Evening star., 1940-07-28
Foresees Passing of
Country Doctor
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

CoSii plyolIldll WOulu nave equal
number Of persons to treat in the event
of sickness, there would be one physi-
clan for each 300 inhabitants. The num-
ber of persons for each physic an has
been increasing for several decades, al
though each year medical colleges are
graduating a larger number Of young
physicians. Medical facilities in general
are also increasing, and statistics Of the
Census Bureau show that the number of
deaths resulting from various diseases is
decreasing.
In Alabama, North and South Caro-
lima, Arizona, Idaho. Mississippi, North
and South Dakota and Montana there Is
one physician to approximately 1850
people. These States are largely rural
and according to survey made by the
General Education Board, the number of
physicians in rural sections, including
towns of 1000 to 1000 population, is
rapidly decreasing each year. Almost
one-third of the towns with population
of 1000 or less with physicians IS years
ago have none now. 1t is believed by
many that the whole generation of coun-
try doctors will disappear within the next
25 years.
Relatively few medical graduates locate
in small towns and distinctly rural dis
tricts. New methods of transportation
and improved highways have in part
contributed to this condition, not always
detrimentally. Although physicians are
able to reach patients in a short time
by use of the automobile, the general
practice of mileage charge as a part OF
the fee has had tendency to discourage
calling a physician except in cases of
extreme illness.
From the approximately 30 medical
schools in the United States some 1000
physicians graduate each year, replacing
that number of physicians who die or re-
tire from active duty. The annual phy-
sician increase approximates 500-a SUM-
cient number to correspond with the In
crease of population. There are slightly
more than 10000 licensed physicians in
the United States.
Since the tendency of the medical pro-
fession is toward specialization, more
than 10000 physicians limit their work
to some particular field, while a slightly
larger number make speciality OF GER
tain types of disease, but do not limit
their practice. This tendency toward
specialization has had its direct effect on
small towns and rural communities and
has thrown greater burden on the gen.
eral practitioner In some instances.
for medical care.
Among the Nations medical facilities
is the large number Of persons engaged
in some phase of medical work who are
not classified as regular medical prac-
titioners. The estimated total personnel
employed in the care and prevention Of
illness is near 100000, which includes
10000 dentists. 100000 trained nurses.
10000 practical nurses, 100000 hospital
employees, 100000 pharmacists and nearly
10000 drug clerks, in addition to physi-
clans assistants, osteopaths, naturopaths,
chropractors and numerous persons per.
mitted TO render treatment in some form.
There are about 1000 hospitals In the
United States. The number of hospital
beds has been on gradual increase
during the past Is years. and now in
cludes approximately 100000, the largest
number of these being assigned to nerv-
Gus and mental patients. General physi-
cal conditions rank next and tuberculosis
takes third place.
Federal, State and local governments
provide more than so per cent of hospital
beds. and non-profit organizations ap-
proximately Is per cent. The number Of
hospitals maintained primarily as busi-
ness enterprises constitutes the smallest
group.
The number Of public and private clin-
les and X-ray departments Of hospitals
is also on the gradual increase, indicat-
ing the importance Of and interest in
proper diagnosis. In 20-year period,
the number of clinics increased from 600
to 5000. In recent years there has been
rapid development of health centers,
most of them placing emphasis on pre-
vention rather than cure. Many Of
these centers are community enterprises
operated comparatively.
Hospital and clinic facilities, however,
as in the case of physicians, are not
evenly distributed on the basis of popu-
lation. A survey shows that more than
40 per cent of the counties in the United
States have no hospitals for general COM
munity use. States show range from
hospital bed per $50 persons in Wiscon-
sin to l bed per $50 persons in South
Carolina. Small towns and cities have,
in proportion to population, fewer hos
pital facilities than larger cities.
4 +
Appropriations by Federal and State
governments to maintain hospitals and
clinics have shown a marked increase In
the last two decades. More than IS
agencies in the Federal Government
are doing some type Of medical
work. Chief of these is the United
States Public Health Service, the func-
ton of which Is to render important
service in the prevention and control
of epidemics, conduct research, and su-
pervise Government hospitals. Allied
with this service is the Childrens Bu-
reaU which disseminates information
regarding infant mortality and the pre-
vention of diseases among children.
Free medical care is increasing. For
example, there are incorporated in the
compensation laws covering the majority