The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
MED|COS ID AID GORGAS MEMORIAL. PLEDGE INVITED
Dr. CIaxton Makes Strong Address on Public Health and Education-SchooI
 Is Indorsed


 good health and right health condi-
 tions to be the most important and
 underlying aspects of a successful
 educational system, and education to
 be the acquired ability by which na-
 tive ability and natural resources,
 so uniquely abundant in Alabama,
 may be properly developed Dr.
 P. P. Claxton, provost of the Univer-
 sity of Alabama, and former United
 States commissioner of education,
 addressed a capacity audience of
 delegates and visitors at the public
 meeting of the Alabama Medical as-
 sociation last night, his subject being
 Public Health and Education" :"
 In his introductory remarks, Dr. D.
 F. Talley. of Birmingham. presiding
 explained the custom of devoting the
 second evening session to the presen-
 tation by a recognized authority, of
 some vital question of importance to
 the commonwealth. and paid high tribute to the speaker whose position is very singular in national as well
 as state educational life.
 Function of Education
 pr. Claxton first pointed out the
 function of education in establishing
 a better system of schools and close ly correlated to that, to establish
 good health and otherwise improve
 the educational advantages of the youth of the country so that through the physical strength and vitality
 combined with an improved mind, the nations citizenship may traverse the plateau of life and be gathered unto , it's fathers was harvest truly rip- ened.
 In discussing, the cooperation or
 the physician and the teacher Dr. Claxton first pointed out the essen tials of physical development in the home with which both should be
 deeply concerned and engaged, and then pointed out the necessity Tor physical culture and medical inspec- tion and especial training in hygiene and home making among the girls after the school career is begun. Not Been Convinced
 "Our people in Alabama have been convinced of the necessity for im-
 proved educational facilities" de- clared the speaker, but they have
 not been convinced that it Is highly possible to attain such a goal with out further delay. It is the duty and privilege of the members of the state medical society to bend their | far-reaching efforts in fostering this | necessary belief"
 After reviewing the conditions of great natural wealth without educa- tion as 1t exists in China, India, Mes sopotamia, Russia an on the con
 trary the great wealth of Switzerland, Denmark and other European nations where natural wealth does not abound yet, where education has brought riches untold, Dr. Claxton asserted that the formula for both national or state wealth was the null tiplicity of natural resources, native and acquired ability that last the most needed in Alabama where as he l declared, there are found 52,000 | square miles of the richest and most I abundant natural resources of any l territory of the same size In the | world"
 Gorgas Memorial Tn conclusion reference was made l to the great possibilities as a wealth | producer, through it's development of mind and body, of the. Gorgas School of Sanitation to be correlated with the university. With death rate of | 5000 annually in Alabama and a dis abled list of 500,000, estimates have been made to prove that such an in- stitution will by remedying this high | rate, add sT5,000.000 yearly to the | states riches. Members of the medi- l cal society numbering 2,200 were | again urged to lend their potential | strength to the cause of education l and health In Alabama so that these | far-reaching results may soon be l realized.
 .Dr. Clarence J. owen. chairman of the southern division for the Gorgas Memorial campaign, paid high trfh- | ute to the name and achievements Of | the Alabamian whose ministrations
 have been associated with the prog
 ress of civilization throughout the
 world, and reviewed the plans for the l memorial to include the College of
 Medical Research at Panama and the school of sanitation at Tuscaloosa, l asking for a response from the asso- citation whose appreciation of the great work of the immortal surgeon | should be deeply felt.
 Resolutions
 The following resolution intro- duced by pr. B. l.. Wyman was, adopted
 In order to place ourselves on record as approving the aims and purposes of the proposed Gorgas Memorial as a sound and con- structive undertaking, and in or der to carry a message of hope, cheer and encouragement to all others who seek to help and ad- vance health education, sanita- ton and preventive medicine: Therefore,; Be it resolved that we. the members of the Alabama Medical profession. in convention assembled in the city of Birming- ham. April 19. 1922. hereby propose that each member of the profession in the state of Ala bama be invited to pledge him- self to secure the sum of two hundred (s200) dollars during the next two years toward the en- dowmont fund of the Gorgas School of Sanitation at Tusca- loosa and the Gorgas Institute of u~o.soo1 and Dravantiuo Madieipa