Regular Meeting
May 11, 1943.
The regular monthly meeting for May was held May 11th, 1943 in the recreation hall of the Veterans Hospital, the Pima County Medical Society being guests of the Staff of that Hospital.
In the absence of the Secretary, Dr. Hayden was appointed acting Secretary by Dr. Presson, President.
A Committee report was made by Dr. Webster regarding the National Physicians' Committee. She said that Dr. Edward H. Carey [ Cary ] of Dallas, Texas is President and Dr. Braash [ Braasch ] is Secretary, and that this Committee is in no way affiliated with the American Medical Association, but that its endeavors were endorsed by the House of Delegates of that Association and some 15,000 of its members have personally contributed to it. She listed several State and County medical societies which have contributed and gave the ration per member of several of these societies. The N.P.C. is interested in all great medical movements. The local Committee appointed by Dr. Presson to report on the N.P.C. (Drs. Webster, Bensema and Clyne) are all in favor of a contribution to the N.P.C. (It was moved by Dr. Webster and seconded by Dr. Faris that the Pima County Medical Society be balloted by mail as to the amount to be contributed by the Society. Motion carried---- This was the final motion, an objection being raised by Dr. Davison to the first specified amount of $15.00 per member, since a majority of the membership was not present.)
Dr. Presson reported on the satisfactory scientific and financial returns of the meeting of the Arizona State Medical Association recently held in Tucson.
A letter was read, addressed to Dr. Presson in regard to need for medical services at Comstock Hospital due to the resignation of Dr. Laidlow [ Laidlaw ]. Dr. Bugbee volunteered to see these patients temporarily until other arrangements can be made.
A letter from Dr. Hayden stating the Pima County Board of Supervisors were alarmed at the possibility of shortage of hospital beds might arise from the closing of the Desert Sanatorium was read, and Dr. Presson discussed a letter which he had received from the Board of Supervisors in regard to encouraging the Desert Sanatorium to remain open during the summer months. Discussion of these letters was opened by Dr. Davison, who said that as Medical Director he was responsible for its closing. The Desert Sanatorium is a non-profit institution whose deficits are made up by the Erickson Trust Fund, and the Sanatorium is now operating as a general hospital, has funds to operate, but cannot remain open without a proper medical and nursing staff. In the past year only 214 of 972 admitted patients were local people and most of these 214 were obstetrical cases. He stressed the inability of obtaining adequate nursing care, adequate dietetic service, trained kitchen help and difficulties encountered with local laundry facilities. He said the Desert Sanatorium would be happy to remain open if the County Society can help solve the problem.
