Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-04-09

never intend to. Again. an other ri,i.
sen. may profit by their own inventions.
but every reputable physician !. forced
BY his vows 10 give suffering humanity
the benefit OF any discovery he makes.
without money or price.
Had our profession been as harmon.
ious, az wise, and in a. close touch with
the people in a public way during the
formative period of our government, Al.
the lawyers, our hsalth aud medical
boards would have been as much A par,
os the warp and woof Of our political
system as the courts They should have
been. They are more important. nst in
proportion a. health and life are more
important than any mere property inter.
csts. AZ will one dsy b. appreciated. A
great CENTRAL health ,Iepart ni.nt AZ Wash.
ington, endowed in aecor,lanc, with th.
power and wealth ct our Federal govern.
ment. engaged every day in such labor.
| atory research work a. would develon
the causes OF many diseases not vet ur,-
derstocd. with such a comprehensive sy.-
TEN of collective investigation as would
make II possible TO gather the facts in
regard to every case of sickness and
death which occurs and utilize them in
preventing other sickness. AMI ,li-chnry-
ing the other functions belonging 20 such
department. il Just A. much ns-.~-st
". II our people are TO have the benefit.
Of modern scientific knowle lelge applied TO
their daily needs. a. the supreme. Court
Of the United States similarly. a state
Board OF Health. with proportionate en-
dowment and laboratories. ami with II.
members 50 supported that their entire
time could he given to their health and
| liie-~aVlng work. = iu-t A. important 10
the people Of your state A. vour Appek
late Court. And a Roart of Health IN
each city and county. with practical
laboratories. to which the hunblrsi ci;i.
ron might bring for analysis. without
personal expense. specimens of water,
tccd or anything else suspected to h. of
danger to his family, with school in-pec-
tors cooperating with the teachers daily
IN searching out physical defects in the
pupils. or had conditions in the buildings
or grounds; with constant supervi-ions
Of dsirie-. ahattoirs. groceries and Other
food and drug supplies. Is Of far more
practical Importance to the people than
any court in the jurisdiction can be-. And
" Is worse than useless 10 try to do
these things anywhere without a trained
FHA''hF ~ NhIENAAFh ANtA
| devote his entire time To- the duties Of
has office. No man can be an effective
health officer and practice medicine. The
positions are Incompatible. II would be-
just a. reasonable 10 expect a Judge to
sit on the be'nch and practice law at the
same time. This Is - important that il
is worthy of serious consideration ii il
would not be better for all imperfectly
| pftNtnr.sl MI L..
the country to resign. - that the people
would be- brought face to iace with the
fact that they have no proper protection.
than for existing conditions to continue
And it will pay an hundred-fuld. because
the greatest tax upon your people is not
what Is paid into yodr city. county. State
and national treasures. hut it i the Just
a. definite. though unrecognized, tax for
unnecessary sickness and funerals
To meet conditions 80 grave. woven
not only into our laws and the very fab
ric Of our government. but also into the
habits OF thought and mode of life Of
the people, Is no ordinary problem. Leg
islation. however complete. has little
more than an educational value unless
supported by an intelligent public s,-nti-
ment. Ii Is for this reason that the
American Medical Association. through
its affiliated societies in every State and
county, with about 10000 members. has
enlisted, and in a broadly planned and
systematic way has begun a campaign II
| education. with a view ot enii>ting the
lay leaders of public opinion in every
community and the entire country in this
sltruistic. hfe-saving reform. one OF the
most important that haS ever engaged
the attention Of people. Through a
carefully devised post graduate Or uni-
versity extension course. outlined and
furnished gratuitou-ly. with weekly or
semtweekly MEETINGS. AMI with attrsc-
tive rewards for thos~ who complete the
four-years' course. IL J. prop.r-ezi To plae-
the facilities and incentives for study
within the reach of every county. AMI
thus to stimulate the scientific spirit
a. to plaee an upto-iate dastor within
th, reach Of every family IN ths nits,i
States. In time II = hop--l that people
viii know that NJ ons = safe mesiisal
adviser for a family Sho ). MT a regular
attendant az the ue~tinas q hts ss-risf y.
and that physicians vii .sssn b. selected
in the light of this knuWislss. IN ssiai-
tion. Il = exps-cted that fae.- cuunfv 81
eieties or -chnols Wiil hoti fregusuf Ioias
meetings with iocaI Organizations OF
teachers. lawyers. ministers. Nomen's
clubs. druggists. siitar<. cummeruial. Ia
hor and other l--iiss which i.-al pahlic
opinion. ami thrn uith general m-~sinss
of the laity. with the visw II snch stuay
and practical instruction aAaax all Of
these lines. about Nhich uisiiezl mn
have special knowicsigr ami must lad.
a. viii constantly further AMI s,rengthrn
this movement. Through ths feaehsr~. IN
time. by means af ster~apfirpu AMI other
demonstrations. Il = PROPOSED fhs' every
school. and ultimately every chibi. .hsil
b. reached with tbs practical. easily AN
drr-tood health and life-stVing in-trsr-
tion. ami thus provide m the next gen~r-
alton OF voters. legislators and admins
traitors. men AMI Women af1ut who~s
sympathy and cooperation there will Ia
no question. In the eour>s ~ this work,
80 tar a. !, u possible, Il y hoped ~
make the physician a moral a. well a. q
physical leader of his community. urging
the same standard for men aud women.
and warning all against the use Of habit
producing liquors and drugs and other
agencies at enmity with pure and healthy
living Within ths past year the Amer
lean Association for the Advancement of
Science and other great hy organizations
have ioined in some Of the main features
of this movement. to which President
Roosevelt has promised support, and We
feel encouraged "a never before.
As will be readily seen. this all means
the same kind OF revolution in the prae-
ticc Of medicine as has gone ON 80 rapid
ly in the practice Of law in recent years
Formerly LAWYERS were employed almost
entirely in conducting litigation in the
courts. Now great corporations and wise
men employ lawyers to keep them out Of
the court house. All sickness cah.-nt b.
prevented with present knowledge, Hut
the important acute diseases, esperiaiS
those 10 fatal to children and young peo,
pie, and so difficult to treat. can, and
the list can be constantly extended. Such
extension of knowledge would soon elimi-
nate quackery, the nostrum and other
similar evils. All OF this would involve
great expense and years Of eonseerated,
unselfish labor for our profession. Yet
doctors must lead in it. because they
hara tha EunuIadsrs " hich uof only ftz