The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-13
Rests ON AbOIishment Of Yellow
and MaIariaI F0V0rS.
WARM TRIBUTE TO GEN. WOOD
Told 400 Doctors al Oyster Bay Of Great
Sanitary Wsrk Dons Ia Cuba and
10 Do al Panama

Oyster Bay, July 13.-President Roose-
welt delivered a notable address this
afternoon before the Associated Physi-
clans OF Long Island. He discussed in
the course OF his speech. the relations
physicions sustain with the people OF
the communities in which they 1--we and
the work 10 be done by the medical
EXPERTS in connection with the construc-
tion OF the Panama canal. declaring that,
despite all difficulties on the isthmus ana
here in the United States, the canal would
be a success.
He referred TO achievements OF the
sanitary engineers, who cleaned the cities
OF Cuba for the first time in 400 years.
and closed by paying a tribute TO the
services Of General Leonard Wood. whose
career as n military officer. he said, was
1iouted by some critics because he once
had been a doctor.
A majority OF the 400 physicians in at
tendance reached Oyster Bay on a special
train at 8 o'clock. The session OF the as
ISOLATION was held in the assembly room
of the Oyster Bay High school and was
presided over by DR.. William 3. Saw
age Of East Islip. attired In a suit OF
rough linen and wearing a broad-brimmed
Panama hat
PRELIMINARY MEDICAL WORK.
In part the president said:
"Of course, Il Is most needless 10 say
chat there In not and cannot be any
other lay profession the members OF
which occupy such a dual position. each
side OF which Is Of such Importance, for
the doctor has on the one hand TO be the
most thoroughly educated man in applied
science that there Is in the country. and.
on the other hand. as every layman
knows, and doubtless many a layman in
the circle OF acquaintance OF each OF you
would gladly testify 20, the doctor gradu-
ally becomes the closest friend 20 more
different people than would be possible in
any other profession.
The feelings that a man has tow'a ri
the one human being to whom he turns,
either in the time OF sickness for him.
self. or. what is far more important, in
the time of sickness OF those closest and
dearest to him, cannot but be OF pc
culiar kind. He cannot but have feel
ing for him such as he has for no other
man.
The doctor must. therefore. 20 the
greatest degree develop both sides OF his
nature. develop his nature along the two
sides OF his duties, although in the case
of any other ms you would call him 4
mighty good citizen II he developed only
on one side.
Take. for instance. just what is being
done In one OF the great works or this
country at the present time-digging the
Panama Canal.
That is a work that only a big nation
could undertake or that a big nation
could do. and IL is a work for all man
kind And the condition precedent upon
success in that work is having the proper
type Of medical work os a preliminary.
TROUBLE EXPECTED.
THAT is the FIRST condition upon the
meeting OF which much depends our sue
cess in solving the engineering and ad-
ministrative problems OF the work itself.
am happy 20 say that the work IL
being admirably done. and am particu-
larly glad to have this chance OF say
ing It.
Nov and then some alarmist report
will come from Panama. Just a couple
CT weeks ago there seemed to be a sue
ceesion OF people coming from Panama,
each one OF whom had some tale or other
TO tell.
You will always find In any battle, that
In the rear you meet a number OF gentle
mon who are glad that they are not at
the front, who II they have unfortunately
gotten at the front. have come away. and
who justify their absence from the front
by telling tales OF how everything has
gone wrong there.
Now, of course. In doing a great work
hike that In the tropics, in a region which
until this government took hold OF IL,
was accounted 10 be a region exception
ally unhealthy we are going to have
trouble. have some yellow fever, have
q good deal OF malarial fever. and suffer
even more from the latter than from the
yellow fever although we will hear moth
ting like the talk about II.
I'VE will have every now and then
troubles as regards hygiene just as we
will have touble In the engineering prob
lens. just as occasionally we have
troubles In tne administrative work
Whenever one Of those troubles comes.
there will be large number OF excellent
but timid men who will at once say what
an awful calamity II Is and express the
deepest sorrow and concern. and be rather
inclined 20 the belief that the whole thing
h fa-.ure
WILL BE SUCCESS.
'Tt will not be a failure II will be n sue
cess. and II will be a success because we
shall treat every little check. not as a rea-
son for altering and bettering our plans.
30 as 10 make IL impossible that that par
ficular check shall happen again
What Is being done In Panama IL but
sample OF the things that this country
has done during the last few years of the
things In which your profession has been
40 prominent a part.
Take what We did in Cuba. where we
tried for 400 years. OF cleaning the cities
One OF the most important items OF the
work done by our government in Cuba
was the work OF hygiene. the work OF
cleaning and disinfecting so as 10 mini
mize the chance for yellow fever 80 as 20
do away with as many as~possible OF the
conditions that told for disease
This country has never done better
work: that is. work that reflected moro
honor upon the country. or for humanity
a. large. than the work In Cuba
49,
be responsible for doing that work 30
well was member of your profession.
who. when the call 10 arms came. him
self went az n soldier 10 the neld
THE present MAJ Gen. Leonard Wood
Ola in Cuba just the KIND OF work that.
for instance. Lord Cromer has done in
Egypt.
We have not been able 20 reward Wood
in anything like'rhe proportion that SER
vices such az his would have been re-