The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-17
4 PHYsICIAN IN TEE CABINET,
Proposition 70 Make n surReon-General
One of the Presidents Advisers.

One of the Presidents Advisers.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Very re-
Gently there fell into my hands n small and
ably edited periodical entitled the Journal Of
Public Health. which announces In its headlines
that II is devoted, among other things. to an
agitation for the permanent appointment OF a
medical representative in the Cabinet Of the
President OF the United States.
] greatly doubt II many Of your readers have
heard Of this journal. and. still more. II many
have ever given n thought to the remarkably
anomalous position In which the profession
stands in relation to our Government. Among
the official advisers Of our Chief Executive are
an Attorney-General and a Secretary of Agri-
culture. while the medical profession and the
public health. far more important because
touching the welfare of our citizens more
nearly, both individually and collectively. than
either of these. are ignored. There is. indeed.
a General in our army, whose resi-
dcnce is at the capital and who has tho
quasi-distiuctio Of being an appendix =
I had almost said appendix vermiformis-ot
the Aijutant- Generals Department. With
out authority ior he is subJect TO the orders IL
the Secretary OF War as expressed by his chief
Of staff, yet bearing a great responsibility. in
time of war he is eXecrated by tho public. who
lay at his door AZ the natural casualttes "
when once they have been assigned on thu
ton OF our troops before Santiago and on our
transports during the wal is sufficient. ,ryi.
dEfS to l he p estent s Of SiS t p6wsr and aId sn nrt
drugs and other equipment enough; as he
not forget that the Surgeon General himself il
only. a staff officer and that Generals commando
bound to carry out his wishes unless enforced
by q direct order from the Secretary Of War.
opinions or convenience. Moreover. in. the
selection, Of sites for ,camps have yet to hear
situation was left to the final decision of tho
Surgeon-General who OF all men. by virtue Of
his position as chief military surgeon, should
Ipe rStnoone' ultimate Judgment on sue" " SUM
In time Of peace he is, practically a nonentity.
merely doing routine department work, never
few occasions, when he makes reports and
health Of the communists. which nobody heeds.
since they are without authority
water we drink. the air we breathe are not n
daily source Of pestilence that the whole coun-
that so universally incuicated are the laws Of
hygiene that even, the poorest, nneducated
alize that all this is due TO the constant Wig
lance and devotion Of medical science alone.
these United States Of the value Of the medical
PrS5sSis Isl tps c 35;ntsnt Of s ons p9 o bsnar appot9t-
hi,,. ~, - 'iO VhViu DSphl :
of s seIf- 1es sTa'ss's%32 WIN Eyer L ever Sa Tsai III & tha a t feR has
believe firmly that 1t will do so eventually. else
we would save our words. And here surely is
a little unselfsh WORKING Tor the common good.
AZ a corporate body OF citizens the medical
R RiiShfssstlS eou mS3 : f ot The 10 Ha tfiPpefs or 20 WRat N otS fse
body OF citizens do the individuals. the, cities.
Whom VIII Saat are q they rnis So s9U depsn 8Se sG for mu that WHICH
makes life possible or living endurable? Are
the Russian thistle. the dredging OF harbors
and widening lof channels. or the internal
revenue tax or even the United States postal
large than the absence Of universal epIdenics
Of SMALLPOX. typhoid and typhus fever; Of yel:
squalor and attendant infant mortality Yet
the farmers have, placed a Secretary Of AEricul-
Secretary Of the Interior and a Postmaster
The medical profession should and must be
represented by a Surgeon-Genera Of the Unit
ed States who is a member Of the Cabinet.
p SaR ! IH Pstponase. but sh snail n bet mace asdRe &po 8P tSs
recommendation OF. the medical profession
either from the State medical societies sepa-
each State society. such ,conyenti9n to be called
by the President Of the United States. and
numerically. to the population OF the State rep
In time OF war. the Surgeon General must
have absolute authority not only overthe Medi-
cal Department, but in all matters affecting
ulrectly tnt nedi!h dnu, we'll Delng OF tne army.
subject only to the orders Of the Commander
in-Chief. the President. In time OF peace. with
a large and efficient department under him. he
should be empowered by Congress- to safe
should constitute a National Board OF Health.
with which all State boards should affiliate
while preserving their Independence Of action
within their own territory. Yet. in all cases Of
general menace. where two or more States ara
involved or the safety of the country at large Ia
threatened. the SUPERINTENDENT should have
the right to enforce efficiency and uniformity
Of action by the State boards.
This is what the country needs and what this
profession needs. But ii will never come 10
pass unless We make it come to pass. The
subject must be constantly agitated by physi-
clans individually and most of all by the medi-
cal press. through whose united efforts. with
the valuable support Of the lay press, alone can
the profession be regenerated.
j. d. EMMETT. NJ. D.
New YORK. April Is.
Boston Man Didn't Know His Wife.