The Washington herald., 1912-09-29

forded so rich an opportunity to learn
the result OF public health work in
other communities in their own country.
Every possible phase Of human welfare
and the Improvement and protection of
the race was discussed in the Congress.
tuberculosis, typhoid, infantile paraly-
sis, and other great disease enemies of
mankind: the social question, from an
economic, industrial. and sex viewpoint:
the improvement of succeeding genera
tions. through systematic and scientific
eugenic improvements. and the improve
ment Of the infant life OF to-day. child
welfare work. and mother Instructions.
all were discussed and debated exhaust
lively by those who have made the study
OF these questions a life work.
Prevention rather than cure was the
keynote of the Congress. Education of
potential victims OF disease was advanc-
ed as the best means Of accomplishing
the desired result. Virtually all studies
discussed were along this line.
Pntterson's Announcement.
Perhaps the most definite announce
ment by way of discovery was made by
DR.. Alfred Peterson. of Stockholm.
Sweden. DR.. Peterson announced the
result OF investigations which virtually
established the fact that the infantile
Is ITOIl
person to person through the upper res
piratory organs. DR.. Peterson had
been able in numerous cases during an
epidemic OF poliomyelitis in Sweden TO
infect subjects OF study with the disease
by means OF the nasal discharge from
its human victims. Another important
announcement which the delegates did
not hold to be in direct conflict with the
Peterson discovery was that made by
n NJ L T-,.N
versity. DR.. Rosenau told OF expert
mcnts which indicated that the disease
is communicated by the biting stable
fly. Both means OF communication are
possible in the opinion OF medical eX-
pe1s. DR.. Pettersson's paper, however.
referred to the fact that most of the
large infantile paralysis epidemics have
been observed closely and have occurred
at a season of the year when the stable
fly is least prevalent.
Widespread inoculation for tubercu-
losis was one of the preventive measures
suggested in papers on the white plague.
The race, said one speaker. is rapidly
becoming hardened or inoculated with the
disease, but at the cost of an alarming
loss of life.
The solution of the problems Of alco-
holism and white slavery were funda-
mentally. as suggested at the congress.
dlIht1 pIeNtHllNc
both involves prenatal care of mothers,
better environment during infancy and
adolescence. and a change in the at
t.tude of society toward the victims of
these conditions.
For virtually all OF the big problems,
the improvement of environment was ad-
venced as a principal factor in the So
luton; this was in line with the purpose
Of the health officers work, the conserva-
ton of human life.
All Praise Work Done.
Opinions as to the value of the deliber-
ations OF the congress, the new discov-
cries. and ideas advanced. were express
ed by all of those making final re-
sponses. There can be no doubt-there
is no doubt in my own mind-that this
congress will be written down as beyond
all question the greatest and most val
liable, from many points of view, in the
world of science and medicine. that has
been held since the institution of the
congress sixty years ago." said Prof.
DR.. Max Rubner. of Berlin. president Of
the permanent international commission
of the congress, and one of the prin-
cipal speakers before the sessions just
closed.
DIR. Walcott, president of the congress,
in his closing remarks. said: THE feat
ure that has appealed most strongly to
me-the big, outstanding feature of the
congress just closed-is the quality Of
many OF the great men of the world
who have been sent here as delegates
and active participants in the various
discussions. I doubt IL ever there has
been assembled. anywhere in the world,
in this or any other congress or con-
vention, a more representative body of
men OF every branch OF applied science.
for the purpose of open discussions"
Sir Thomas oliver, of the Ui.s .sity
of Durham College of Medicir :, New
castle-on-Tyne, England. said that the
deliberations of the congress will go