Board of Directors
December 8, 1950
Members present were: Hugh C. Thompson, President
Harry E. Thompson W.R. Hewitt
Edward M. Hayden H.D. Cogswell
Harold W. Kohl A.N. Shoun
Robert E. Hastings C.J. Newcomb
Meeting was called to order by the President.
Report of School Health Committee was given by Dr. Laidlaw. Items of her report, which will be submitted in full at the end of the year, were that a series of 100 2nd grade children were skin tested for coccidioidomycosis and 37% were found to be positive; and that 166 children have been treated, of which 52 were T&A's [ tonsil and adenoids ], 42 visual and glasses, 4 glasses, and others visited private doctors. The committee recommends that, if possible next year, this committee include a member of every specialty dealt with, to include specifically a neuropsychiatrist, dermatologist, gynecologists and an internist. Dr. Laidlaw's report was accepted with thanks.
Publicity Committee activities and expenditures were reported by Dr. Brainard. It was moved by Dr. Harry Thompson that this report be accepted. Dr. Hastings seconded the motion and it was carried.
The President asked for suggestions concerning publicity for the coming year, and Dr. Brainard stated that it was the general opinion at state publicity meetings that very little value attached to spending money over the radio; that this probably depended upon locality, but that several surveys found more could be gained by publicity through newspapers and through closer cooperation with local papers. The President [ stated ? ] that Dr. Farness had suggested educational publicity of local interest and value, to educate in other things besides medical service available; for instance to explain the cost of medical service as compared with other services which the consumer buys. Dr. Kohl said that this had occurred to him while reading the editorial in the Star of this date, and that while he did not consider it a good idea to answer it, he felt that certain points could be brought out in just a paid ad which might do some good in counteracting misgivings the public might have after reading this editorial. Dr. Kohl left a map showing gains and losses by state of physician personnel in the United States up to July 1, 1949, and this showed Arizona to have a +66% increase of doctors over 1946, and suggested that this might be taken over by the committee to see if it would be worthwhile. He also suggested making up a like map of population increase. Dr. Hastings here said that he thought the medical profession is doing its utmost to lose dignity. He thought that "when we enter a rat race with that fellow (Mr. Matthews [ Mathews ], publisher) we are outnumbered and just as sure as we do, he will make fools of us. I think the less we quarrel with him the more dignity we gain. His attitude is that we have a business and my feeling is that we have a profession. It behooves us constantly to keep after our members to make it impossible for such matters as exorbitant fees, etc., to come up. The minute we fight with that fellow he will see that we get mud on us; when he has nothing else to quarrel about he will fight with us."
Dr. Newcomb inquired whether this publisher should be allowed to print untruths.
Dr. Hugh Thompson felt that something might be done by putting in a paid ad such as Dr. Kohl suggested; that enough people would get the point. He stated that he did not think this would cause the profession to lose dignity, but would simply be stating a fact of truth, and would be a matter of having enough pride to defend when unjustly accused. It was his opinion that
