Wilmington journal., 1876-01-07
To- the Journal
state EiOard OF Health.

NeSSFS. LIitOrS. L sm glad tC see
that yOn have endorsed the movement
the first made in North Carulina-of
the Eastern Medical Association, for
Tie establishment Of State Board of
Il ealth. Your expressed desire that
rhir n.easur" Of Improvement and re-
form may not be allowed 70 s!umber
and die, viii be grntitied if tne health
and life OF the protector of this sari-
taTy enterprise shall continue. The
author Of this grand scheme for secur-
ing the health, promo ing the moral
and material interests, and proionging
the lives of th' people Of our beloved
State, wi. push it before the next Leg
ialaturu, un less diecouragements de
priving him of all hope of success
should arise. OF course It's leading
advocates Will be accused OF ali man
her of selfish motives and aims Of
Office. But if the provisions of the
Bill cCntem plated, which create no
Office that Will pay, and involves 10 ex
peHse 10 the State, are favoTably re-
caived, the enemies of the movement
will have no ground work upOn which
to play the dema gOgue, and to oppose.
On the other hand if it triumphs over
that opposition which always arises
against any innovation Or project for
the benefit of humanity. and the well
fare Of the State, another step will
have succeeded towards placing North
Carolina IN the front ranks of her sis
ter States on the road of ptogress and
Improvement.
This measure will be warmly adyo-
Gated before the next meeting of the
State Medical Society. LII all proba-
bility that useful body of learned aud
able physicians will give it their infiu
antial sanction, and take additional
steps to secure an act for the establish
nent Cf q State Board of Health.
Among the objects of State Board
Of Health will be that of taking cog
uizance of the interest Of health aud
life of the people of the State; to in
yestigate the causes and means of
prevention, OF endemic and epidemic
diseases; to ascertain the influences of
localities and cmpioyments upon the
family and school Hygiene, and to aid
municipal authorities III measures of
Eauitary science and of protecting the
approach and spread Of contagious
| and Infectious diseases and epidemic
sc0urges Jhat''walketh i'll darkness aud
| deetroyeth at noon day"
20 secure these human ends and TO
| promote these nable objects enters
| largely into the high mission of the
Medical profession. And yet very
| large portion Of the people, of the ed
ucated as well as the ignorant, refuse
to accede this justice to physicians.
| We cannot organic" a Medical Club.
| OF a larger Medical Society for
| the promotion OF social feelings and
! the advancement of Medical Science
without beng heavily accuse d of seek
| ing alone to 1un up Fee Bills, and to
| conspre in some sly 1nanner or selfish
I way against our patrons and the plt'-
| lie.
As general rule the people greatly
! misunder.tand the Md alProtessiC H.
| The Black Arts Of Medical dcma-
| = ,1ucs and rcguIars so-csIlei. as well
| a. oi irr. o1liarS To Obtain practice,
have added no doubt to this
strange misconception and ingenious
Interpretation of the public of their
CLAIMS. services, and high character OF
true Medical men.
In this selfish and demoralized day
when self-love and self interest more
than ever predominates, and when
even divines practice less than ever
the charity and godiiness they preach,
body of medical men, respectable il
numbers, large in soul and intellect,
and willing TO forget self, cannot unite
in club or in society for advance
ment in knolwedge, and for doing good
to the community without provoking
hard ords and urighteous assaults
The very men for whose benefit these
medical associations are formed, anG
for whom their efforts and sacrifice,
are made are those who have no ap
probation or thanks for the good worl
thus done for them and others. Blu
none of these things have made you
Messrs. EIitors, in your field of labor
In advancing the Interests of the grea
% rty you represent. and in worlxin,
for constitutional reform in North Car
olina, and of the JOURNAL, withou