The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25
HARVARD ATTACKS
DISEASE IN CHINA
DR.. M. R. Edwards Describes
Conditions and Seeks Aid
at Club Luncheon

stamping out pestilence, plague and
disease in China as a measure of pro-
lection for public health on the Pacific
coast and in the world was the theme
of discourse by DR.. M. r. Edwards
OF Harvard university at the Com
monwealth- club luncheon In the Palace
hotel yesterday
Doctor Edwards drew terrible pic
ture of the prevalence of every kind
of disease in China After showing
that all the devastating plaques in the
worlds history sprang from Asia he
outlined the plan of Harvard university
to fight disease where it breeds An
army of young American doctors, spe-
cially trained. will be sent to China to
build up Chinese health institution.
Doctor Edwards asked San Francisco
businessmen to follow the example of
eastern merchants and give financial
aid to the movement
On THE hygienic regeneration Of
China" Doctor Edwards said:
China, the breeding place of cholera
and bubonic plague, the hotbed of dis
case, menaces the world. My years trip
in China has revealed astounding con-
ditions Of insanitation. Uncared disease
is everywhere. Smallpox and scarlet
fever greet one in the streets. Small
pox Is given to babies so that they
may die young if they are to be vic
Tins.
ITO understand China's pitiable state
we will suppose our population of
90,000,000 was multiplied by four, do
away with all but 160 hospitals, have
but 1000 physicians, or two assigned
to San Frapcisco, have two medical
schools. discharge state and municipal
health boards, stop up the sewers. put
tuberculosis In every family, let dis
ease run riot, have a cholera center on
the Atlantic and bubonic plague on the
Pacific coast, and when you have pic
tured this state Of rampant pestilence
you will have a fair idea of actual con-
ditions in China.
"Bubonic plague is in every seaport
in China. Since it broke out II years
ago, spreading to San Francisco, 9,000,-
600 people have perished from it. China
has been fighting disease with super
stitions. There are no doctors there.
Images are broken, eff1gies are burned
and ceremonial rites performed to drive
away the evil spirit of sickness. This
is done throughout China. l see that
some of the Chinese doctors are prac-
ticing here. 1 have just read an adver-
tisement wherein the practitioner says
he has the medical knowledge of seven
generations. That is their source of
knowledge in medicine.
The health of the United States de-
eign influence be established in China.
Such a move, while being protective,
would be an entering wedge for Amer
ica's commercial development in Asia.
Harvard has started the movement
for such an institution. A score of the
best trained medical men will be sent
to China to conduct exhaustive studies
into disease and hygienic conditions.
A S1,000,000 endowment will be sought
to carry on the work. First $4,000 a
year will be needed for five years East
ern men have contributed all but SIP, 900
a year for the work.
Because Of the Pacific coasts prime
interest in the health and sanitation
of Asia we look for support here. San
Francisco Is primarily interested. The
fair of 1918 is your cherished hope. We
of the east hope you will get it. An
interest in China by your city would be
appreciated and reciprocated by China
and it must not be forgotten that a
plague must be kept out at all hazards
during the next four years"