New-York tribune., 1914-11-22
IRS WAR OF A p H. 4 ON BAT7ALIONS OF BACTERIA
Wonderful Adpance in Preventive Medicine
Through Work of American Public
Health Association, Which viii Con-
pene Next Week in Jacksonville

the American Medical Association is 70 eg,,,..
medicine and medical practice lts work b.i..
entirely for the benefit Of the public and o,s
which tends away from commcrcialisn and ma
sonal profit, demands high qualities of citizs,s,,.
and self-sacrfce for its accomplishment Tt
has been exemplifed in The work Of those vs.
have conducted its activities iu The pag, rt,
have given without stint Of their time and sv-,
rience 10 research and 20 the organization OF es.
paigns for the application Of the information IAN,
gained. It's leaders have little 70 gain exceo. ~.
satisfaction Of having contributed 20 The welh,s
Of humanity. II is remarkable fact and mo,.
true Of the association than perhaps Of any o,se,
organization in this country, tina. the interest o,
those who have grown old since .hey bo.,rs
members is maintained. They still love the seen,
Of the battle. They still long 20 share In tbs
service which the association seeks TO perform
It's first president, DR.. Stephen Smith Of BROOKLYN
is still alive. lie was active Do the work os n.
association as long as he was able Men work
with equal earnestness, whether in the ranks q,
as officers, and continue to do so upon their re.
turn from the chair to the ranks again
It's organization, evolved with large vision
and its membership enable it not only 70 gatbe,
scientific facts, but TO put them over" as ths
phrase is Men hungering for scientific facts
plainly presented, that they may read as they
are chased along the highway Of life They want
to know and they are prepared 70 accept and 70
act upon any that seem reasonable They ara
openminded Facts being developed as rap.
idly as. they can be assimilated. II is only few
years since men discovered that there was con.
nection between refuse and disease and that the
link was fly There many fields ye. to Sc
developed. We still are unacoua.n,ed with the
elemental factors in many diseases, but We are
open to facts, ready TO seize upon that which is
true, and to put away that which is false Bu.
we do not wait to know what causes cancer be.
fore begin fight upon it. We do not
know the extent TO which refuse breeds disease
but we believe in "cean up" campaigns and do
our part in organizing them and educating the
public to their value. The discoveries in the
possibilities of detecting the presence Of latent
diseases in the blood particularly those Of the
social scourges, promise to put within the con-
troll of man the elimination Of certain forms OF
insanity such as paresis. We are gaining infor.
nation regarding neurasthenic diseases and their
connection with the ductless glands, such as the
thyroid, that promise much in that direction
Through the investigations Of the biologist,
eugenics may aid in the prevention Of disease.
We may be no more successful than Ponce de
Leon in his legendary search for the fountain Of
perpetual youth, but that will be able to
increase the average of life and remove some Of
the obstacles which destroy efficiency and shsckls
happiness is a dream not beyond realization.
Seeking the cooperation Of ALL it is possible to
press forward with courage and faith.
The Wilderness of the associations field is Illus.
trated by the subjects to which the members,
more than a thousand in number and including
the leaders in preventive medicine throughout
the country, will be invited to give their atten.
ton at the meeting in Jacksonville The health
of the negro will be discussed from a half-dozen
different angles while industrial hygiene will be
attacked from almost many points. Among
the topics are the federal meat inspection service
which is pronouncedly in the public eye just now
the health and economic results of rural depopu"
lation and abnormal increase of cities. sickness
insurance and its relation TO public health, the
newspapers and public health, the drug evil, the
bacteriology and chemistry Of water, and sewage
milk, ice cream and other foods, dagnostie and
medical bacteriology, ventilation OF schools ana
factories, the relation of bacteria and dust par
ticles in the air. the marriage certificate as
deeply rooted social problem" The hooS~o~
disease, cancer as a public health problem, non
resident deaths, the importance OF autopsy pra'
tice as a basis for the accurate designation Of me
causes of death, the place OF physical examina
tions in public health administration, and refuse
disposal and city waste dumps.
at has attracted to il the most publc-spiH'eo
workers in the field of sanitary engineering o.
municipal public health and Of sociology saiu
Dr. Bryce, of Ottawa, one of the pioneers IN J"
work, recently, in writing of the American ruOD.
Health Association. ats workers move ior"aiu
as the several divisions of army in so'a
phalanx, the movements of all absolutely IN tou'H
and animated by the common spirit OF deVouOD
to the highest interests of the people OF the i0ui
countries United States Canada, Mexico 'D'
Cuba-comprised in its membership"