THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2510, 10 July 1915, Page 4

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE WAR

The brief discussion which' took pliico in the Houso of Representatives yesterday.. afternoon on. the question of utilising the services of the medical profession in connection with sick and wounded soldiers would seem to suggest that the Public Health Department had felt it desirable to interfere as little as possible with the private practices of members of the profession. A letter from Dr. Gibbs which we publish this morning suggests that the attitude of the Defcnco Minister in not calling on the medical profession for further assistance than has been done is resented'by the doctors. They also complain that their offer of assistance was not replied to. Reading between the lines it would seem that the Department and the doctors to some extent have bee.a at cross-pur-poses. The Defence Department, knowing the steady drain which must be made on tho' medical profession for the purposes of the reinforcements being sent to the frpnt as well as for the Hospital Ship, and recognising that care must be taken to prevent medical ■ men being withdrawn from districts whore their services are required- by the civil population, has hesitated to make any unnecessary demands on tho doctors. The doctors on the othej-hand have been anxious to help in every possible ■ way, and feel' that they havo been slighted. Dk. Valintine, Chief Health_ Officer, has_ had under consideration the question' of organising the medical men, and apparently has done a great deal of work in preparation for future emergencies. In his opinion it would seem that it is not necessary yet to call on the doctors as a profession, for . their assistance. He should bo in a position to know. It is pleasing to_ think that the medical profession is eager to help in every way possible; , and the failure to reply to the communication sent by Dk. Gibbs certainly calls for explanation. But it does seem to lis desirable to suggest that faultfinding. though it frequently serves a useful enough purpose in stimu-' lating the efforts of these in authority, may bo overdone, and that-pro-per allowance should be made for tT}e exceptional circumstances of the situation. . We 'are faced at tie present time with ■ conditions unexampled in the world's history; fresh emergencies and unexpected demands are constantly arising, and in judging those' in authority it is only just that those who aro ready to criticise should not lose sight of the difficulties which have been overcome and the successes which have been achieved.