Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-15


anti tuberculosis work which was
being done in this and other centers,
had so, changed public opinion, that
the legislature accepted our PROPOSE
ton and took over the work, from
which beginning has grown the
great service which is now being
performed by our State, in doing its
part in graduating tuberculosis.
AS an illustration Of the thorough
ness of DR.. Downs work, wish to
call attention to the following
incident. AS a result of examina-
lions made at public clinics, DIR.
Downs reported to the School Board
that he had found over forty cases
dren in Waterville. This announce
ment was met with ridicule and in
slant denial by the public, and by the
school authorities. In order to prove
that DR.. Downs was entirely wrong,
and that no such condition existed,
the School Board employed DR.. F.
G. Thayer to re-examine all Of the
children whom DR.. Downs had re-
ported as tubercular, and he, after
taking several months to make a
thorough and careful diagnosis of
each case, reported all but two af-
fected with tuberculosis, and of
these two he was uncertain. Future
developments however, proved that
these two were also affected,
This incident showed to everyone
the great need of thorough prose-
cution of the campaign to stamp out
tuberculosis. The total number CT
tubercular cases in Waterville were
then estimated by DR.. Downs to be
considerable in excess of two hun
dred.
DR.. Downs did this work for the
pure love of humanity and a dis
interested purpose to assist in stamp
ing out this dread disease. He gave
practically his entire time and
thought to this work, so much so
that in common with most pioneers,
he was misunderstood and by many
unappreciated. He met with apathy
and opposition on the part of many
of the public, as well as some mem
bers of his profession. Among his
Thayer, DIR. Theodore E. Hardy, DR..
A. U. Desjardin of this city and Drs.
Peters Of Bangor and Carl Wetherell
Of Oakland.
/ We must also mention here Miss
Elizabeth Marcoux. DR.. Downs had
recommended her employment as a
trained nurse to assist in the clinics
and house to house visitation. She
was perhaps his most loyal and de-
voted assistant in this work. Many
times during the early beginning,
because of her great interest, she did
all kinds of services. far beyond that
for which she was paid. After DR..
,, Downs death, she was Of invaluable
assistance to those who continued
the work.
IEo uich oJoo - Ar
did services which continuing con-
stantly from the very beginning, have
been performed by the present chair
man Of the Board Of Directors,
Ralph A. Jewell. r.,
While every person who IS now
receiving or has ever received the
benefits of this institution, does of
course have deep appreciation for
those who have personally ministered
to them, let us not forget that back
of it all we owe debt of gratitude to
the man, DIR. Downs, who made this
institution possible. His interest and
enthusiasm in this work caused him
to largely abandon his general prac-
, tice, while he continued at great
personal sacrifice to work for what
he believed to be- the best Interest
of the people, until his life was sacri-
feed. - IS
Dr. Downs was an earnest and ac-
tive Christian, faithful to his church,
greatly interested in his Sunday
school and in every cause which re-
presented the Christian spirit Among
his last words were these, 81 love
my church, I love my Sunday school,
love my work and ! am sorry to
! leave them, but l am going to
greater opportunities and better
things" Such was his faith. He
was a true follower of the Great
Physician, who gave his life that
others might have Life and have it
more abundantly.
At the close of this most fitting
tribute the friends stood while Mr..
Harry Brown and Mr.. Stephen Wing
unvailed the picture and tablet. The
tablet reads
DIR. Arthur A. Downs
Through whose untiring efforts
and great sacrifice the
founding of the Institution was
made possible.
The tablet is Of cast bronze about
22x26 and done by Williams Co. n.
Y. and is very artistically done IN
plain but dignified style. The picture
is an Enlargement OF one of his photo
graphs which the trustees were for
tuIidto III SECURING from a pnOLOS-
rapher in Washington.
Mr.. Emery after asking the guests
to be seated again said:
Tribute to Mrs. Downs
These words of appreciation of DIR.
Downs would not be complete, with
out some reference to the services of
his faithful wife, Mrs. Downs, who
during these years took great and
active interest in the work which he
was doing. and was a constant
source of assistance and inspiration
to him, willingly accepting her part
in the sacrifice that was being made.
in her firm belief that he was per-
forming great service in which she
wished to have a part. From my
many conversations with DIR. Downs,
am convinced that he could not
have accomplished what he did, had
he lacked this encouragement and
support and turning to Mrs. Arthur
Downs he said: 1.-The trustees and
friends wish to express their appre-
citation of all you have meant to
this work by presenting you with
this small gift and Mrs. Downs rose
as he handed her a beautiful bunch
of Killarnary roses and in a few
words of thanks, received them.
The day had begun with showers
but as the exercises closed the dis
tant hills and valleys and the beau
tiful Kennebec were bathed in
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