The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-16
MEDICAL COMMON SENSE.

medical association, which has just
been printed in pamphlet form. DIR. H.
d. Niles Of this city. president of the
association. advances some rather
radical notions. Discussing the rela-
tions of the medical profession and the
| public press. he says
1T is my sincere conviction, gentle
men. that the time has come in the
evolution of scientific medicine, when,
il we are to do our full part in estab-
fishing such relations between the gen.
eral public and the medical profession
as will bring the greatest good to the
greatest number, we must educate the
people through that greatest educator
of all educators. the public press"
The suggestion has been called radi-
cal, not because IL is essentially so. but
because a great many doctors seem to
think IL akin to immortality TO appear
in the public prints voluntarily for fear
they will be accused of advertising. AS
matter of fact most of the medical
brethren enjoy discreet publicity. just
as other weak mortals do; but they do
not like to have II appear that the pub
licity was sought The Idea is a relic
of the days when the old-time doctor
thought il necessary 10 obscure his pre-
scriptions, assume an air of secrecy in
his relations with patients and make it
appear that he could not properly dis
cuss. even with his friends the meth
DDS and objects Of his profession.
Happily for the welfare of mankind
that notion is pretty well exploded,
and the biggest men in the profession
are utilizing the press and every other
agency of legitimate publicity for the
education of the people in preventive
medicine. Take just one instance as
an example: The head of the Chicago
health department, DR.. w. A. Evans,
one of the brainiest men in his profess
sion a bacteriologist of national repu-
tation. and a stickler for the ethics of
his profession. does not hesitate TO call
on the newspapers to help him in his
campaign for Chicago's betterment in
health and general sanitary conditions
Not only this. but he makes opport-
tunities to give the newspapers inter-
esting matter such matter as they are
glad to have on subjects related to his
campaign The reporters, city editors
and publishers OF every newspaper in
the big city are with him because they
know the man and his work.
The logical result has been such an
enlightenment of the ignorant In Chi
cago that it is progressing perhaps
ventive medicine than any other large
American city. The sentiment thus
created gives the health department
substantial support when II has to en-
force the laws against the stupid or the
vicious. Tenements which have been
hotbeds of tuberculosis and plague
spots from which infection spread in
every direction have been wiped out;
food inspection means something, and
even the most squalid districts among |
the foreign-born population have been
cleaned up.
Further than this, DR.. Evans has |
been called upon 10 make addresses in |
other cities throughout Illinois and the
adjoining states, and he has done it at !
a great sacrifice because he is vitality |
interested in this work. the work of |
his life, and is achieving success be- |
cause he knows how to utilize the |
public press as one of his most efficient |
agencies for education.
Dr. Niles put forth his suggestion so
timidly that ii can hardly offend. yet IL
is quite probable he will be subject to |
criticism at the hands of his own pro-
fession. certainly by the medical jour- |
nails. Yet. If his idea were followed up |
right here in Salt Lake: If competent |
men were to furnish the press mate
rial for the education of the public |
along hygienic lines. IT would be well
coined and published with pleasure.
Food supply. milk supply. care of the
sick. the prevention of infection, the |
of disease. the proper diet for
certain classes of patients-all the in |
that an intelligent citizen
needs but cannot get readily, Is part |
OF the program that could be followed.
Such matter would eventually lead 10
a decrease in the death rate here. the 4