Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1884 — A SURPLUS OF DOCTORS. [ARTICLE]

A SURPLUS OF DOCTORS.

Some Interentlnc Figure* Showing How the Medical Profession is Overcrowded. [Chicago Tribune.] t The number of those engaged in professional life in this country in proportion to the population, when compared with the same classes of other civilized nations, is enormous. The profession in which this is most marked is that of medicine. Those engaged in its practice exceed those of any other calling. The exact figures from the census report of 1880 shows that the United States has within its borders 85,671 physicians and surgeons, 64,137 lawyers, and 64,689 clergymen. There is one doctor to every 600 inhabitants throughout the whole Union. Confining attention to the great Northwest, of which Chicago is the commercial and educational center, the proportion becomes still smaller. In 1880 these States and Territories contained the following population and physicians: ■!■■■ • ’ Patm - Doctatlon, tors. Illinois 1T,077,871 5,839 Indiana 1,973,801 4,99:1 Aowa.. 1,621,615 3.035 Kansas 996,096 1,961 Micchican 1,636,937 2,924 Minnesota 780,773 914 Nebraska 452,402 807 Nevada ........ . .i...... ... 62,266 134 Wisconsin.,.., 1,315.497 1,549 Dakota 135,177 212 Montana - 39,1'9 77 Idaho.'VTVTVS. .. 32,610 51 Wyoming 20,789 .. 30 Colorado 194,327 570 Missouri 2.n;.8.38a.—-tUSQu Totals 14,515,200 27,709 This table shows the proportion to be nearly one to 524—the like of which is not to be found within any equal area of the earth’s surface. Since then .the manufacture of doctors has proceeded at an increasing rate. The forty-two medical schools within these limits—leaving out of account students who attend Eastern colieges—have in the last three years granted flic title of Doctor of Medicine to 5,364 persons, and there are from these same States, 3,549 students; in the various colleges of the country preparing for the practice of medicine. The figures show the country to be full of doctors. Indeed, every cross-roads where a grocery and black-smith-shop are located has the shingle of a medical man in plain view. A large number of inhabitants have settled in the Territories to the West, and thither the recent graduates, reenforced by a goodly number from Eastern schools, have gone to offer to the new settlers their professional services. No reliable figures can be obtained from this section, but a personal inspection reveals the fact that no vacancy remains, and' renders probable the assumption that the proportion exceeds that of the Far West in 1880. ‘ Significant of this is the fact of no village of 300 inhabitaus being without its practitioner. Eastward the matter is in the same condition, and in Illinois alone lias there been a decrease in the number of physicians. By the figures of the report of the State Board of it now has 3,331,644 inhabitants and 5,716 doctors—an increase in the former of 253,773 and loss in the latter of 183, and dropping the ratio from 1 to 522 down to 1 to 582. This is due entirely to our State Board of Health. In the cities the crowded state of the profession is still more marked, as the following table demonstrates; Population. Doctors. Ito Chicago 5413,185 _ 918 ■_ _ 548 Denver ~ 35,629 137 260 Detroit ~116,340 248 469 IharxhapoliH. T)8,538 261 259 Kansas Citv 55.785 167 332 Milwaukee. 115,587 141 819 Minneapolis...... 46,887 121 387 St. Louis 350,518 7347 475 St. Paul 41,473 75 553