DEARTH OF DOCTORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 94, 14 January 1918, Page 3

DEARTH OF DOCTORS

women fast filling the ranks;

For some time past, as the public are aware, there has been a very considerable shortage of medical men both in the army ana in civil practice, says an English paper. The civilian shortage has been felt chieiiy in the hospitals, fromv which so many members of the staffs have been taken in order to cope with the requirements of the Army. The provinces have suffered in this respect equally with the metropolis. The entrance of America into the war has, however, helped materially to improve the situation as regards the dearth of army doctors, large numbers of whom are coming/ over with* the forces, but in spite of the large number of women who are now entering the medical, profession, it is probable that the shortage experienced in civil life will continue until they have had time to complete their course of training. When the war broke out there were about 30,000 medical men in this country, and only about 1500 medical women, but lately there has been an enormous increase of women students at the medical schools, and in the opinion of a leading female member of the medical profession-the women will very likely outnumber'the men in about 20 years' time., Even in five years' time, when the students noiv under training will have finished their course, there will be a considerable influx of women doctors into private practice. "This must naturally'follow from the present situation created by the, war," said this lady, "for wliile' the men's medical schools are empty owing to the students being with the colours, the women's schools are filled really to overflowing. The London School of Medicine for Women, for instance, has been obliged to extend its laboratories and to increase its teaching staff during the war in order to cope with the large number of students. The school has

450 students on its books; the entry this year was 120, as against 112 last October, and I anticipate that this rate will probably increase as times goes on.

"An interesting point is that during the war a good number of the schools which have been exclusively for men hitherto have begun to canvass for women students as well. King's College, Charing Cross, University, and St. George's Hospitals, schools are absolutely depleted of men, and are now throwing the schools open to women. Many women have already started there. Edinburgh and Glasgow have also, I hear, experienced a great increase in women students since the war started.

"Women are just as well fitted for the medical profession as men," added our informant, in reply to a question, "and they score over men in one important particular—they don't smoke and drink. In laboratory work the women are extremely good. Their attention, and interest in detail is a great advantage. I think the medical profession in the future will go largely into the hands of women."

A notable example of women's success in medical practice and management is seen in the military hospital inEndell Street, which was started in May, 1915, and is staffed entirely by women, under the control of the War Office. It is self-contained, the medical staff numbering 16, and there is no visiting staff. Tho_ hospital is run on exactly the : same lines as a R.A.M.C. hospital, and is so far the only one staffed by women. As the results have proved so eminently satisfactory, it will probably be the pioneer of several similar institutions.

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