Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-26
MEDICINES CONQUEST
OF CIVILIZATIONS FOES
DIR. Woods Hutchinson Predicts Still
Further Remarkable
Progress.
IN ADDRESS AT SAN FRANCISCO
Assumes Presidency of American
Academy OF Medicine When II
Convenes in Fortieth Annual SEES
sion-Dr. Rupert Blue Honorcd.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 25.-In as
Stunning the presidency Of the American
Academy of Medicine, which convened
to-day for its fortie,h annual meet
Ing. Or. Woods Hutchinson. of New
York. told of medicines conquest of
the Toes of civilization and the pro
SreSs OF some unfinished battles
inc relation of medicine to trans
portation and commerce will be the
general topic of the sessions, which
viii end Monday
The business session to-day elected
70 honorary membership Dr. Rupert
Blue. surg can general of the United
states Public Health Service who yes
terday was named president elect of
the American Medical Association.
Dr. Hutchinson, OF New York. In his
address before the academy here to-
day, said tho world would see still fur
Their rcma rka BILE progress in the de-
velopment Of the tropics, and that in
all colonization schemes the physician
should prepare the way.
The Physician as "A Pioneer was his
subject in line with the general topic
TO which all the sessions of this years
academy meeting are devoted, namely,
Medicine in its Relationships TO Com
merce and Transportation.''
Dr. Hutchinson said in part:
chief obstacle to the spread OF civili-
cation TX not Indians. or wolves, or
rattlesnakes or even famine or flood
or winter cold or topic heat. but in
sects. Most schemes of colonization
that failcd--failed not from famine, or
the attack of enemies, but through dis
ease. Ana more than half Of them
from one discase-malaria. This is
not merely the age or man. but the
age Of insects, geoloG ically considered.
and the battle is to the death between
them for the possession of the earth.
INSECTS GET WHIP HAND
or MAN IN TROPICS
''In the tropics, the insects get the
whip hand of man and keep him stupid.
short-lived, Uncivilized II was the
Plague OF Flies, the bloody tyranny Of
insects that drove man out of the warm.
comforta bic. fertile tropics into tho
chilly. rain swept half the year frozen
North. Now grown TO full human
stature he is coming back TO Invade and
rcconnuer the tropics and put to flight
the ancient foes OF the race.
In an earlier dag, the first requisite
Of a new colony, or pioneering cXpc-
dition. was u captain, a bold and skill
ful hghting man, with muskcts for
every grown man in the party, and
plenty of powder and ball. But now,
the first and most fundamental require
lteNlS Oh a new colony arc Il doctor
engineer with microscope and test
tubes, spades and trenching machines.
and plenty of quininc, Kerosene and
mosquito netting.
In the near future, no colony or
land company will be permitted to take
settlers into their new homes. until
"a thorough and complete survey shall
have been made OF the region. sani-
iary. medical, chronological expert
agricultural And at least "A sufficient
area 10 accommodate in safety the first
group of settlers shall have been
drained and keroscncd and supplied
with good water, so as 10 be protected
against malaria typhoid hook worn,
and water and fiy-bornc diarrhoca and
dysentery.
In the light of our present knowl-
edge. II should be regarded as little
snort OF lnanslauChtcr TO permit men.
women and little children who are
unfamiliar with the country, unsea-
soned to the climate. TO enter and face
the dangers of settlement in new
country or district without this pre-
liminary survey and protection, wheth-
CT IN their own land or across the seas
IL would cost a few thousand or hum
dreds OF thousands OF dollars. but not
very much more than the advertising
literature. and would save ten times its
cost in human life and suffering and
failure, besides being the best possible
advertisements for the enterprise.
WANTS NEW COUNTRIES
AS MODELS or HEALTH
New countries can and ought 70 he