Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1914-01-10
ALBUQUERQUE man
RENDERED HIGH
POSITION
DR.. ]. w. Colbert Asked by
Authorities of Rockefeller
Foundation to Take Charge
of Hook Worm Eradication.
WILL GO TO SOUTH
AMERICA TO REPORT

Dr. j. w Colbert returned last
night from "a brief Visit in Washing
ton. -. c., where he went at the re-
quest OF the directing authorities of
the great Rockefeller foundation Tor
"a conference upon ihc campaign
against the hook worm disease which
the International houlth commission
ls soon Go luuuch ln Central and
South America. the campaign a. be
financed by the Rockefeller fouuda-
ton.
Dr. Colbert, az tho result OF sever
al years OF active work ia combat
ing the hook worm disease in Porto
Rico, Mexico and Central America, Is
recognized as one OF the first nuthorl-
ties la the world OF tho disease. The
commission has rendered him the pc.
sitinn OF director OF the campaign
against hook worm Ia Central and
South America. ana although Dr. Cot
bert has not decided 90 accept the po-
sition, which rs an administrative
one and which would take him away
from the United states Tor at least
five years he has consented TO make
"a preliminary survey OF the field and
TO To the preliminary work OF organs
cation for the commission.
During his residence ih Porto iticO
Or Colbert devoted himself almost
entirely 20 the study ana treatment
Of nook worm victims, organizing "a
ar-rcachiug campaign which almost
urudlcatcd the disease iu the ISLAND.
During this work he and his assist
ants successfully treated more than
SEQ 600 cases of the disease ana re-
duccd " Co forty per cent of It's one
time number OF victims. During this
same period he also did extensive
work on Mexico ana Central Amesi-
GA. Next To- Major Ashford OF the
army. Dr. Colbert has had wider cx-
pcrience with the disease than any
other physician In the country aud
49, result was chosen by the Rookie
Teller foundation commission 20 In
'nugurate the great campaign by which
lit IL believed Central and South
America will be entirely freed OF
hook worm within five years
1T ~ true" said Dr Colbert this
afternoon "that have been asked
10 take charge OF the campaign
against hook worm in Central and
South America. has considerable
experience with the disease In Porto
Rico ana it was ON that account that
the commission rendered me the posi-
tion IL Is an administrative one,
however. and would take me away
from the United States and my active
practice for an indefinite period and
for that reason I have not ~ yet de-
tcrmincd TO accept o. The commits
sion has asked me and have con-
scented 10 make q preliminary survey
OF the field Of operation ana probably
viii go 90 Central America On Fcbrg-
ary FOR month. for this purpose. II
IS probable that ] viii go first 10
Costa Rioa where the first work viii
hc done.
THE campaign against the hook
worm disease, as mapped our by the
commission is "a Tremendous one. II
Is the first great international cam
paign of the kind 20 be inauEurated
under the Rockefeller foundation and
there Is little doubt that the result
will Be the complete eradication OF
the disease nOt only ON this continent
but throughout the world within five
years. Campaigns aisO are 10 be
launched on the same great scale
against poilagra and malaria and the
CONSENSUS 0f opinion among medical
scientists h that these win prove
equally successful
"rhe plan OF the commission De- 10
establish IN each nation a national
director at health under whose au-
thority ana supervision the WORK 90
combatlng The hook worm disease
viii be- carried on. Tho expense viii
all be- borne hy the Rockefeller foun-
dalton. Dr. Wickiiro Kuse. head Of
the commission has returned recenily
from London who're he socurod tho
CO. operation 81 the British govern
ment Ia the work In English colonies
throughout the world and there Is liz
tle question hut thnt the cooperation
Of the other world powers win &c
given.
"Aly work In Central America win
be- of a preliminary nature, being
beginning 81 the campaign. probably
Ia Costa Rica where conditions seem
20 be- most favorable Tor combating
the disease. ! 10 mot know definileit
when I viii make this trip, but prob
ably during February"