Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1919 — ANOTHER LETTER FROM DR. M. D. GWIN. [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER LETTER FROM DR. M. D. GWIN.

Dear Folks:— ’ i ~5 I want to tell you about the people here but waul'd, much prefer to tell it verbally, and I hope it will be possible for me to do so this spring. This center is fast being evacuated of patients and it will be only a questiOßr of time until the people demand their hotels for the influx of the health seeking people who- make this town the famous resort that it is. - And I want to come 'home for the work left dan be done by younger physicians who are not domesticated as I have become. * Of course, our location is ideal, the weather is mild, but rainy— we can see snow on the mountains to the south of us, but in this valley the grass is still green, garden truck is Still growing and some flowers creeping up through the sheltered places make it pleasant to stay here. Also I am busy, 'but just Want to go home. Our surgery is becoming very scarce how, but the medical cases are increasing. lam now doing double duty. Recently my. commanding officer advanced me to chief of the medical service and as such 1 do not do ward duty, except in supervising, but do the consulting work —meeting the medical men under me on their cases and also seeing the obscure cases under the care of the surgery men. This particular position in the hospital by custom entitles one to his majority, 'but according to the recent order there are no promotions allowed over here. Our government seems to do everything to discourage merit and also to prevent future enlistments if another war comes. In addition to the position as Medical Chief I am ,as you know, Medical Property Officer, having six men working for me and responsible for all the property used by our unit. I will aidmilt that the experience 'has been great for us over here and am sorry that all! the Rensselaer physicians could not* have had this experience in France, but having had it, weighing the matter carefully, and toe need of busy physicians constantly on the decrease here, it is only niaitural that we want back with out own patients and home folks. Previous to my enlistment and ever since, I have never wanted to leave Rensselaer, and if the authorities will let us go home this spring, I wiill never regret letting, Uncle Sam do with me as he saw fit. I wrote a letter to the home paper when we were in LeHiavre two m orJths ago but I suppose very Kittle of the mail goes through. Very little gets over here, that is certain. I would like to walk into the drug store tomorrow morning and pass the time o’ day, aind maybe it will come true before long. Sincerely. GWIN.