another argument for
Richmond bearing on this phase. Some
OF the men who come to Richmond
may not be able financially to afford
much II any, post graduate work. The
great clinics In Richmond are won