The Hope pioneer., 1922-12-14
PREVENTIVE
MEDICINE IS
ADVANCING
DR.. George E. Vincent, Head of
Rockefeller Foundation, Tells
of Difficulties.
HAS Been LONG, HARD PULL
Notwithstanding Prejudice Against 1t
10000 Are Now Engaged in Work
in This country-Prooress
10 Reported.

New York.-It has been a long, hard
pull to raise preventive medicine to the
professional level of curative medicine.
There are still social and economic
embarrassments facing the student
who otherwise is willing to enter the
public health service And there is
the constant menace of political inter
ference in the work of municipal,
state and national bureaus of public
health.
OF these things writes DR.. George
Z. Vincent, president of the Rookie
feller Foundation, in the report Of
that institution for 1921. Since July,
1913. the international health board
Of the foundation has spent $7,493,-
e24.e5 In Its battle against malaria,
yellow fever, hookworm, tuberculosis
and the like. Long strides in winning
intelligent public cooperation by edu-
cation and in scientific research made
1921 a year of great satisfaction, al
though Doctor Vincent warns that ut
IL too early to feel complacent."
Idea Of Health Revised.
Doctor Vincent's review of last year
notes fine changing ideals Of health. He
writes:
Advances in the cure and preven-
ton OF diseases reflect a shifting of
emphasis and a gradual revision of the
idea OF health itself. Being up and
around or I can't complain repre-
sents far from stimulating concep.
tion of bodily prosperity, yet 'verti-
cal rather than horizontal position Is
one criterion"
The report reveals the growing de-
,nand for trained leaders in public
health work. Doctor Vincent proceeds
to say: I'm the United States there
are at present about 10000 persons en-
Eaged in public health work under fed
eral state and municipal or county
auspices. In Great Britain probably
an equal number are giving all their
time to the work Of preventive medi-
cine. The number in the service Of
uon-sovernmental agencies of all kinds
can scarcely he estimated but may rep
resent nearly as many more.
"The self-governing dolntnions en-
ploy considerable number. of profes-
sional sanitarians. In continental Flu.
rope health organization has not as a
rule reached so high a degree Of devel-
opment as in the British Isles In many
tropicsl countries such as India Java.
the Philippines, both curative and pre-
ventive medicine are administered by
corps Of trained government officials.
In all parts Of the world there is an in.
crcasin:. demand for men and women
competent to do different kinds of pub.
lie healt. work
"A forecast Of the probable number
needed during the next ten years in the
United States calls for 10000 persons
Curative Branch Maonifieo.
Ill is not to be denied that on the
whole the best ability has been drafted
into the service Of curative rather than
IA preventive medicine. More than
fnur hundred replies to questions re
Gently put to students now enrolled III
leading American medical schools dis
close an attitude of ignorance. ildilrer-
ence, even antipatlly with respect to :.
career is public health work. The rea-
sons these young men give for not con-
sidering at all or for deciding agains
such life work are: (1) 1t is not {,
S"ciaily recognized. clearly profession.
allied calling: (2) there are no special
schools Tor adequate training. (3)
tenure and promotion depend not OF,
merit but political pull: (4) salaries
are meager; (5) the private practice Of
curative medicine is more reputable,
independent, profitable and satisfying
These young men are in many re-
spectS uniformed and misinforlned.
Preventive medicine has already gained
the status Of profession and is max
Ing rapid progress in public favor. AT
least two special schools of high rank
are offering thorough and appropriate
training. An increasing number of i'm.
portant posts are freeing themselves
from the tranmels of 'spoils politics.
''The salary received by health
officer OF full rank probably exceeds
tile income OF the average private prat.-
titioner.
Private practice has many disad-
vuntages: excessive overtime and night
work, poor collections, the necessity of
dunning patients. little chance to study,
constant economic pressure, a heavy
burden Of unpaid service. competition
with quacks and charlatans temptation
to surrender scientific ideals. Public
health service, On the other hand, is
making a strong appeal to many men
and women Of Imagination. courage
and social spirit just because 1t does
not involve most Of these things and
offers many positive attractions.
yet II must be admitted tina, the
U.eptical undergraduates are not
wholly wrong. Public ignorance and
Indifference, invidiOus comparisons
lack OF sound training in many officials.
prejudice against law enforcement de
lay the full appreciation of what pre-.
ventive medicine meuns to society. yhs
sstabllshment Of a,1equhte schools has