The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-03-27

it has often seemed to me that il wa,
largely because these efforts were Sc
purely %altruistic that they were SC
generally misunderstood. Leyisla.
tors found no other vocation urging
bills antagonistic to their own in.
terests and they could not understand
why medical men should do so. It is
because ours is the most humane oil
an the callings of men, involving
daily devotion to, and contact with,
the SICK and suffering and the duty OF
saving life. 1t is for the same reason
mat our profession does more actual
cnrlstian charity every day in every
year than all the other people put to-
gether. This also explains whv no
person IN this country ever suffers for
the want OF q doctor, although one
third OF them W. paid a medical
bill, a never intend to. Again. all
other citizens may profit by their own
Inventions, but every reputable ply
stefan is forced by his vows to give
suffering humanity the benefit of any
discovery he makes without money or
price.
Had our profession been as har-
monlous, as wise, and ia as close
touch with the people in a public way,
during the formative period of our
government as the lawyers, health
and medical boards would have been
as much a part of the warp and wool
OF u political system as the courts.
They should have been. They are
more important, just in proportion as
health and life r more important
than any mere property interests, as
will day be appreciated. A great
central health department at Wash
lngtOn, endowed in accordance with
the power and wealth of our federal
government, engaged every day in
such laboratory research work as
would develop the causes of MANY
diseases not yet understood, with
such q comprehensive system of COL
lective investigation as would make it
possible to gather the facts in regard
to every case of sickness and death
which occurs and utilize them in pre-
venting other sickness, and discharp-
ing the other function belonging to
Q department., is just as much a
necessity, if our people are to have
the benefits of modern scientific
knowledge applied to their daily
needs, as the the supreme court of the
United States. Similarly. a state
board of health, with proportionate
and laboratories and with
lis members so supported that their
entire time could be given to their
health and l~ife-saving work, is lust as
Important to the people of your state
as your appellate court. And =
board OF health in each CITY and
county, with practical laboratories.
to which the humbiest citizen might
bring for analysis without personal
expense, specimens of water, food or
anything else suspected to be of dam
ger to his family, with school inspec-
Tors cooperating with the teachers
daily in searching out physicist de-
fects IN b pupils, or bad conditions
10 the buildings or grounds, with con-
stant s~upervisiOns of diaries, abat-
t0lrS, groceries, and other food and |
drug supplies, is of far more prac-
teal Importance to the people than
any court In the Jurisdiction can he.
And 1t is worse than useless to trv to
these things anywhere without a
trained health officer so supported
that he can devote his entire time to
duties of his office. No mar can
an effective health officer and nrac-
lice medicine. The position reincom-
patible. II would be just as reason
able TO expect q judge to sit on the
bench and practice law at the same
time: This is 80 important that it is
worthy OF serious consideration If it
would not be better for all imperfectly
equipped and supported local boards
the country to resign so that the
people would be brought face to face
the fact that they have no proper
protection, than for existing con-
to continue. And it will nav
hundred-fold because the greatest
AK upon your people is not what is
paid into your city, county, state and
rational treasures, but is the lust as
definite, though unrecognized. tax
or Unnecessary sickness and funerals.
To meet conditions so grave, woven
o1ly into our laws and the yery
IAbrfc OF our government, but also in
g the habits Of thought and mode Of
lie OF the people, is no ordinary
problem. Legislation, however COM
oiete, has little more than an educa-
ional value unless supported by an
Intelligent public sentiment. It is for