Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
THE ROCKEFELLER
FOUNDATION.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Thirty-five million dollars Is the first
gift to the Rockefeller Foundation from
it's founder, John d. Rockefeller. The
fact Of this benefaction and the first
plans of work for the Foundation are
now announced for the first time, al
though the founders, having unsuccess-
fully applied to Congress for federal
charter, organized under the laws OF the
state Of New York in May. One hundred
million dollars may be the ultimate en-
dowment of this Foundation, which Is to
spend its money in philanthropic, educa-
tional and eleemosynary efforts to I'M
prove the condition of the race.
In accordance with announcements
made on behalf Of the incorporators at
the time the proposed federal charter
was pending in Congress, the first work
undertaken will have to do with the i'm
provement Of the public health. what
other activities are contemplated for the
near future is not yet known.
The Foundation at present is composed
Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller. jr,
Frederick T. Gates. Harry Pratt Judson,
Simon Flexner, Starr J. Murphy, Jerome
D. Greene. Wickliffe Rose and Charles o.
Heydt. John D. Rockefeller, jr., has
been elected the first president of the
Foundation, Jerome D. Greene is secre-
tary and l.. G. Myers is treasurer.
Its first work in the public health field
is to be the extension TO foreign coun-
tries of the successful fight against hook
worm disease; This work has been car
ried on in the southern states of the
Union for three years past. 1t was I'M
dertaken on the initiative of the Rookie
Teller Sanitary Commission, and with its
supervision, but without exception the
actual work has been done with the co.
operation and aid of the local health au-
thorities and physicians, as we'll as of the
county governments.
OF the million dollars pledged for the
work in the south about one-half has
been expend-
Expenditures in South ed. More than
Reach Half Million. persons have
been treated for the disease. The i'm
provement in the physical condition of
the thousands who have been treated,
whether their infection was light or
heavy, constitutes one of the most Won
derful phenomena in the whole history
Of medical science. Economic improve
ment has followed upon physical reha-
bilitation and the result is that not only
the individuals and families, but whole
communities. have experienced the re-
generating effects of this treatment
The treatment is very simple. consisting
OF the administration OF the drug called
thymol, and is as inexpensive as it Is
simple. When the treatment is followed
by improved sanitary conditions it re-
suits In a permanent cure.
When the Rockefeller commission be-
gan its work In 1910. the then but recent
~ discovered biological and pathological
factors of hookworm disease were all but
entirely unknown to the laymen, and
were but imperfectly known and appre-
ciated by the ply sicians of the country
1t was entirely natural. therefore, that
the first reports of the prevalence of the
disease We're received with suspicion and
distrust.
That this attitude Of distrust has disap-
peared, that 1t has given away to a we'll
nigh universal attitude of frank recogni-
ton of conditions and a resolute determi-
nation to meet them, is due to the COM
mon sense and courage of the people in
the communities affected-frst in observ-
ing and later in acting upon the informa-
ton given them by the demonstrations
made In their presence by the commits
sion and its local helpers.
An important by-product Of this cam
paign has been that in many states the
hookworm propaganda has increased
public interest in general sanitary i'm
provement and has, therefore, advanced
the enciency Of public health activities