, 1892-06-08

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which rendered it necessary that they should
be handled and treated by representatives Of
the countries in which those circumstances
arose. The claims of the people upon the
medical profession at large were that they
should steadily progress and should furnish
the very best, the most forward, and the most
progressive forms of treatment. 1t had been
decided that it was a matter Of general con-
sensus of opinion in the whole world that the
medical faculty represented what was best
and purest in science, their object being
simply philanthropy. Their progress must
still 20 forward as it had done in the last Is
or 20 years. There were no studies that were
of greater Importance to the human race than
Hygiene, Demography and Quarantine. The
medical men of the West Indies were better
qualified by their experience and knowledge
to cope with these questions than those who
had only p~ractised in the North. 1t has been
thought better to consult with the medical
profession Of all those countries with the
object Of bringing the members of the profess
sion together at one time and place to discuss
those questions, to interchange opinions, and
to obtain in such a manner as was deemed best,
information as would bring forward and up.
ward still further the beloved profession
which they represented. Those questions
briefly we're those of Hygiene as concerned
the Western Hemisphere. Those gentlemen
who came from the West Indies would re-
present their peculiar claims. These who
came from the Argentine Republic would
represent theirs and those from Northern
British America and from Greenland would
represent theirs. While the members of the
profession in Europe were not eligible for
registration as members of the Congress they
would be welcomed as visitors and he might
mention that Drs. Gore, Jackson, Henry
Thompson, Benedict and others had announc-
ed their determination to be present, although
they would be utterly debarred from taking
part in the proceedings, it being the intention
to conine it TO members from the Western
Hemisphere only. 1t was expected that
there would be from 5000 to 1000 gentlemen
present at the Congress and he might mention
that they had received a letter from the north
most city in the world from a medical man
who had applied to be registered as q member
of the Congress. That served to show how
widespread-although the Congress was a
year off-the interest was. Then again it
would be 3 favorable opportunity to visit
America The great Chicago Exhibition
would be in full swing and the rail way rates
would be reduced one half, so that people
would be able to 60 1000 miles first class
for Is dollars. Ample accommodation would
be furnished in the hotels at Washington and
arrangements would he made for reduced rates
to members of the Congress. The study Of
Hygiene had progressed to a very consldera-
bic extent in the United States, especially with
reference to the West Indies and the tropical
parts of America, by gentlemen who were
qualified either by residence in those parts
or by visits, and who were thus most familiar
with the questions which arose, and they
trusted to gain from the representation which
would be sent to Washington a very much
wider, more complete, a more thorough know
ledge Of all the points at issue. 1t was be-
lieved also that the influence Of a body of
men Of that size and of that character would
have serious influence upon the different Gov
ernmcnts which they represented in forward
ing anything which they might recommend
1t was proposed to divide the Congress into
"A $, %ctions, which would be composed of gen
tlemen who would be specially interested in
the subject which those sections had charge
of. Suppose for instance that the section for
Demography recommend a certain course of
procedure by the Governments of the country
from which the representatives came: it was
a matter Of fact that the recommendation Of q
body of that kind was sure to be carefully
listened to and would have q great amount Of
influence. The transactions would be pub
lished in five languages and each registered
member would receive a copy free, the total
Dunoher ne vo1nmas being about rs.