The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-12-08
Medicine Has
Made Advance

rule reached so high degree of devel
opment as in the British Isles. In many
tropical countries such as India, Java
the Philippines, both curative and pre-
ventive medicine are administered by
corps of trained government officials
In all parts of the world there is an in
creasing demand for men and women
competent tosdo different kinds Of pub
tic health work.
"A forecast Of the probable number
needed during the next ten years in the
United States calls for 10000 persons
Curative Branch Magnified.
''It Is not to be denied that ON the
whole the best ability has been drafted
into the service Of curative rather than
of preventive medicine. More thar
four hundred replies to questions re
Gently put to students now enrolled in
leading American medical schools dis
close an attitude of ignorance, indiffer
ence, even antipathy with respect to q
career in public health work. The rea,
sons these young men give for not con,
sidering at all or for deciding against
such a life work are: U 1t Is not q
socially recognized, clearly profession
allied calling; (2) there are no special
schools for adequate training. (3)
tenure and promotion depend not on
merit but political pull az salaries
are meager; (5) the private practice OF
curative medicine Is more reputable,
Independent, profitable and satisfying
'These young men are in many re-
spects uniformed and misinformed
Preventive medicine has already gained
the status of profession and Is max
ing rapid progress in public favor. At
least two special schools of high rank
are offering a thorough and appropriate
training. An increasing number Of i'm
portant posts are freeing themselves
from the trammels of 'spoiIs politics.
"The salary received by a health
officer of full rank probably exceeds
the income of the average private prac-
titioner.
Private practice has many disad-
vantages excessive overtime and night
work, poor collections, the necessity of
dunning patients, little chance to study,
constant economic pressure, a heavy
burden Of unpaid service, competition
with quacks and charlatans, temptation
to surrender scientific ideals. Public
health service, on the other hand. is
making a strong appeal to many men
and women of imagination, courage
and social spirit just because it does
not involve most Of these things and
offers many positive attractions.
"Yet it must be admitted that the
sceptical undergraduates are not
wholly wrong. Public ignorance and
Indifference, invidious comparisons.
lack of sound training in many officials,
prejudice against law enforcement, de-
lay the full appreciation of what pre-
ventiye medicine means to society. The
establishment of adequate schools has
been recent event. A few dishearten-
ing instances of political tampering
with health departments have occurred
of late. 1t is also true that the level
Of pay is far too low. Even the few
highest salaries suffer painfully in
comparison with the annual incomes of
leading private consultants and sur
geons.
Politics Must Be Kept Out.
"a greater share of popular ad-
miration, larger freedom from control,
close personal relations with appre-
ciative individuals, a deeper sense of
professional pride, probably are still
the portion of the practitioner of cura-
tive medicine.
"The cry is frequently heard that
this governmental service or that must
be taken out Of politics. In one sense
this is absolutely essential to eff
cheney. A public function which calls
for technical expertness is hopelessly
handicapped If it be treated as the
spoils of political boss or of victori-
Gus party machine. To no public serv-
ice does this apply more strikingly
than to a department of health. The
moment efforts are made to influence
appointments, promotions, salaries
policies, law enforcement, by political
pressure for individual or party ends
the decentralization Of the work begins
1.-THE degree 10 which such things
are possible is an index of the intelli-