Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
HONOR|NG GENERAL GORGAS
sy rREpER1c j. HAsK1N

BY FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN
, Washington. D. c., Aug. G.-Memori-
ais always have been erected In honor
of the great men and women of the
world, and there probably always will
been few to date which have been use-
ful as we'll as ornamental OF such
few. the institute for medical research
into tropical diseases, to be erected in
memory of the late General William
| Crawford Gorgas, "Chevalier of
Health" will be conspicuous ex-
ample. 1t lis to be erected In Panama
| City, in the heart of the district where
General Gorgas made some of his
| greatest efforts toward fighting tropi-
cal diseases and where he met with
| some of his greatest success. The Pam
| anna government has donated the
building, site and equipment for the
Gorgas Institute and the building may
| be completed within the space of a
year. Work on the plans and prepara-
| tions for the actual construction are
being pushed forward as rapidly as
possible.
1t now remains for the United States
and the other many countries inter
ested In this great work, to raise the
maintenance funds. DR.. Franklin II.
(, Martin, secretary ot the American
College of Surgeons, Is chairman Of
! the committee handing this problem
| anu AuIllTdl w. u. bTdlSteu ana senior
| Lefevre are the other members of the
| committee.
Some idea of the part the United
States will play in establishing the
memorial. may be gained when one
realizes that in tho campaign which
will start next fall the aim will be to
raise from three to five million dol
lars in this country alone.
In the charter for the institute two
additional provisions were added at
rt,n n1tt tr,fr - d., Ill =
here last week in the Pan-American
building. These provisions specify
that the institute shall send expedi-
tions into all South American coun-
tries to make researches concerning
tropical diseases: that forces of physi-
clans shall be continually in readiness
| TO visit regions suffering from epidem-
les; and. that the institute shall devote
part of its work to studying the dis
eases of animals IN relation to those
OF human beings, carrying on in this
way. the special work of the late Cen
eral GeorSas.
DR.. Belisario Porras, president of the
Republic of Panama, originated the
idea of tfas practical and suitable me-
mortal to honor General Gorgas. and 1t
was owing to his efforts and those of
his associates that the Provisional
Board was established to begin and
carry on the work. Great interest in
the memorial has been evinced in all
| r
tin. who has Just returned from a tour
OF the Central and South American
countries. says that the presidents and
other representatives in these coun-
tries seem especially interested In the
project. Word also has been received
from educational institutions such as
the Londan School of Tropical Medi-
cine. Indicating extensive interest in
the development OF the memorial plans
rnnnma. the Logical site
While much has been done In our
largest and best educational institu-
tions to endeavor to carry on research
work and to acquire knowledge of
tropical disease and great deal ac-
complished by many special institu-
lions and departments. such as the
London and Liverpool Schools of
Tropical Medicine, and the work OF in
stttutions such as Harvard. Johns Hop
ltins, the University OF California, and
many other organizations of this kind,
nevertheless. all this work has been
limited and hnmpered by the dcarth of
material for such study and research
and on account OF the distance from
the tropical centers.' So spoke Ad
| miral Braisted In discussing the loca-
tion OF the institute in Panama, He
continued.
Panama offers the ideal situation in
almost every respect for the successful
Investigation of these diseases, which
| superablc obstacle to tho development
of some of the most splendid sections
| of the earth. What has been done I'm
Panama proves that hitherto uninha bi-
table and undeveloped countries of the
greatest possibilities for successful
human habitation. with attendan.
prosperity and wel,-boing. in most Mt
| tractive and desirable parts OF the
| earth. are easily within our reach II We
can apply in their development the
lodi. Ian III
great institution
| Until the Gorgas Memorial building
can be completed, the laboratories and
| equipment OF the new Santo Tomas
hospital In Panama City have been of
fcrcd for this special research work
II * hoped that active work along
these lines may be begun by next Jan.
uary.
| In addition to the advantages offered
by the location of the institute in the
midst of the section Of the world where
such diseases are most commonN an
other advantage is offered students in
such research work by tho numerous
cases demanding treatment which arc
brought into that vicinity by the great
flow OF shipping thru the Canal zone
| Men from all over the world arc on
board these vessels and. naturally. all
varieties OF disease are to be found
among such a conglomeration of hui
man beings.
II IL not possible to list here all the
known diseases that II would he pos
sible to study in this institution. hut
| among them are; malaria. yellow
fever. plague. dengue. human trypano-
somiasis. bcriberi. pellagra. ieprosy.
| various helminthic infections. and
cholera
William c. Gorgas who succeeded in
| turning one of tho deadiiest pest
holes on earth into place ss safe as u
health resort" as the late Theodore
RI I,ttf 4 nf fyfN 4,