The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-30
A WORTHY OBJECT.

Some years ago movement was started looking towards the raising of s2s.eo9 for the family of the late Major Walter Reed. surgeon in the United States army and a man to whom the whole country. and espe- cially the South. is largely indebted. Speaking of the matter The New Or leans States says:
 President Elliott of Harvard Uni- versity, and President Gilman of Jonns Hopkins, are actively interested in the enterprise and their appeals for lection of s20.0oo, These subscrip- tions have come principally from phy- sicians in the Northern and Western States. In an appeal sent out for the speedy completion of the ss.ooo re- maining to be secured. Dr. Elliott calls attention to the fact that Major Reed was Southern Rian and that so Tar the South has been but poorly rep resented in the subscription lists. Pronouncing Major Reeds discovery of the mosquito theory of yellow fever transmission as the greatest medical discovery since vaccination, with the exception of anaestnesia and asceptic surgery" Dr. Elliott suggests that the interests of the Southern people should be aroused upon this subject and their So-oPFAdtt0ii citAiStCo.
 The fact that Major Reed was a Southern man is one reason why this proposition should appeal to this sec ton, but the greater reason is that his discovery and establishment of the mosquito theory of yellow fever is of such vast importance that it should ha aicIV 0f fnnn trifling matter. To the Southern States this discovery is of almost in- calculable value. for is is the South that suffers most and has most to dread from this disease. If it is an established fact, as seems beyond doubt, that mosquitoes are the sole carriers of yellow fever it will not be difficult to find way to extermi nate or bar out the disease, and doing this will be worth to the South thous- ands of times the sum that it is pro- posed to raise.
 The really hnmiliating feature of this affair is that the South has done practically nothing towards showing it's appreciation of the discovery and it's gratitude to the memory of the man who made it. An authoritative statement that we have seen shows that of the twenty thousand dollars already raised only about three hum dred of 1t was contributed by the Southern people. Certainly this Is not creditable to this section. Not only the medical fraternity of the South should respond to the call for funds but all the business interests should do so, for all know that a yellow few CT epidemic is one of the greatest dis asters that can befall our section, and 1t touches every branch of trade. com merce and industry.
 It is really a trifling matter. so far as the amount of money is concerned, though of immense importance other wise. The city of New Orleans, which has been among the greatest suffer CTS from yellow fever, could contribute the entire amount asked for without feeling 1t, and the same may be said of several other cities in the fever belt. Any of them could easily make up the $25,000 without inconvenience and among them all there should be no further complaint that the South is indifferent or parsimonious about a matter in which our people are so in- timately concerned. Contributions may be forwarded to Charles W. Elliott, Harvard. or Daniel c. Gilman. Ralti- more. and they will be duly acknowI- edged.