San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-29

III u iHS W uIinS dOoul uulcnuIntnts
20 the State Medical Act, which ap-
plies high standard Ia medical license
the state Legislature was scored by
Dr.. Scott. who SAIL that "it estab
fishes sensible standard of cduca.
ton, and leaves everyone free tc
choose any kind of treatment he sees
fit. and it is difficult to see the stu
pidity OF those legislators who persist
in trying to pass amendments to the
existing law, wllCh is not enforced.
DIR. Scott stated that a state health
department is essential. and that such
commission should be carefully Sc.
lected. with long-term offices. consist.
ing of about ten members who are
specialists in otrtain lines Of medi
cal science.
1T seems impossible for any band
of laymen TO understand the need oil
preserving human lifc," DR.. Scott
said. The correctness of this state
ment is proved by the recent appro
priations of the Legislature. Specifying
STAG, 46I for the entire health depart
ment. and giving at the same time
S?64. 800 to the State Livestock SAM
tary Commission for the prevention Of
disease among hogs and cattle!"
What People Believe.
People of Texas were compared in
ignorance of health problems and
their prevention with natives of the
Fiji Islands, by DR.. Scott, who stated
that in some sections, some of the
citizens of this state retain ideas and
beliefs comparable with witchcraft
days in America. That warts may
be removed by conjury, that rheuma
tism is caused bv pewter or silver
rings, and other localisms listed as
superstitious beliefs. were given by
DIR. Scott as examples of ideas pre-
vailing in Texas among some of its
people. This is the class that is easily
led into false cults, Dr. Scott said
and it is also this class that prevents
an appreciable progress among those
who are trying TO uplift the profcs-
sion of medicine.
1T is better to prevent than tc
cure" DIR. Scott said, "and the duties
of a real doctor are three: To pre-.
vent disease. to cure it where pos
sible. and to act as natures aid
Their greatest efforts are TO under
stand and to properly diagnose dis
ease"
DR.. Scott expressed the belief that
the people of Texas will cooperate
in the future with the medical profes.
sion in its battle for the betterment
of humanity. and said that the proper
education of the public must be
gained by first reaching the intellec-
tuals who will cooperate and under
stand
Il believe that public education OF
the masses in matters of health and
in the prevention of disease, is the
sternest duty facing the medical pro-
fession today" DR.. Scott said. land
| have the utmost confidence in the
ability and willingness Of its mem
bers to instruct their friends, the pub
lie, whenever they can
Convention Opened.
Opening with one of the largest at
tendances ever recorded for the first
morning of medical convention, the
state association held its first as
sembly in the Gunter Hotel ballroom
at 10 80 Tuesday morning. DR.. w.
G.. Hargis of San Antonio. chairman
of the arrangement committee for the
convention, presided and introduced
the speakers. Rev. r. s. Pierce pro-
nounced the invocation, and Mayor
John w. Tobin welcomed the visitors
in behalf of the city administration
DIR. s. L. Cunningham of San An.
tonic extended the welcome from the
Bexar County Medical Society, which
is the largest in the state, and the
host-socicty to the state convention
o. II. Black gave a welcome ad
dress TO the visitors, extending tC
them the highest tributes that a maj
could possibly give to his fellows
Mr.. Black stated that he knew of nc
place where he could find such Q
glorious body of men. dedicated q
the service of humanity, and that
day by day they as servants of the
general good are laying stones on the
great edifice of fame that will live
after them, though no monuments
will be erected in marble TO record
the greatness of their service. The
memory of their good deeds on earth
will linger in the hearts of those
whom they have served, Mr.. Black
said, and their work for the crippled
children, the destitute, the tuberculaar
and the afflicted people OF the world
will stand as an eternal monument
to them, more enduring than earthly
stone or jewels could build.
On the first morning of the State
Medical Convention. 400 women of
the women's Auxiliary had register
ed. and while no official count had
been made of the delegates, it was
said that nearly 1000 are in the city
now.