The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-21
Wa do not count mans years
until he has nothing else to count.
Emerson.
Dr.. Stratton Should Resign,

In another column will Ge found n
letter from DR.. IT. E. Stratton, replying
to the criticisms of this paper on ms
action In giving the city bacterlologist a
.'swab' from his own throat under the
pretense that II came from the throat
Of n patient under quarantine. The edi-
torial to which Or. Stratton has reference,
after charaeterlzing this act as q de-
llberately perpetrated fraud, adds: 'From
every standpoint the whole affair Is
pitlful and sorry spectacle and strongly
suggests the doubt of DIR. STATIONS ut
ness for the office he is now occupying"
Now, Dr. Stratton seeing at last the
moral phase Of his action, Is apparently
trying to make 1t appear that he was
only testing the fundamental truths of
< bacteriology. That is not the question be-
tween Dir. Stratton and the public. For
DR.. Stratton's edlcation, however, it
may be said In conclusive answer to any
doubts he may feel that DR.. W. 7. OPP
n penhimer believes In bacteriology, for
I DR.. Oppenhimer asked the council for
years to establish just such a depart
I ment Us that over which DR.. Levy pre-
Sides And DR.. S;ratt6n himself believes
In and practices bacteriology else why
did he give his patient anti-toxin, 9 reme-
dy that is the browning glory Of the
scientific study Of germs?
It is the question Of DR.. STATIONS 1T
ness that Is now under discussion, and
not a question Of the value and GER
tainty of such experiments as those con-
Quoted in our city meteorological DEPART
pent. Those principles are established
beyond peradventure, and those expert
ments are safeguarding the health Of
Dr. Stratton asserts, Other cities have
N demonstrated that the whole thing (bac-
teriology), Is unreliable, untrutsworthy,
Fl and utterly worthless from a practical
point OF view why does prac tically
every city of Richmonds size IN the civil
lizcd world maintain such department
as that at which Dir. Stratton is sneerlns
Y and enforce such egulatiQns as those
y which DIR. Stratton broke by subterfuge
4 /, = Z : ' {
and trick? Not even DR.. Stratton's vocif-
erous promise to present scientific facts
q nor his unsupported anecdote Of the pup
4 by and Dr. Lakewood, Will turn back
4 the hands Of science, or put Richmond in
v class with Omdurman or Mecca, where
the doctors, who have also practced
+ medicine while DR.. Levy was in baby
4 clothes, still beat tom-toms or give
IN claims to cure disease which is caused
not BY mahiju spirits but recognizable
germs,
5 Even a newspaper which makes no
1 claim Ito be fullt qualified to handle any
J. medical or sciieniinc question that may
z be raised" can yet understand how Il
4 doctor, who is himself well and active.
y. may convey dangerous and deadly germs
III his throat to others. And even the
j wayfaring man, though a fool, may.
4 without impropriety, ask whether In such
case Il doctor would not have acted care
Elessly, and even ignprantly, in sneering
Il at the diagnosis Of the bacterlologist
\ instead Of garging his throat With anti
l.septics.
Judged by his own statements, Dr..
4, 6tratton has paid little Or no heed either
to the rules designed to protec, the
health Of the citizens OF Richmond or
to the established truths OF modern medi-
icine. He has asked that his article be
4 followed up, in due time 1t will be, but
NIT bnt M her ~
4 Incompetence and uniitness, the Times
4 dispatch reiterates It's opinion of Dr.
a 6tratton's unhtness for the Office he now
holds
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