This Monday is called Doctors' Day and this week, Medical Doctors' Week in a proclamation issued by the mayor. Observances are sponsored by the Woman's Auxiliary to the Orleans Parish Medical Society, The occasion is a good time to recall the advances made in the science of healing and prevention.
On this day, 117 years ago, Dr. Crawford W. Long of Georgia first used ether as an anesthetic in surgery. Since then, contributions to treatment of the sick even from one medical center like New Orleans would fill a library. 'In hospitals, doctors contribute time to clinic and supervisory work; in the medical schools of Tulane and Louisiana State university, more than half of the doctors on the faculties take no pay for their hours of teaching. The doctors well deserve their "Day," and medical science its "Week."
