The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-07-15
President Of State Medical Soci.
ETY. Urges Establishment Of
q School of Health
PART or STATE UNIVERSITY.
DR.. Seaman Declares That All Physi-
clans in the State Should Have
knowledge CT Best Means to
Preserve Public Health

In a recent address DR.. Gilbert T..
Seaman, president of the Wisconsin
State Medical Society, made strong
argument for the establishment of a
college of hygiene and public health
/ in the University of Wisconsin. He
contends that preventive medicine is
of inestimable value to the world at
large, and he makes the observation
that no school Of preventive medicine
has been established in this country,
although beginnings In this direction
have been made by eastern colleges
In European countries the state school
of hygiene and public health is no
rarity and in England it is uncommon
for any physician who has not obtained
his degree as doctor of public health
to be mentioned in connection with
any public health office position. The
school which DR.. Seaman proposes to
add to the present departments of the
university would be for the purpose
of training men, already doctors of
medicine, in the specific knowledge
necessary to guard the public health.
After bringing before his audience
the fact that physicians do not admit
that such diseases as typhoid and
tuberculosis have any reason to exist,
and would not exist if communities in
general understood how to protect
themselves against the onslaughts of
these infectious perils he says:
"And so, I say, that the medical
school which would in the highest de-
gree Justify its continued existence
must expand along the lines of teach
ing the prevention of disease.
~ therefore propose and urge that
our schools be encouraged to provide
the necessary facilities for the study
of these great health problems, and
particularly would I urge the advis
ability of the medical department of
our state university, with it's splendid
Laboratories, it's contact with the de-
partments Of engineering, agriculture,
biology, law, social economics, the
hygienic laboratory, the State Board Of
Health and bureau Of vital statistics,
the Food and dairy commission, to serl-
ously consider the development of a
school of public health and sanitary
science, where men may pursue the
study of the great health problems in
such way and for such time as would
fit them tor public health positions Of
all kinds.
''The public health is too sacred a
consideration to be subjected to the
degrading and dangerous touch Of par
tisan politics.
"The subjects of water and food
supply, disposal of waste, the proper
housing of the people, the stamping out
of preventahle disease, and many other
questions of this nature, deserve and
demand the study Of lifetime; and
men who devote their time to these
matters should first be adequately
trained, and then should expect and
be permitted to make it their life work.
"The highest function of the state,
without doubt, is the preservation of
| the life and health and the promotion
Of the comfort and happiness of it's
people; and why should not our state
university, recognizing the course of
evolution in medical progress, take the
next step in medical education and
provide such school as is here sug-
gested and thus, without adding great
ly to the present cost of maintenance
of the university, vastly increase its
prestige as q progressive educational
institution, and confer lasting bene-
fit upon all the people within the sphere
of it's influence
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