The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-09-14
SICKNESS IS
Our OWN EAgI!I
no LAReE EXTENT DR. Msco r.
MICK TELLS a NENsPA:
b. PER REP RTER..

~
------i
WHEELING, Sept. l4.-@ one.thlrd
ot the sickness and one.third Of the
deaths in West Virginia are entirely
unnecessary, to say nothing Of the
tremendous amount of unnecessary
suffering. we know that this large
amount Of sickness and these many
deaths are preyeatable.' Thus spoke
Dr. j. N. Mccormick, of Kentucky,
one Of The national lecturers Of the
American Medical society, Friday aft
ernoon.
Dr.. Mccormick Is one Of many such
national lecturers that are working all
over the country on an educational
campaign with view to giving the
american citizen the latest modern
developments Of preventive medicine.
Dr. Mccormick arrived here early yes
terday morning and is stopping at the
McLure.
DR.. Mccormick talked Interestingly
when seen by the reporter. He
said that he had been travelling about
in the interests Of the American MedI-
cal association for eight years. Last
week he was at New York City,
whence he went to Hot Springs, and
after a couple of days vacation came
to this State.
Will Tour STATE.
It is the intention to make a COM
Dlete tour Of the state, lecturing in
all of the leading cities. From here
he will go to FaIrmont. Morgantown,
CIarksburg, Elklns, Martinsburg, Blue
field. He has already spoken in two
cities of the State, sistersville and
Parkersburg. He spoke at Parkers-
burg Thursday evening; to-day he
speaks at Fairmont. He has travelled
so extensively about this country
since first he engaged himself in this
work of public charity-for it is with
dlsinterested purposes that he is do
Ing this lecturlng-and has come in
touch with medical conditions in ev-
cry state of the union. On the whole,
he says, we have very good laws re-
garding health boards and sanitary
conditions. The trouble lies in the dis
lnterestedness Of the general public.
1t is for the purpose of arouslng the
people and lnstructlng them that the
Medical Society has been organized,
he says. The society already has
branches in nearly every county of
every state in the union. So far it
has prospered wonderfully, Mr. Nc
Cormick says. But this is not enough.
The society needs the cooperation of
the people. 1t is with a view to vital
lie interest everywhere that these lee.
lures are sent all over the country.
Other Matters.
Bringing matters close to home Dr..
Mccormick spoke Of conditions exist
Ing in this state. Said he: "The GEM
eteries would not be SO crowded If
the people only know how to take
care of themselves. one-third Of the
sickness and onethird of the deaths
In West Virginia are unnecessary.
Many babes die each year from lack
Of proper treatment; grown-up chit
dren, likewise, are victims Of improp-
er health regulations.
I'm this State last year there were
1900 deaths from consumption. This
means that the State has 5000 cases
Of the disease constantly.
"a revolution Of medical practice
Is at hand. Soon physicians will not
be employed to DOCTOR people; they
will be mere medical advisers, to tell
the people how to avoid getting sick
mot treat them. They will give
medicine to prevent sickness"
Again broadening his views, DR..
Mccormick spoke of the health con-
dltlons now existing in the United
States army. eve are" said he, far
behind the Japs in this regard. In
the spanish-AmerIcan war we lost IS
men by disease to every man shot,
the Japs lost only 4by disease to every
one shot"