Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-30
Or. hUeLEY r. OWEN
On Medical Work With Police and
Eiremen

Flremen
THE City Of Philadelphia takes better
care Of its policemen and Its fremen
thnn any other municipality In the country:
according to DR.. Hubley X. Owen, Gnlet
surgeon Of the Bureaus of Police and flre.
Every possible measure Is taken to keep tne
members OF those two bureaus In such phys
ical condition that they are always able 70
give their best efforts to the city which
employs them.
IT consider the members Of the Police
and Fire Bureaus" said DR.. owen, IN
the same relation to the city as the employees
Of great industrial plant are to their
employers. The medical supervision aims
to give to the city the greatest number OF
working days per man. and TO make the
working and living conditions Of these men
as safe and healthy as is possible. Our
vision and the treatment OF those who are
sick or injured. and also the prevention OF
accidents and the prevention of sickness.
No Safety First Hero
'Jt Is impossible to take safety hrst' az
text with the work OF the policemen ana
fremen. because these men are the protec-
tors and guardians Of public life and prop
erty. They cannot think first OF their own
safety.
"Their duties oblige them to take chances
which the employees Of industrial establish
ments are seldom called upon to take
riots. the arrest Of daring bandits raids,
conflagrntions are ali part Of the days
work. Neither the policeman nor the hre :.
man can think of his own safety, but must
remember first his duty to the public. These
men represent the first line OF citEs de.
fense, and hold position similar to that OF
an army (which guards It.
1.-The safety of the city. therefore, must
depend in great measure upon the physical
condition Of these men who are called upon
10 protect 1t. Every possible precautlon ls
taken TO prevent illness and INJURY, ana
whom ,ncapncitated because of either OF these
conditions we strive to give them every
assistance toward an early recovery
1--WE guard against accidents as far as
poss!ble from the beginning OF their train
Ing. Lectures given at the training schools
Of the two bureaus include thorough hrSe.
and dangers of the more common wounds
md Injuries to which they will be sub
iccted, and the prevention OF diseases, such
os tuberculosis, typhoid, etc. Maintaining
good physical condition OF the members OF
the two bureaus Is by no means an easy
work. There are few malingerers In either
bureau. They are soon discovered and
weeded out.
Injuries to Firemen
.,More fremen are injured in answering
alarms Of fire or in returning from fires
than are actually injured during conia :
grafton They are injured Wh!le using the
oiIding mole or while boarding the fire ap-
paratus as 1t leaves the engine house.
'"The esprit de corps In both bureaus Is
exccIleut II has been thought that 1t is
| perhaps better in the Fire Bureau than IN
| The Police Bureau. This is easily explained,
| In the Fire Bureau the men are housed to-.
rpther, often for a long perio" of time, and
| become well acquainted, while in the Police
Rureau the men are not housed together,
and do not often have occasion to work
| together.
'Thcre are many acts OF hero'sm per-
formed by the men Of both bureaus. The
nublic is apt to learn Of the heroism of the
! bremen because of the attention which il
attracts; whereas a police officer may have
lone battle with desperate bandit OF
| ~bich few will ever know, Again, It ID
| easier TO do heroic deeds while working In
company than working alone
| ..The men are of high type they art
| modest and they are faithful city employees
They deserve every consideration from the
nnbi,c. They are most appreciatve.
Growth Of the Work
! ."The growth Of the medical work In con
| rection with the two bureaus has increased
| Nth rapid strides. When l first becam,
| associated with tie department in 1907
| about 1000 patrolmen and fremcn wer,
visited because of sickness and injury durin.
the year. In January his year 1901 visit
were made. and In February, 1912 wer,
called upon or visited my office.
''The two bureaus have naturally In
creased In numbers. The chief reason fo