The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-11
PREVENT|ONM0ST
IMPORTANT PART
OF new MEDICINE
Federal Regulation of Pub
lie Health Urged by Prom
inent Speakers.
CONTROL OF DISEASE
PROBLEM FOR WORLD
Former Governor Cunningham,
Of Alabama, Given Ova-
ton by Doctors.
PRESIDENTS PHYSICIAN SPEAKS
DIR. Cary T. Grayson introduced as
Only Man of Whom Wilson
Humbly Asks Advice.

7 preventive medicine Is the most
t important part or medical SCIENCE"
/ said DR.. r. NJ. Cunningham, cx-Govcr-
nor OF Alabama, at the public ses-
{ sion or the Southern Mrdica, Asso-
Z citation held In the Jefferson Hotel last
i night He declared il to be n field
that should bc regulated by tho Fed
crai government and by international
law. Throughout his address Or Gun
ningham harped OH the part.that should
re played In preventive medicine by
tl1e public at large apJ by all the com
bincd governmental agencies. Ifc ar
Sucd that not only was the prevcn-
tion or disease. and it's concomftnnt
sanitation. "A problem to be met by
the county and State and national
governments, but that IL was an inter
national problem-in short, a worli
problem. too. He had himself he
said, Joined IN the propaganda
ana taken high seat on the
band wagon in the promuigation
81 heaithful and health--givinv doe .
trtDes. and since his own particular ba M
wagon had turned into II political
hcarsc he had cndeavcrcd moro ;hany
ever to preach the gospel Of prcvcn-
ton as the greatest present safeguard
o.; humanity.
DH. GRAYSON STEAK.
ON OLD-TiME PHYSICIAN
pr. cunningham WAS followed by Dr.
t-ary It. Grayson, physician to the Pres
idcn' who spoke on "Thc old Time
Physician. paying Ia the doctor OF
other days AN eloquent, and feeling
tribute for the. pathway he had hewei
out through the forest or Ignorance
Tor the medical scientists of to-day.
Remarkable tributes were paid to
both men. Dr. Cunningham MAS APP
pianded so long and So vociierousiy
that he had To bow his acknowledge
ment. and the hand -clapptng and APP
plause we're equally az great for the
personal. physician ofssPresident5 lWil-
son, who also rose 10 his feet a sec
ulent.
The opcr session WAS presided over
by DIR. stuart Mct;uirc. president OF the
southern Medical Association. flc was
In particularly happy vein. lie said
In introducing DR.. Cunn.ngham. that
hc was not "a maker Of poIitica! doe
tors nor Of preacher physicians.. but
that he WAS glad 10 present surii q man
as eN-Governor and DR. Cunningham.
DESCRIBES CONDITIONS
THAT BEAR ON DISEASE
Or. Cunningham described climatic
conditions. Typographical and geo
graphical conditions as they bear on
prcdisposinG causes OF disease. ami
satd that there arc governmental lines
national, State, city and rural-Rc-
publican and Democratic--in which
ihcae prcdisposing causes could be
tonbatcd. There are also Interstate
and international causes which have a.,
equal bearing OH predisposition. ond
II the problem Is TO be met in scieu-
tii1c manner II should be met ON ev-
cry converging line. He said that
these prehisposing causes change some
times. For Instance" he said, you
VIII nave change in the next two
years | hope il will do you good It
ala us good. but we fell from grace"
Tho speaker further described the
artificial causes which produce diseas Sc.
and said that many of them were due
to the 'inequities OF the government.
such an inequity as may be found in
|, the Terrence between free trade and
r restrictive tariff.
But all artificial causes may be pro-
hibited by law" he declared. "and evil
conditions made by law may be re-
placed with better conditions. Santa
tion lies within the province OF public
effort. hygiene is left 10 the individual
/! and sanitation is the means for the
execution Of preventive medicine.
I The vast majority OF diseases are
caused by germs and parasitcs--com-
/ monty called bugs-and a study of
bacteriology Is involved in a knowl-
| edge OF the biological cycle. SO rs to
t know the definite point at which to
make the attack
|; GOVERNMENTAL CONTROLS
E ONLY FEASIBLE METHOD
I The speaker urged that all santa
i tion regulations among and between
|, the States should be under the laws
L of the United States. declaring that
K governmental direction and control was
z the only feasible method in which a
i; proper regulation for the country at
1large could be evolved and put into
y execution.
b The Federal government, he said. has
h Jurisdiction over all matters ceded to
II hy the States, and all OF these mat
ters concern the common welfare. SO
y laws for the fight against basteria
should bo under the direction OF some
$ political unit.
a But" he declared, public sentiment
lis necessary to procure proper laws.
and to arouse public sentiment there
must be education. Sanitary measures
Unjust be made political issues. SO long
iSas the people arc silent, so long will
the statesman, who is first n politician,
fail to take the Initiative. II there be
a popular demand for sanitary laws,
I those running for Office will make 1t
as ono of the reasons for their cleo
I tion to Office.
1 There arc four things necessary:
\ first, to create a desire on the part OF
the people TO know. the conditions
which affect their health; second, some
/ thing specific and definite to teach. not
b what Socrates or Plato said. but some
thing concerning the health problem;
I third, the employment Of dsintcrestcd
! and competent teachers; fourth. ways
and means to reach the public.
EpEUPLE MUST NE TAUGHT
[tS st viI.UE. OF IIIGALTH
MS THE people, must first be taught the
! great value Iof health. not ouly from
the standpont OF life aud Death but
4 rs we'll. as Dr. Wiley has. said. from
Il a standp6lnt Of wealth The message
ss' Continued OH Ninth Page.