The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-20

L
THAT sense OF obligation, which has its
germ In the very centre OF our spiritual ma
ture, and, like faith, is the source Of our
greatest strength.
/ Whilst these are considerations which
must ever and permanently engage your at
tention, and may be regarded as OF daily
and constant experience, there are others
that come unheralded In the shape OF myriad
form Disease. It often falls like the black
shadow OF the Destroying Angels wing.
We cannot tell whence 1t comes or whittier
| it goes. We only know that it leaves be-
hind it sorrow and death. Such visitation
has at times befallen large tracts OF our own
and other countries, and the destruction has
been incalculable. One Of the great and
benefcent objects OF this Association is to
investigate causes, and, il possible, ind
remedies. This alone would justify such Q
Convention as now see before and around
me.
Indeed, am informed that the prime OBJ
liect of this meeting is to find out something
about the dreadful plague that has but yes
terday swept with its bloody scythe the fair.
est portion Of our land. This is a noble
work, worthy OF such men. God moves
in a mysterious way, and we cannot follow
the silent, stately steppings OF His Provi.
dence. He makes weak things to confound
the wise. He makes sore Affections work
great blessings. And whilst men and wo-
men in sorrow were digging graves to bury
their loved ones, their brethren and sisters
in other sections were from the depths OF
their heart filing them with the sweetest OF
Christian Charities-which, My Friends,
will bloom perennally out Of those graves,
filling the air with their aroma, and worth q
thousand times more than the declarations
OF politicians and the professions OF philan.
thropists.
WELCOME TO RICHMOND.
But, gentlemen, beyond the immediate
objects of the Society other ends will be at
tanned by your gathering. Coming from
every section of our common country,
bringing your learning and culture, your
experience and earnestness, you will imblbe
that gentleness and affection which are the
very genius Of unity. And when you 60 to
YOUR homes, wherever they may be, you
will carry with you that feeling OF fellow
ship that is stronger than political and Sec
tional bonds.
Here in this beautiful city, which was
lately the heart Of conyulsion; here, where
honest. fearless men and women stroye
even unto death; here, where suffering OF
warfare was endured that will never be
known till the great future, when all hearts
will be revealed; here, where prayers were
offered that need not be blotted even by the
tear OF the Recording Angel; here you
have come together from North, South,
East, and West, as one brotherhood, to
show by your words and deeds how Peace
hath it's victories no less renowned than
War; and how we can, BY the diylner IN
stincts of our nature, make our republic
one, and what she ought to be-the "Mo
ther Of a Mighty Race
GENTLEMEN OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
HEALTH ASSOCIATION, we bid you all-hall
and welcome to the hosptalitics OF Rich
mond!
Governor Holiday was several times
warmly applauded. His remarks were EVIL
dently very pleasing to his hearers.
Introductory Remarks by Professor
J.L. Cabell.
Professor James L. Cabell, Of the Uni
yersity of Virginia, first vice-president o.
the Association, said:
Gentlemen of the american Pubkc-He
Association:
Ladies and Gentlemen,-The pleasant
duty has been assigned to me, as cltizer
of Virginia, to introduce to Virginia au
dience the distinguished presiding officer ol
the American Public-Health Association
DR.. Elisha Harris, OF New fork-Whose
annual address is announced in the pro-
gramme as the leading feature OF this eve
ning's exercises. To those who have mere
tofore become members OF the Association
and by whose suffrages DR.. Harris has been
selected to fill this post OF honor, 1t would
OF course, be unnecessary to recite hi;
claims to their respectful attention. Tc
others I may be permitted to say that his
lifelong and Jealous devotion to sanitary
studies, and his unwearied and disinter'
ested labors for the Improvement OF the
public health not only in his own section
but throughout the length and breadth o.
our common country, have won Tor hin
golden opinions from the yotares of sanl
tary science all the world over. 1t wa;
once publicly and Justly said of him by {
most competent Judge that "he is our lead
ing sanitary authority" in all that relate!
to the vital statistics Of our country, ant
the deductions to be drawn therefrom, anC
that "to him, with DR.. Stephen Smith, o.
New York." former president OF thl
body, "the country owes measureles:
debt OF gratitude" Here / might stop, bu
he has specially requested me to give ex
preston to the earnest wish felt by hlinsel
and the leading advocates OF sanitary reform
that those who have been attracted for th'
, first time to this meeting Of the Association
by the special interest awakened by the re
cent epidemic will not allow that feeling t.
die out with the special occasion. The,
have nearly the same motives for interestln!
themselves in efforts to stamp out those NIL
merous other preVentable diseases which il
the long run count many more victim
than yellow-feyer ever destroys, though b,
2 reason Of our familiarity with their inces
SAINT ravages we accustom ourselves to lool
i. upon them with equan unity and compare
tive Indifference.
PREvENTABLE DISEASES.
1t is the special province Of the medica
profession to search out and, when found
to publish to all the world the causes o
disease, and here its special function in re
gard to the preservation of the publ
health properly ceases. The members O
, that profession have less direct interes
|, and far less opportunity than the other edu
Gated classes Of the community for bring
. ing about an efficient application OF th
means necessary to avert the causes OF dis
, ease which their scientific investigation
: NAV have disclosed. Even in England, witt
her admirable system of sanitary admins
: tration-which has been characterized a
splendidiy comprehensive" and the prac
;, tical working OF which has produced mar
!, yelous diminution OF the mortality OF tn
Kingdem-it has been asserted by the Lat
medical officer OF the Priyy Council that q
least " l25,00O Of the 100000 deaths whic
! annually occur" in that country "could b
prevented if existing knowledge OF tn
, Chief causes OF disease were efficiently ap
piled" When we consider that thes
: i25, 600 preventable deaths represent near
, ly four millions OF cases OF disabling ant
preyentable sickness, we may form som