NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY
Celebrated annually on March 30, it is National Doctors Day. This day was established to recognize physicians, their work, and their contributions to society and the community. On National Doctors Day, we say “thank you” to our physicians for all that they do for us and for our loved ones.
March 30, 1933 was the first observance of Doctors Day in Winder, Georgia. Dr. Charles B. Almond’s wife, Eudora Brown Almond, wanted to have a day to honor physicians. On this first day in 1933, greeting cards were mailed and flowers were placed on the graves of deceased doctors. The red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctors Day.
The first ether anesthetic for surgery was administered by Crawford W. Long, M.D. on March 30, 1842, marking the date for Doctors Day. On that day, before Dr. Long operated to remove a tumor from a man’s neck, he administered ether anesthesia. Following surgery, the man would swear that he felt nothing during the surgery and was not aware of anything until he awoke.
“On March 30, 1958, a Resolution Commemorating Doctors Day was adopted by the United States House of Representatives. In 1990, legislation was introduced in the House and Senate to establish a national Doctors Day. Following overwhelming approval by the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, on October 30, 1990, President George Bush signed S.J. RES. #366 (which became Public Law 101-473) designating March 30, 1991 as “National Doctors Day.” ” (Wikipedia)