- 1. Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, Philadelphia.
- May, 1916.
- May, 1917.
- 2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C.
- Bulletins as follows:
- No. 144. Industrial Court of the Cloak Industry, 1914.
- No. 196. Proceedings of Employment Managers Conference, Minneapolis, 1916.
- No. 198. Collective Agreements in the Men’s Clothing Industry, 1916.
- No. 202. Proceedings of Employment Managers Conference, Boston, 1916.
- No. 208. Profit Sharing in the United States, 1916. 20 cents.
- No. 222. Welfare Work in British Munition Factories, 1917. 10 cents.
- No. 221. Hours, Fatigue, and Health in British Munition Factories, 1917. 15 cents.
- No. 227. Proceedings of Employment Managers Conference, Philadelphia, 1917.
- No. 229. Wage Payment Legislation in the United States, 1917.
- No. 230. Industrial Efficiency and Fatigue in British Munitions Factories, 1917. 20 cents.
- 3. Emerson, Harrington. The Twelve Principles of Efficiency. New York, 1917.
- 4. Handling Men. Chicago, 1917.
- 5. Hoxie, R. F. Scientific Management and Labor. New York, 1915.
- 6. Industrial Management (monthly). New York.
- 7. Jones, Edward D. The Administration of Industrial Enterprises, New York, 1916.
- 8. Kelly, Roy W. Hiring the Worker. New York, 1918.
- 9. Metcalf, H. C. Report of Committee on Vocational Guidance. New York, 1916, National Association of Corporation Schools.
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- 11. Price, Geo. M. The Modern Factory, Safety, Sanitation, and Welfare. New York, 1914.
- 12. Stimpson, W. C. Prevention of Disease and Care of the Sick. Washington, 1917, United States Public Health Service. 50 cents.
- 13. Tarbell, Ida M. New Ideals in Business. New York, 1917.
- 14. Tolman, William H. Social Engineering. New York, 1909.
- 15. Trade Specifications and Occupational Index of Professions and Trades in the Army. Washington, 1918. War Department Document 774. Office of The Adjutant General. Gratis.
- 16. Webb, S. B. Problems of Modern Industry (an English book). New York, 1913.
PLAN No. 915. THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AS A VOCATION
Acknowledgment
For the material of this monograph the Federal Board for Vocational Education is indebted to the J. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pa., through its publication “Training and Rewards of the Physician,” and the Collins Publicity Service, Philadelphia, Pa., through its publication “Medicine,” School Edition, Teachers’ Auxiliary, Number One, of which this pamphlet is largely an abstract. The monograph was prepared by Dr. H. L. Smith under the direction of Charles H. Winslow, Chief of the Research Division of the Federal Board. Acknowledgment is due to Dr. John Cummings, of the Research Division, for editorial assistance.
Nature of the Physician’s Work
The work of the physician is twofold. It is his duty to cure those who are sick and to keep the well from becoming sick. Usually he is not called upon until there is illness, so that the bulk of his work is with the sick. There are two general fields of activity for a physician, that of the general practitioner, and that of the specialist. Physicians in rural communities and small towns and cities must be prepared to deal with any type of accident or disease. In cities the tendency is to specialize on some particular disease or on disturbances connected with some particular part of the body. Some specialists in large cities are able to confine their activities to office work altogether.
The work of the physician is difficult. There is a great mental strain connected with his work, for often even the life of the patient is at stake. With the general practitioner there is a great physical strain due to irregular meals and sleep, and trips in all kinds of weather. Particularly is this true of the practice of medicine for its curative effects. More and more thought in medical science is being directed in modern times to preventive medicine, that is, to ways and means of keeping well rather than of getting well. The preventive work can be done under conditions more nearly those that the physician himself chooses rather than under conditions forced upon him as is usual in the case of curative work.
Physical Characteristics Essential to Success
Of all the professions the practice of medicine makes the greatest demands along the line of a good sound body. In some professions a man with even severe physical defects can, through careful living, be successful. Good health, however, is essential to the physician in order that he may successfully withstand the long periods of strain, the irregular hours for meals and sleep, the bad weather he is often forced to go out in, and the dangers of infection.