The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-07-05
FEAR THE FATAL s''s4G!!E
PHYSICIANS OF THE CONTINENT
GATHER IN SESSION AT
LOS ANGELES.
AMERICAN DOCTORS WATCH

Hundreds of Them From All Parts
of the Country in Attendance Upon
the American Medical Association.
Brewer Busch Will Give the NJ.
DIS. a $4,000 Barbecue.
LOS ANGELES, Cal.-That the
plague which is now ravaging China
may spread to the United States by
way of Pacific and Atlantic coast
ports and gain foothold in this
country is considered possibility
by some of the physicians in attend
ance upon the annual convention
opened in Los Angeles today by the
American Medical Association. 1t is
likely that the convention, which is
the representative medical body of
America, will urge upon the national,
state and municipal governments the
necessity for a most thorough inspec-
ton of all ships coming from the
Orient.
1t is stated that the physicians of
England are fully alive to this dam
ger and that the British authorities
have taken up the matter of plague
prevention by exercising vigilance in
the supervision of shipping and the
inspection of passengers and crews
from all Oriental ports. DR.. Howard
P. Kennard, a prominent London
physician, recently visited California
on his way to China to investigate
plague conditions on behalf of the
leading medical organizations of Eng
land.
Doctors who understand conditions
in China say that the cause and cure
of the plague which is now claiming
hundreds of victims daily is little
known to the medical men of that
empire, and that the methods of COM
batting it are most primitive in their
nature. Of late years the plague has
shown an alarming tendency to
spread, and cases have developed in
all parts of the world. At any mo-
ment, it is alleged, the dread disease
may engulf other parts of Asia, es-
pecially India, and so become a great
er menace to Europe and America.
Another important matter before
the convention is the treatment of
infantile paralysis. A national COM
mittee was appointed by the Ameri-
can Medical Association to inquire
into the best methods of fighting the
terrible ailment, and the report of
the various physicians will be dis
cussed at this gathering. In the main
the report deals with the admins
tration to noninfected children Of a
preventive vaccine. This is not con-
sidered as a cure for the disease, but
is regarded as an excellent prevent
i've.
The national board of health pro-
Ject will also come up for considers
ton during the week. Under the
plan it is proposed that the govern
ment establish bureau or even a de-
partment headed by a cabinet officer,
which shall have charge of and great
~ Increase the public health activi-
Ties Of the national government. 1t
Is pointed out by the doctors that the
government spends dollars for the
conservation of the life and well be-
ing OF live stock where 1t spends
cents for conserving human life. The
project has been fought in some
quarters and league of medical
freedom has been authorized by the
unorthodox ''healers" and physicians
VINO aIlege that such q board would
cohStltute medical monopoly of the
regular physicians.
Inc anti-Vivisection movement
winch has gained in popularity and
prestige throughout the country dur
ing the last twelve months and
threatens to result in the passage of
laws against experimentation on liv-
ing animals will doubtless be dis
cuSSed during the session. We'll
meaning but hysterical and visionary
5eIormers'' they are described by a
distinguished delegate, "who, if per-
united to have their way, must be
prepared to assume the responsible
W Tor the premature deaths whom
science might otherwise save"
several thousand physicians and