The San Francisco call., 1904-02-05
MIKADO WANTS
DR.. SENN'S AID
ChicagO's Famous Surgeon Will
Head Japan's Field Corps If
War With Russia Is Declared
UNDERSTANDING
EXISTS
Noted Authority Returns From
Visit to Tahiti. the Land
of Sleep and Contentment

DR.. Nicholas Sem. one of the most
eminent surgeons in the United States
and professor of surgery Of the Uni
versity of Chicago. arrived here yes
terday on the steamship Mariposa
from Tahiti. where he spent his mid
winter vacation. The gentleman is
hurrying back to Chicago TO arrange
his private affairs and prepare him
self for an expected call to Japan to
assume charge of the surgical depart
ment of the japanese army. Two
years ago. while visiting Japan, DR..
Sem was the guest of the highest
medical officials of the Government
and was given a banquet by the Of
ficers of the Red Cross Society of the
empire, under whose charge the army
medical department is directed. The
late Prince Kumatsu. who was then
president of the Red Cross Society OF
that country, acting on behalf of the
Government, solicited the services OF
the noted Chicago surgeon in the
event of war, and an agreement was
entered into that DR.. Sem should go
to Japan if hostilities were declared.
In speaking of the matter at the Pal
dCt IlOtNl last CNCIiilS AhN NO0NN-
LARGE MEDICAL CORPS.
IF my services are needed 1 will
quickly respond and will probably
take corps of surgeons with me- II
must not be understood, however,
that Japan is wanting in the way OF
surgeons. On the contrary, she mas
large and most proficient corps, men
who studied abroad and graduated
with high distinction. The Red cross
Society of Japan, of which | have the
honor to be a member, is composed
of 5000 members and is the strongest
organization of its kind in the world.
1t is absolutely ready for war ana
its ambulances and field corps could
be called to a battlefield on the very
shortest notice. When l was in Japan
saw plainly the trend of affairs and
readily predicted war in the near fu-
ture and remarked the fact at BAN
ouet given me by Prince Kumatsu'
who has since passed away
DR.. Sem, during his stay in Iahlu'
made a close study of the condltlohs
and the customs of the natives OF the
islands and recalling his ooserVa'ioiS
last evening he said:
have visited many countries during my
tip,a and have been interested in many dliIer-
snt neonIe hut none have so deeply interested
me as the simple natives of Tahiti rae oi
happy honest. forbearing but dreamy peoPlv, stin
which is sad to relate, doomed TO eXtlncIlon i
nv civilization. When Cook landed at Ianrl
i'm 1869 he found a population OF 2Oo.OVO. 10
dav il numbers only 11,OO0, OF whlch SUI are
whites and 300 Chinese. Infectious dlseases'
such as measles. whooping cough ana the lke'
have in the last few years spread among the
Deople in epidemics with fearful devastating
results. Diseases of the simplest forms Whch
have no apparent effect on the whites. cannot
be combated by the nativesg who knew noth-
ing of these ailments during their primitive
state.
The causes and effects of these dis
eases were closely studied by DR.. Sem
and he readily arrived at the conclu-
sion that the natural Incidence of the
natives had much to do with it and
that civilization has greatly tended to
aggravate the sickness prevalent
among the people. Upon this subject
he said
Such absolute Incidence never observed be, be-
fore in all my travels. A man is compelled
to perform no manual labor to provide hlnlseil
with food for it is furnished by nature in the
woods adjoining his habitatOn. About 81 a
year will furnish him with the necessary
clothing, which is nothing more than % oreeeh
clout There is no abject poverty, no begging
and no crime The people are happy ana con-
tented under the administration of the French
Government. ~Iney dislike the ldh-
guage preferring their native tongue, and Tor
that reason they have taken more kindly to
the parochial schools, where they are taught
their own language. Much of the present
sickness among the natives WILL believe,
soon be remedied when the commission of
French doctors, now there, has determined on
a plan for sanitary relief which think will
begin with vaccination, against which, OF
course the natives win at first rebel, for they
know nothing of modern methods of phys-
clans.
A LAND OF REST.
One thing that deeply impressed me while
in Tahiti the restful condition Of the in
habitants, especially the whites. In fact, I
know of no better spot on earth where the un-
fortunates. suffering from nervous diseases,
can obtain more ready and permanent relief
from this affiction than at Tahiti. In fact.
il is the land of sleep and cohtentment, and 1
purpose to advise my future patients to make
the trip for the sake of their health, to say
nothing of the other attractions that will
await them there. The voyage the
steamer Mariposa. fitted she is like
floating hotel in itself is a for the
vously afflicted and will well repay them in
health of both mind and body. The surf for
beats upon the beaches. where plumy
palms abound the drives, mountains and riv-
are picturesque and nowhere on earth is
IL .l.NTf NHa-