The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-19

BENEFITS THOUSANDS

In an article on Conquest Of II ok
worm Disease" in the New York
Medical Journal. Professor j. George
Adami. the pathologist Of McGill
University, bestowa praise on what
has been accomplished by Americans.
The outer world Is apt to accuse
the inha bitants OF the United States
Of spread eagleism.' Professor
Adami says. but II there Is any truth
whatsoever in the accusation there
may be placed In the other scale
the singular nodesty--or is it the
igncrance?-of the average Ameri-
can regarding the good Weeds OF his
public services and public servants
/, Ii foreigners who have been un-
si!nted in praise Of the reduction Of
the death rate in the Canal Zone,
Professor Acami says, adding:
Only after the deaths OF Walter
Read and Carroll was an inadequate
need OF appreciation bestowed upon
the commission which in Cuba ac-
complished the swiftest. most brill
liant and triumphant conquest over
disease that this world has seen. The
vaccination campaign and eradication
Of smallpox in the Philippines and
Porto Rico have been treated rs lit
tie more than a matter OF course, and.
markable achievements Of Ashford,
King and Gutierrez, In their CAM
paign against the hoOkworin disease
IN Porto Rico, the American press.
t. all intents and purposes. u mute
anc inglorious. II this be modesty
IL nay be permitted to all outsider
70 sound the praises.
Professor Adami refers to the gov
ernment report showing that 100000
persons, a third of the inhabitants
Of Porto Rico. have been restored
t, health after having had the hook
worm disease. After reviewing the
work done hy DR.. Bailey X. Ashford.
OF the medical corps of the United
States ARM: DIR. Walter King. Of
the public health aud marine hos
vital service. and DR.. Pedro Gutierrez.
health officer Of Bayamon. r. r., who
initiated and carried on q work
which has revolutionized the health
conditions on the island" Professor
Adami says:
Beginning at Bayamon consider
ably more than 600 patients presented
themselves In 'ess than a month, and
as those cured returned to their
families the number presenting Them
sci, es at each clinic became over
whelming. A removal was then made
poured III in such numbers that
with In five months the appropriation
WAS exhausted. For patients regis
terfng from 8 to 80 per sear. OF
bnamoglobin q field hospital II fifty
four 20 sixls six beds was provided.
AID at the end OF five months 5.049
cases had bear treated. So great was
the success that other district de-
msnded dispensaries and field hos
l.itals, and in 19O5-1e06 Aib0nito. a
town in the mountains. was chosen
for the central dispenssrv. Ten sub
stations were established In the sur
rounding little towns. the largest sta
tons at Lares and Utuado. The
physicians Of the island. seeing the
good results. volunteered their SER
vices, procured microscopes and I'M
dertook the care OF the sub stations.
The main purpose OF Professor
Adamt IL to call attention ito a work
which has owed its origin to the scien-
tific enthusiasm and humanity. of two
members Of the public medical SER
vices Of the United States and Il coun-
try practitioner Of Porto Rico" Iro-
ftssor Adami concludes:
They have demonstrated the cause
Of the prevalent disease of the in
habitants and shown how this disease
can be arrested. Through their ef-
forts the disease has been cured. and
from being feeble and incapable. the
victims Of progressive malady end
ire in death. the Inhabitants OF Porto
Rico have had their vitality restored
to them, have received health.
strength and happiness.
ltut herein, let mo repeat. 10 a
distinct defect in conditions upon this
continent-havinE no method worthy
Of respect whereby respect and xrati-
tude can be ofiiciAlly pronered to
those who have accomplished much
, for their fellows. that respect and
L gratitude find ne sfeduAtcs tistsrayfcE.
After all titles at times are useful.
Hut II tho comforting OF relative rank
II clearly out OF the question II may
well be suggested that the United
States follow the example of Great
BRITAIN and grant an o. NJ. or Order
OF Merit to those whom the country
ought to honor In science and art. In
literature and philanthropy.