New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-09
TROPICAL MEDICINE.

The formal assumption of responsibility for
the sanitary condition of the Panama Canal
Zone by the United States, like the duty OF pro-
noting the public health in the Philippines.
enables Americans the better to appreciate
certain problems with which Great Britain has
been wrestling for number Of years. One OF
these is outlined in the latest issue Of Tho
Hospital London medical weekly. The fact
that several diseases are rarely encountered
outside Of the tropics. but rage there with fear
full severity at times, makes it necessary to
give special study TO those maladies and to the
best methods of preventing them. Both the
medical profession and the governments in
countries having extensive possessions In warm
climates have recognized the obligation. In
England, for instance. at least two Schools
of Tropical Medicine" have been established,
one in Liverpool and the other in London.
Over the former presides Major Ronald Ross.
who has probably done more than any other man
to establish the connection between mosaui-
toes and malarial fever In the mean time the
Colonial Secretary has lent encouragement to
research and experiment both at home and In
India and Africa and has retained as one OF
his advisers Sir Patrick Manson. who is also
conspicuously identified with the same revou-
tionary theory which has made Major Ross
famous.
How far 1t is expedient to go in certifying
to the qualifications OF students in the special
schools just mentioned is a question to which
a thoroughly satisfactory answer has not yet
been obtained. few months ago the Colonial
Secretary asked the advice of two influential
national organizations, the College of Surgeons
and the College of Physicians and Surgeons
about the propriety OF giving credentials to men
who had studied in the one in London. Both
bodies evinced hesitation about approving the
suggestion although their replies to the govern
ment differed in detail Since these were sent
Il conference has been held by representatives
Of the two societies, and an agreement has
been reached upon the following policy: 1t Is
proposed to appoint commission to attend
the examinations of the London School OF
Tropical Medicine and to report on the same
next year
1t Is understood that the chief reason for re-
luctance to recommend the grant of dipIomas
is a doubt whether the REGIMENTS ought
not to wait until they have had a few wears
Of actual experience with tropical disease
On the surface there appear to be no par-
ticular misgivings in regard TO the course
of instruction in the London school or the ex
aminations held by it. Even II M further
light Is obtained on these. however years
delay may enable the organizations To which
the Colonial Secretary has appealed IN reach n
definite conclusion on the other point which
obviously, must seem an important one 10 CON
servative minds, For the observation of the
ordinary ills which prevail in England the hos
pitfalls there afford ample opportunity. The
chance of acquiring an equally intimate ac-
quaintance Win the cnoiera and bubonic plague
without going abroad is small. and certificate
TO an expert who had not any practical experl
ence of that sort would certainly not signify
as much as if it were granted I'VE or ten Years
later Moreover, for those young men who
make the most of the privileges of the English
schools, and who display real talent before ieay-
ing home, 1t should be possible to get personal