Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-22
tFrom the Plumber and Sanitary Engineer J
word 10 Medical Wen.

1t is indicative of the attention which is
being directed toward sanitary subjects, when
one of the Nestors of the medical profession
should pronounce public and personal hy-
giene to be the greatest question of the day
and still more to find a leading journal like
the Medical Record heartily approving his
words DR.. Samuel D. Gross closed his ora
tion, delivered at the dedication of Mellow
ellis monument in kentucky, with the follow
ing significant words
'The great question Of the day is, not this
operation or that, mot ovariotomy or lithot-
omy, or hip joint amputaton, which have
reflected so much glory upon Kentucky med
cine but preventive medicine, the hygiene
of our persons, our dwellings, our streets; in
word, our surroundings, whatever and
wherever they may be- whether in city, town,
hamlet, or country, and the establishment of
efficient town and State boards of health,
through whose agency we shall be the better
able to prevent the origin and fatal effects of
what are known as the zymotiC diseases"
He further urged the necessity of rousing
the public TO deeper and more earnest sense
of the importance of prompt action in this
direction. "1'his," he concluded addressing
his hearers, lis the great problem of the day,
the question which you, as representatives of
the rising generation Of physicians, should
urge, in season and out of season, upon the
ulltullOu OI your ItllOW-clllZenk, InG question
which, above and beyond all others. should
engage your most serious thoughts, and elicit
your most earnest cooperation. These elo-
quent and earnest words should be taken to
heart by the whole medical profession. Pub
lie duty and personal interest alike enforce
the counsel here given.
1t is unfortunate that so few physicians re-
alize the practical necessity of sanitary study
aud observation. Many are influenced by
selfish and narrow notion that It may inter
fere with their professional advancement
They do not perceive the importance of un-
derstanding the causes of disease in order to
effect q cure. 1t is folly to administer drugs
when patient continues to drink poisoned
well-water, nor will the most careful nursing
check the insidious influences of sewer gas.
The practiced eye of the thoroughly trained
physician will in scores of cases detect the Or
igin of maadcs in the patients imme diate
surroundings, where less informed man
would be wholly at fault.
Again, the public expect their Inc dical ad-
visers to be able to explain many things to
them relating to sanitary subjects. We won
der how many physicians in any of our lead
ing cities could define what constitutes the
elements Of good plumbing, or could advise
their patients or their friends what to do in
ordinary domestic emergencies, to secure san
itary surrounding.
DIR. John 5. Billings IN his late address be-
fore the American Medical Association, at
Atlanta, Ga, on State Medicine and Public
Hygiene, remarked upon the want of interest
in public hygiene shown by medical men,
and ascribed it largely to their deficiency in
accurate scientific knowledge upon the sub
ject. Despite this deficiency, he said there
were but few physicians who would hesitate
to act as health officers and give ndvce upon
sanitary questions, and yet not one in one
hundred had a thorough acquaintance with
any one branch of public hygiene, let alone
with physics biology, and political science,
which are the true bases of this science
Physicians cannot longer afford to oppose
sanitary progress; neither can they ignore it.
They should rally to the support of sAnitari-
ans and be among their most active allies.
To again quote DIR. Billings:
''The number of patent ventilators and gas
traps is steadily upon the increase but, in
our knowledge of the causes of disease and
the means of avoiding or destroying those
causes, little or no positive advance has been
made"
Municipal and State authorities naturally
grudge the expenditure Of the public money
for sanitary and medical reform, when they
witness the apathy of those who should be
most interested in such reforms.