Evening star., 1945-12-30
Medical Bureau Offers
Aid in Finding Doctors
During Cold Epidemic

The District Medical Society last
night advised families without a
family physician, who need treat
ment for colds, grippe or other
respiratory illness. to call the Medi-
cal Bureau to locate doctor.
Dr.. Walter r. Stokes chairman
OF the society's committee on pub
lie relations, said:
1--WE recognize that many persons
are having difficulty locating ply
sicians to make home calls. We
would suggest to them that If they
do not have their own physicians
that they call the Medical Bureau,
which will put them in touch with
doctor.
200 Physicians Listed.
Many doctors recently returned
from the military service are listed
with the bureau, which can be
reached by calling Republic 6100.
Theodore Wiprud, manager of the
bureau and secretary of the Medical
Society, said about 200 physicians
are listed by the bureau to accept
emergency calls.
Situated at ITO M street NV,
it is operated by the Medical So
ciety under a committee headed by
DR.. Joseph Horgan. Maintenance
costs are borne by physicians who
use its service.
Center Flooded BY Calls
At the bureau last night, one of
several operators on duty said the
center had been flooded" with calls
during the last three weeks from
persons seeking medical treatment
for respiratory ailments.
Mr.. Wiprud pointed out. however,
that the number of calls during the
current epidemic has not reached
the proportions of two years ago.
Then, he said, extra switchboard
operators were employed.
Today Washington has approx
mately 1000 physicians in active
practice, Mr.. Wiprud estimated, In
cluding colored physicians. This
total is about 200 less than the num-
ber before the war, he said.
More than 80 physicians have re-
turned from military service to date,
he explained.
A list of physicians who have
returned from the armed forces is
published in an adjoining column.
Serious Cases Not Alarming.
Commenting on the epidemic, DR..
Stokes said:
There is undoubtedly widespread
minor respiratory illness, such as
colds and their complications. There
are, however, not an alarming num-
Der of pneumonia or serious respira-
tory cases."
A check by the War Department
indicated there was mo appreciable
absenteeism due to illness"
From the Navy Department came
the statement that there was "a
very slight increase" in absenteeism
due to illness in the last two weeks
among civilian workers. This, il
was said, was considered normal
at this time of the year.
Hospitals Report Many Cases.
Among naval personnel, the Naval
Dispensary noted from 80 to 10(
absent daily during the last few
weeks, but this, also, it was said
was considered average for thi.
season"
A telephone check of hospitals
yesterday showed many respirator,
cases.
Doctors Hospital. reporting about
rs pneumonia cases, said this wal
somewhat more than usual" Gar.
field said about so of approximately
100 medical department patients
were respiratory cases, and that this
number, while not unusual" was
more than were hospitalized at the
same time last year.
Six pneumonia and influenza cases
were reported by George Washing.
ton University Hospital, which sale
this was mo more than usual al
this time of year" Georgetown
Hospital said there was ''nothine
unusual" about it's total of respira.
tory cases, while at Providence Hos.
pital, with 40 to Is grippe case.
and II or IA" cases of pneumonia
officials said the total was mot alb.
normal"