The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-09-10

+@ Research in Tropical Diseases
| - - and the Study Of Preventive
~ Medicine"
.M IN This Gorgas memorial will be
M) AM established at Balboa, the Pa
H& 48 cific entrance to the Panama
07ArNNN canal The location is fitting
~V4WS since it was General Gorgas VINO
@ made the construction OF the
e..o, osshle IT also puts the institute closely IN
touch with its WORK.
The memorial will be of international cnaracl.
This ia as it should be- since the fame OF Generai
6,oryas lie world wide. 1t may be doubted II the
work Of any single man has meant more 10 ci'n-
ization 1t was his sanitary work that oelnon-
strated to the world that the white man can i've
and work in the tropics and maintain gooo healln
And the end>is not yet. since when the tme coi,es
that the North American continent is crowded tne
next great migration of the white man VIII De 10
Central and South America. In fact 1t Is no eA-
agreration to say that the settling OF the tropics
nv the Caucasian dates from the completion OF the
Panama canal.
ANYONE who has seen the old Panama at the
time of the abandonment of the work OF the nrst
canal involving much wasted energy, h1e anu
money! with Its abandoned equipment and the evi-
dences of unsuccessful labor, and the thousands
OF unknown and unnumbered graves OF Its work
ers cannot help but be struck with the present
aspect of Panama Its splendid sanitation, its Deau
tiful cities its fine hospitals. and the magnncent
accomplishment OF the completion OF the work OF
the canal making 1t one Of the most beautiful and
sal,hrious spots in the world writes Rear Admiral
VIC BREASTED. U. s. N, tRetired) IN the Fan
American Union
The accomplishment Of this great work and the
sanitary regeneration Of Panama are due to the
efforts of the late William C. Gorgast United
States army, and to his efforts more than to any
other the success Of this work must be accredited
His earlier work In the southern states and the
20 rfia 1rprIv Cuha
efforts in Ecuador and Peru, and his projected
work In Africa give one an idea Of the vast field
+ Of splendid endeavor which he accomplished ana
would have continued had hts life been prolonged.
His reputation has gone forth to a. the world.
and he is loved and reyered In every household.
Perhaps no single life has ever made possible so
much for the good and well-being of humanity as
has that Of General Gorgas There can be, there
fore no question as to the desirabity Of erecting
some memorial which will do honor to this great
man.
Many types Of memorials have been considered
In this connection, but feel sure that the estab-
lishment Of this memorial The Institute for Re-
search In Tropical Diseases and the Study Of Pre-
ventive Medicine, carrying with 1t not only per-
manent monument to his memory, but one that
will continue his work and be Of the greatest value
to the welfare Of the entire world, would be his
ideal OF this commemorative effort Panama, sit
uated in the heart OF the Tropics and in the midst
OF the central ana SOutn american StateS WHICH Oi-
fer splendid field for work Of this kind. would
seem to be the ideal location furnishing wealth
OF material for the institution which IL being
brought into existence.
The honor for the conception Of this idea and
OF bringing 1t into actual existence must be given
"a DR.. Belisarfo Porras. the president Of the re-
public of Panama. It was owing to his efforts and
those associated with him. such as the Hon. 10
semi Lefevre the representative Of the Panaman
government in Washington. that a provisional
board has been established to begin and carry On
this work. Deep interest has been evinced In the
success a. this undertaking By all who have been