Evening star., 1927-05-18

The text of President Coolidge's ad-
| dress before the American Medical
Association last night follows:
| Ladies and gentlemen:
America has so many elements OF
greatness that IL is difficult to decide
which is the most important. 1t Is
probable that a careful consideration
would reveal that the progress of CIV
ilization Is so much a matter of inter"
dependence that we could not dispense
with any of them without great sacri'
flee. But those who have witnessed
the general paralysis which prevails
when even moderate epidemic breaks
out cannot help but realize that one OF
the most important factors OF our
everyday existence is the public
health, which has come to be depend
ent upon sanitation and the medical
profession. We are constantly in re-
ceipt Of the beneficial activities OF
these efforts in the disposition OF
waste, the water we drink, the food
we eat, and even in the air we breathe.
This great work Is carried on partly
through private initiative, partly
through Government effort, partly by
a combination of these two working
in harmony with the science of chem.
istry, Of engineering and Of applied
medicine. In its main aspects it is
preventive, but in very large field
it Is remedial. Without this service
our large centers Of population would
be overwhelmed and dissipated almost
in a day, and the modern organization
of society would be altogether de-
stroyed. The debt which we owe to
the science of medicine Is simply be-
yond computation or comprehension.
These benefits have almost all
come to the world within a few gen.
erations. Pure science, as we under
stand the term, has a very recent
origin. In fact, we do not go back
but a short distance to find the first
modern comprehension Of the differ
ence between sound thought and Wis
ionary speculation. Since that day
the scientific age. Almost all over
the world men are making observa'
tions, collecting accurate information,
comparing ascertained facts and
working toward established conclu-
sions. Although great progress has
been made and certain fundamental
rules have become well established,
we cannot yet estimate the develop
ment Of scientific research as much
more than begun. But great effort is
being put out all around us and a
constant advancement of knowledge
is in progress. That has been espe-
cialiy true in the science of medicine.
Many of the diseases which laid a
heavy toll on life have been entirely
eradicated, and many others have
been greatly circumscribed. The av-
erage length OF life has been much
increased. But there is still an enor
nous economic loss in sickness, and
the list of maladies for which no
remedy is known is still large. How
far the mind has an effect on the body
is not yet accurately known. What |
mental reactions may he set up to |
preserve health or combat disease can. |
not yet be stated,
Open Minds Essential.
"If there Is any one thing which |
thesprogress of science has taught us, |
IL is the necessity Of an open mind. |
Without this attitude very little ad- |
vance could be made. Truth must |
always be able to demonstrate itself. !
But when it has been demonstrated, in |
whatsoever direction 1t may lead. it !
ought to be followed. The remarkable |
ability of America to adopt this policy |
has been one of the leading factors in |
its rise to power. When a principle |
has been demonstrated. the American /
people have not hesitated to adopt 1t |
and put 1t into practice. Being free |
from the unwarranted impedfments Of
custom and caste, we have been able |
to accept whole heartedly the results |