stated that this unit is being opened by the direction of Fifteenth Air Force in compliance with overall U.S. Air Force policy.
Discussion: Dr. Harry Thompson--"I think this is serious enough to warrant a letter with four copies and it should be sent through channels. Unless we take a determined stand they will go ahead and shove it right down their throats. A letter should be sent telling why we object." Dr. Beaton--"Why should not this information go to our Senators and Congressmen?" Dr. Manning--"Would I be amiss to appraise the A.M.A. of this? It was moved by Dr. Harry Thompson that Colonel Kirk's letter be answered stating our views regarding the establishment of military physicians to care for civilian personnel, and that adequate number of copies be forwarded through channels and to Senators and Congressmen and to the Arizona Medical Association. Motion was seconded by Dr. Kent, and carried.
The President announced that no report from the Censors regarding the newspaper advertisements of Dr. Schneck and Dr. George N. Lewis has yet been received. This is to be brought up at the next meeting.
A letter from the Arizona Medical Association stating that they had been asked by the State Elks Association to obtain information regarding the future use of the Elks' State Hospital at Tucson was read by the Secretary. Dr. Manning, Chief of Staff at Pima County Hospital, stated that anywhere from eight to twelve overflow patients from Pima County Hospital are to be sent to Elks' Hospital, and arrangements have been made to pay for them on a per diem basis. This arrangement is agreeable to both the Elks and the Board of the Pima County Hospital. Dr. Steen stated that the Elks Hospital now has about 25 patients, not counting those from County Hospital.
A letter from Dr. Marriner W. Merrill offering the assistance of the Public Relations Board of the Arizona Medical Association to Pima County Medical Association with any of its problems was read by the Secretary. Discussion: Dr. Lewis inquired about requests members of the Society are getting for papers to be used for publication in Phoenix newspapers. Dr. Hugh Thompson explained that the Council agreed, at the suggestion of the Public Relations Board, that article be prepared by physicians for newspaper consumption by physicians outside the community, thus avoiding criticism of advertising. That this could be started locally if Pima County Society desires it. He asked if the Board of Directors wished the Public Relations Board to provide publicity on medical subjects for publication here. Dr. Harry Thompson advised that such publicity had been well received in Phoenix. Dr. Hugh Thompson thought papers on the cost of medical care might be of value. Dr. Harry Thompson moved that this matter be referred to the Publicity Committee for report next meeting. Dr. Manning thought this idea of publicity a good one. Dr. Farness suggested that it might be well to get someone who is retired from active practice to write such papers. Dr. Manning stated that he had been asked to write one in lay language, that he had done so; also that he had been told they wanted papers written by physicians in active practice in the State. Dr. Steen remarked that such articles are published in the Arizona Republic, but that he supposed the same ones could not be used in the local papers. Dr. Kent moved that the Board of Directors go on record as approving the plan whereby newspaper publicity or favorable public relations be published in our paper by out of town doctors. This motion was seconded by Dr. Manning, and carried. Dr. Steen stated that it was agreed at the last meeting of the Public Relations Board to set up an editorial committee which would handle all this for the magazine that the Society gets out, and for these articles in the paper.
