The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-06

tional and state legislative bodies ways and means of providing more medical care for the great mass o1 people of this nation are under con- sideration.
 Dr. Edward Herr, president of the Waterbury Medical association, read very carefully prepared and in structive paper on the subject al the joint dinner held by the Con- necticut branch, Catholic Central Verein of America, and the Connec- ticut branch, National Catholic Women's Union, held Sunday al Concordia Hall.
 Conventions of both organizations were held in this city over the week end with Dr. Herr sharing the speak ing program Sunday with Dr. Sabina Hart Connolly of Albertus Magnus College.
 The complete text of Dr. Herr's speech is of such importance that The Democrat prints it in full this evening. It follows:
 MT. Chairman, Rev. Father Cuny delegates, invited guests, and mem- bers of the German Catholic Socie- ties of Connecticut.
 When your committee, invited me to act as your speaker on this oc- casion, your annual meeting, I was particularly gratified to have them select me for the honor to ad- dress you and very happy to be able to accept their invitation.
 It was of particular significance as during my early days, I was SC closely associated with our local St Cecilia's church, and there received my early religious training.
 It is indeed fitting that your com mittee selected as my subject "So- cialized Medicine" as it is a matter at this time of vital importance to every one of you and your families and in fact every man, woman, and child in the nation.
 History of Medicine
 To give you the background of this subject, let us go back many centuries to the Roman and Gre clan days to the time when those two great physicians, Hippocrates 46O B. G., and Esculapius practiced the Healing Art among the poor and indigent without consideration of fees.
 Then down through the Middle Ages when the physician was con- sidered more important than the surgeon, who was at that time, the local barber.
 Up to this time and long after, there were no regular fees for Ser- vices, physician accepted what was offered him.
 It was only in the past century that any fee system was established and it has always been inaccurate and inadequate as the physician has always performed much charity wor kamong the indigent, those who work among the indigent, those who not pay. At the present day, the medical profession is doing more charity work than any other group in the world, with the exception of the clergy. There are very few phy- sicians today who gain wealth, be- cause the welfare of the patient is the aim of the physician today as it was in the past. At the present time the medical profession is doing 100000 charity work per day, in spite of their long course of educa- tion and expensive training.
 Socialized Medicines Origin
 Socialized Medicine had its origin in Germany in 1887, and through one form or another has been &C., cepted to large extent throughout Europe at the present time.
 It was not until 1911 that England adopted the Panel System.
 Later Sweden adopted plan by which each professor or staff mem- Der of a hospital receives $3,500 yearly in addition to the privilege of private practice of about $3,000. An assistant receives $2,500 in addition to the privilege of private practice of about $1 ,000 or more. Internes and doctors training in hospitals re- ceive $2500 per month. In Sweden today, the average physicians are receiving lower salaries than trades men and craftsmen who average $3,000- $4,000 per year.
 The Australian Parliament has passed a law requiring compulsory Health Insurance, whereby each physician shall have under his care a certain number of inhabitants of the population and receive state compensation of IS shillings (about $300) per year per capita. This IS proving unsatisfactory.
 At the present time over 450 dif- ferent plans of Socialized Medicine have been suggested for the United States and already there are twen- ty-four different states using one form or another of State or Social ized Medicine.
 One of the plans that is most popular and receiving considerable support is the Socialized Medicine adopted by the State of California. This plan costs the insured small weekly sum for which the patient is entitled to entire Medical care and has the privilege of selecting his own doctor among the group of physicians who have accepted this form of practice. The doctor receives his compensation from the central medical Nboard on the basis of fifty cents per unit. One unit being an office, two units a house call, and fifty units tonsillectomy, and so on according to the services rem 'dered.
 The value of the unit varies month per month according to the number of members insured and the amount of funds in the treasury of the Central Medical Board. Each physician submits his statement monthly according to the number of units of service and receives his compensation from the Central Medical Board according to the value of the unit that month.
 Many European Patterns