Says Medical Service Is Satisfactory

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

On January 5 I injured my arm playing basketball in Hemenway Gymnasium. Two days later my roommate visited me in the hospital and showed me a letter in the CRIMSON written by another freshman who must have been present when I had my accident. I'm sure that the letter which criticized the lack of medical equipment in Harvard's buildings and the amount of time that it took for the doctor to get to me was well meant, and I want to thank the author for his concern for me and especially for future emergency cases.

However, I doubt if there was a real need for his writing the letter. First of all, the doctor did not take a half hour to reach me as the letter stated. I remember the time clearly, since at the time I was quite concerned about it, and I'm quite sure that the doctor was there in a little over 20 minutes. Furthermore, considering the trouble it is to get through traffic and other obstacles on the way to Harvard and particularly to Hemenway, I should think that an emergency case that gets a doctor in even half an hour is extremely fortunate. Secondly, I don't think that an emergency case that gets a doctor in even half an hour is extremely fortunate. Secondly I don't think that it is really very practical to have medical equipment in Harvard's buildings for several reasons. In the first place, there are too many buildings to make such a venture reasonably valuable. Also, there are very few people who know how to employ most of the things that would be provided, and there is very little need to employ anything beyond a tourniquet, which can be made out of ordinary clothing, when a doctor can be present in a half an hour.

I again want to point out that the letter obviously had a good purpose and I appreciate it, but I do think that the facilities at present are adequate. Paul Heake '54