Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-07
MONUMENT TO BENEFACTOR.
World Gives More Praise to Destroy
er Than to Preserver of Life,

From the New York Sun.
The beneficence of antisepsis which Sir
Joseph Lister of Edinburgh has bestowed
upon suffering humanity is shared by
nearly every household in the world
Health. happiness and life itself will con-
tinue to be saved in cumulative proper
tons go long as the world is peopled for
of all discoveries for tler preservation
Listers surgical antisepsis is the only one
that is not assailed today.
Vaccination, for example. although the
greatest lfe-savinG discovery, continues
to be opposed holly by many: our col
umns are burdened with protests and our
waste basket with maudiin vaporings
whenever The Sun ventures TO advocate
this. effective preventive of mutilating
and death dealing ma!ady. ->or did Lister
escape the fate of all reformers. A New
York surgeon of ern:nence once likened
antisepss to the hocus pocus OF the
prestidigtateur' and attempted to sus-
tain this view by citing 100 amputations
by Amussat without a death.
The marvellous diminution of mortality
under strict Historian antisepss. the dis
lethal sequels of surgical operations. en-
boldened surgeons in all countries to in
wade hitherto dreaded territories and con-
verted always fatal operations into life
savers. Volumes have been flied with
the rehearsal of all the avenues to in
sure recovery that have been opened to
the surgeon. The Sun printed in it's issue
of April Z. 1912. a full account Of Mar
wells of Modern Surgery" and pointed out
that these were made possible only by
Listers grand discovery.
A movement is now on foot TO erect a
monument to this greatest benefactor of
modern times, monument that shall
proclaim to future generations the price
less benefits they are receiving from the
la oors of the patient, Flooding Edinburgh
scientist n "A
greater ultimate Importance. that would
stimulate others to emulate his grand eX-
ample
To the rejecting mind it is painful to
note that the world honorS the destroyer
Of life far more than the saver of life
History records the deeds and perpetuateS
all achievements on the field of carnage.
and imposing monuments perpetuate the
memory Of the soldier. Monuments to
those who have striven valiantly and
often with sacrifice of life and health to
save life are meager in numbers and mig
gardly in proportion. Every schoolboy
has an exalted idea Of Alexander the
Great: is there one who has heard OF
Hippocrates? This physician is far great
err than that illustrious general. because
the fruits OF his achievements are today
blessing mankind.
History proclaims' the military achieve
ments of Moltke. and his country is
dotted with monuments to him and his
generals. while his contemporary. Sir
James Y. Simpson. Isl barely mentioned;
although this humble son of a baker in
Edinburgh has freed woman from the
primal curse, there is but one modest
monument to perpetuate his memory.
when every mother in the world may re-
ceive the boon he has bestowed upon
woman.
Every American schoolboy is proud OF
the conquests Of Gen, Winfield Scott
Does he know aught of Scotts greater
contemporary. Thomas G.. Morton the
discoyerer of ether. which banishes aso-
niZing pain without cessation every day
and night in all parts of the world?
Which is the grander achievement, the
conquest of Mexico or the victory over
unavoidable pain"
Is it the primal element OF savasery
surviving in man that prompts him to
exalt the destroyer?