DOCTORS FOR THE WAR.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2856, 29 January 1916, Page 3

DOCTORS FOR THE WAR.

ARE TOO MANY MEN BEING SENT? An iinpoa-tanit statetmemt with regard to tho supply of medical men for military purposes; is made by the Medical Journal of Australia, which says: — "We learn from several reliable so.uirces that' the position in Egypt and in the Mediteraatnean has undergone a. marked change. AA'hile the profession is being depleted at an almost ada-ruiing extent at Home, able and keen men in the A.A.M.C. are seeking to do to pass tile time. One medical officer of fthe No. 1 Australian Generai Hospital, writing to a medical frjeaid, expressed his pleasure on learning that his friend was not coming out, at all events for a time. He pointed out tliat many of the medical officers were ' tumbling over themselvs 'looking for work. He had charge of 150 bedis, of which 50 were empty, amd he expressed the opinion that they were likely to remain emipty until aiter tho winter. Toward flue end of October very few severely-woundedi soldiers arrived at Men a. In regard to. the position at; Leiriuos, it is aaid that some of the niedical officers spend their time iishing arid shooting. Tlie only busy men at present appear to be the men holding special appointments in the stationary hospitals or .those -attached to regimiernits. Many of the men on active sarvico are doing most useful work afc Home. If these men were sent abroad before there was any real need, leas able men would be called upon io perform the .miliflatry duties which they are_ performing at present in a. most satisfactory mainmeir, and i'tieidanlially a second man would in aill probability he. required to carry out tihe civtil work which these men somehow or .other find time to do. Since the miilibary authorities do not appea.r to take info consideration the effect which a continuous call on thr profess-Jcn must have on hospital and private practice within! the Commonwealth, we feeli .impelled to urge members to delay for a* time in offering their services to the principal medical officers 0 f the various military districts, unless they wall go a.s reinr forceimemts for field service. Later, when 1 Mr Hughes has raised his 50,000. their services will be required. The Department for Defence may rest assured that, whatever may happen at Ho.me. there we'll not be a sliortiage of medical men at the. front. But there is no sense in seindrnjr more men forward thaji are actually required." -