Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-03
THE SANITARY SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL
CONGRESS OF 1881.

The SANlIAR1 SURVEILLANCE Ot
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL
CONGRESS OF 1881.
The following important and valuable
contribution was resd on Thursday even
ing by DR.. Ezra NJ. Hunt, of New Jersey:
The eyes of the world have been turned toward
the meeting of the international Medical Congress-
held in August in London, as they never have
been turned toward any scientific or professional
gathering in ancient or modern times.
If there is anything in the science of medicine
at all, there is more in it than in any other sci
ence, because it has attached to it an art whose
end is the prolOngation and preservation of hu-
man life. Hence it has to do with so much of
what life means that the world may well stand
inquisitiye as deeply interested Party to know
what this science means-how much of it is pro-
ductive Of an art, and how far that art actually
preserves or is preparing still more to preserve,
life or health to all peoples. 1t this that gave
universally to the call and elected an interna-
tioIal interest co-extensive with the boundaries
of civilization. No study and no art has been so
long and so patiently in waiting for the needed
aid of other sciences.
Superstition mysticism and the arts of the en-
chanter could not but shadow forth their cloud
land around its earlier efforts. So long as the
"Phusis - or nature was obscure so long OBJ
security had to play the role of knowledge. So
soon as physics and biology began to assert
themselves by facts and by discovery, so soon it
evident that all sciences tn at had to do wi b
nature were ABOUT e put their KnOWle0 e at the
physicians feet. The wonderful relations of
organic and inorganic matter, and of vegetable,
animal and human life, soon told us that there
must be analysis and classification Of enormous
or less helpful in the direction of medical art.
1t is not wonderful that progress in physical
science reached out touch-stone for every ply
sician's hand, and that departments rapidly
pressed themselves upon the attention Of host
who were in the same workshop, but found
themselves forced to a division of labor by the
imme nsity of the field presented. Not only has
the medical world been on the alert, but other
sciences have so rapidly cast light upon the
arts of practice that those in other fields have
come to share in the work as well as in the en-
thusiasm. The influence, therefore, of this
Congress is of such a character as cannot be in
the least ephem eral
First Of ALL it may be said of it that its import
ance gained royal significance and patronage.
which means far more than the mere formal
opening by royal prince.
He had been once stricken, and well nigA
destroyed, by a vagrant pestilence. The Crown
Prince of Germany, too, had become interested in
the medical profession, as already having giveR a
scientific promin nee TO his own empire.
The very opening in the presence of such
royalty was public recognition of the fact that
medicine. as studied and taught. belongs to that
great academy of science which becomes mate
rial resource and interest and development Of
any great nation. and also that it has social and
economical relations which penetrate amid the
very hbres OF national life
1t was, in advance, evident that sanitary
science and the art of prevention would receive
such large degree Of attention that in the judg-
ment Of your worthy President and the Execu-
tive Committee it seemed proper that tn Asso-
citation should accord recognition Of its import
ance by accrediting some Of its members to be
present in a representative capacity. Accord
ingly your Secretary, DR.. Azel Ames Jr., and
myself were invited to add to our other reeog-
milton the credentials of this Association. With
regret that DR.. Ames was prevented attending,
have thought that careful selection from the
abundance of this great gathering 50 far as it
relates to public health, together with some
reflections that occur therefrom, might not be
unacceptable to this distinguished body.
First of all, the real status OF sanitary science
and art came to be authenticated and defined as
never before. We have been wont tolook upon
State nedicine technically so called) as having
achieved quite success, in that it has been
able to enroll itself among the sections of large
medical associations, and to command enough
respect from here and there medical college 10
be patronized by reference. But the indelible
impression made and confirmed by the Interna-
tional Congress is that preventive medicine or
the art of hygiene, is not so much section or
specially as it is the essential warp of longi
tudinal threads on which the great breadth OF
all medicine is to be woven. and by which the
rich texture of the completed system is to be
secured. What Hippoerates long ago called the
ris meiicdtrir nature by is aid has come to such a
breadth and depth of meaning as to make it not
less the basis Of the healing than it is Of the
preserving art.
1t places sanitary science as the radical basis
Of all conservative and essential progress in
treatment. 1t does not make all the science and
study involved in medicine to include It, but ii
does make all application of the science to
the art most inquisitive as to just how far and
where there is deviation from nature, how this
deviation can be corrected by restoration OF
the natural relationship between man and his
surroundings, and how much Of that restora-
ton nature herself will accomplish if only the
fa11v faia on 90 -
giving to the body and to its diseases fair play
for its own forces of recuperation.
Hence amid the grand progress made in the
observation, assemblage and assortment Of OBJ
served facts so as to make knowledge, and amid
the grand discoveries in the line of pure science
you will find hygiene coming into prominence
every time amid the question of application of
medicine as an art.
One did not need to wait for the opening Sec
ton of the great Nestor of this department in
order to ascertain what is the province of prac-
tical hygiene in the profession of medicine, as
well as for the State or nation.
The Prince of Wales in his most betting
address declaring the Congress open, said: " /
am very happy to see thst so great scope will
be granted to the discussion of the important
questions relating to public health; to the cure
OF the sick in hospitals, in the houses of the
p or. aud to the welfare Of armies and navies.
The devotion with which the members of the
medical profession are ready to share in the
dangers OF climate, the fatigues Of war, and to
STUDY every means not only Tor the renedying
but for the prevention of disease, deserves the
warmest acknowledgment from the public
When Sir James Paget, as President of the
Congress- would illustrate how apparently trivial
inquiries had become vital and essential, he
derives his illustration from the researches of a
few naturalists as to the cibrioRidg. These
researches" said he, have given more true
form to one of the most important practical doc
trines of organic chemistry; they have intro
duced great beneficial change in the most
practical part Of surgery; they are leading to
one as great in the practice of medicine, = = and
their power is not yet exhausted