Connecticut western news., 1922-05-04
ieath", than have a doctor.

l fees, surely mean increased ability for the doctor to incerase his medical knowledge, and thereby the individ- ual patient and community would be greatly benefited.
 We, as physicians have the larg- est responsibility in these matters, for upon our shoulders, rests the health of our county and country, and we would be lax indeed if we did not devise some means whereby these, rural communities would re- ceive good medical care.
 Some one has suggested that small hospitals should be established in rural towns, where a medical man, could keep up with his study, do some operating, etc., and this indeed is a very worthy idea, and would give ideal medical care to the small towns, but without the hearty sup port of all the residents, both morally and financially, it would be very hard to maintain such institutions, but I am sure, were they once established, the people would soon learn to ap-
 
 liberally to their support:
 Then, again in. the country, the doctor is often hampered by lack of nursing help, and to be. sure, many patient can employ a trained nurse, if available, and the present day led cross nurse, has done much to in- struct people and look after their nursing needs, but her time is very much occupied, and she has cnly. a short time to spend with each patient
 Alas, for many a good country soul, the old time neighborhood nurs- ing, impelled by sense of brotherly love, has passed out of style, and The later period, when some good domes- tic nurse could be found, the kind that did the work primarily for the love of helping afflicted humanity, has departed, till at times doctor is at his wits ends, to find some one to care for his patients, and follow out his directions.
 To me, it seems as if there is, an urgent call, and need, for a good type of young woman, with a prac- tical training in nursing, of say, six months or one year, who are not afraid to help with other duties, be- sides the patient, if emergency arose, to care for people who cannot afford or obtain trained nurses, or those who are not seriously i'll, yet must have some nursing care. A class of earnest, conscientious young wonl- en of this type, I am sure, would be a great help to country doctor. ,
 It also seems to me that hospitals in larger centers, could help in rnak- ing the rural physicians life less monotonous, by adding a certain amount of social life, and medical education, that would be of great value, indeed it seems as if their duty called them, to not only be refuge for the rural physicians pat tents, who need special care, or operative procedures, but also to be medical center, where doctors could go at stated periods, enjoy a social hour, see some surgical work, or get clinic on some interesting medical case, and thereby keep bet ter informed in the advances in medical knowledge. D..
 Surely, the country doctor needs the hospital physician, in many an emergency, but without the cooper ation of the country doctor, many hospital bed might be vacant, many necessary operation postponed.
 Each man has his place to fill, but with better mutual cooperation, would not each man become more of a help to the other, thereby not only beneftting themselves, but what is of first importance to the medical profession, beneftting their pa tients? } r
 It has been suggested, that hos pital directors, have a special room set apart, in the hospital, whare the medical men of the surrounding dIs- tricts could meet, every two weeks or month, have a lunch or smoker, and hold an informal discussion, on mcdi- cal subjects, and thus become,'a more united, better equipped medical, unit, which would not only make the prac- tice of medicine more interesting, but establish a systematic medical body, better able to instruct and pro tect the people in preventive medi- cine, and also more alert in the care of the usual sickness that is fouad in any community.
 Summary:
 To make the practice of medicine in rural communities, more attrac- tive for the present day medical man, two factors enter into the solution.
 The residents of rural communi- ties must become more interested in the need of physicians in their towns, must try, through better roads, bet ter schools, better hospital facilities, and better fees, to make their towns more attractive to young doctors, and the medical profession, itself, must wake up to it's responsibility, and the medical men in the larger centers, must lend their knowledge and cooperation, to encourage, and assist the country doctor, foS if the medical profession wishes to main