The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-29

Two diseases, tuberculosis and
Influenza, already are on the up
swing In certain areas.
TO remedy this the Public
Health Service Is working on q
plan for the relocation Of doc.
tors creating q medical pool, from
which doctors would be drafted"
and sent TO parts OF the country
where they are most needed.
However, tho American Medical
Association, which operates O pow
erful lobby In Washington, frownS
on this plan as O step toward
''sOcialiEed medicine" They argue
that the relocation progran would
break down state licensing laws,
(Their critics claim that actually
AMA's state and local units don't
want outsiders coming In and COM
peting with local doctorS.)
To get 70 the bottom Of all this
Senator Pepper Of Florida propog-
o. O thorough investigation by tho
Senate Education and Labor Com
mittee. Meanwhile the Office Of
War Information has made O pre-.
ilminaTy probe Of It's own. This
together with soundingS already
made by Senator Pepper discloses
the following vital facts about the
nations health:
I. There will be an average Of
only one doctor 20 every l,6OO
civilians by the end Of 1898.
.. Despite the sharp birth rate
increase the Army and Navy are
commissioning Q large number
Of Obstetricians and pediatFi-
clans.
9. The quota Of doctors for
the armed services has been
ver-subscrlbed by ~ much ~
40 per cent In some parts Of the
country.
4. The medical shortage II not
only acute In rural areas, but
also In industrial areas where
there has been o heavy influx
Of labor.
5. One reason for desperate
doctor shortage In certain sec
lions Is the fact that the Man
power COmInisslon'S medical
procurement and assignment
branch has been resisting the re-
location Of doctors, 1T the be.
hest Of state and local medical
societies.
NOTE: The Manpower Commits
sion's medical branch Is influenced
by two important members Of the
American Medical Association,
DR.. Frank Leahy former Pres
tdent Of the ANA, now chairman
Of the Manpower Medical Divi-
sion. and Dr.. Morris Fishbcin,
editor OF the ANA Journal.
CAPITAL CHAFF
Zone trouble with Washington"
says Bernie Baruch," IL that they
wait till the patient needs the
oxygen. tent before they bring in
the doctor" Harry Hopkins
complains: "A lot Of the Pres
ident's admirers ON the Hill attack
McNutt or Wlckard or someone
else, mot reallxiag that by doing 80
they were hurting their best
friend-the President. Semardo
Ibanez, secretary General Of the
Chilean Federation Of Workers,
received @ rare tribute while visit
ing In the United States-the war
ring AL and CIO gave q joint
luncheon for him. Ibanez Is max.
ing O tour Of Detroit. Chicago
New York and other industrial Gle
ties to meet U. q. Labor leaders
-. The two best men being urged
as Admiral standley's successor as
u. 8. Ambassador to Russia are
Karl Bickel. ex-head Of the Unit
ed Press. who knows the Russians
from the steppes up: and General
Philip r.. Faymonville, u. 8. Mil.
tary Attache In Moscow. who long
was scorned by other army offic.
ers because he praised the Red
Army.
ISLAND TEMPEST
Current hullabaloo over Puerto
Rico and the Tugwell Adninistra.
ton there Is more important than
@ tempest In an island teapot.
Trouble In Puerto Rico has It's re.
percussionS on the Good Neigh.
Dor policy In Latin America. Also
It stymies senatorial r0ck-throw.
s,aaruosa behind kIaa nv,vora,.tIr, ,-.,,-