Evening star., 1927-05-18
PRESIDENT LAUDS
. WORK OF DOCTORS
Declares Medical Profession
Holds Cure TO Social and
Moral Ills.

Many Of the social ills which aff1ict
the human race would disappear If
It could be brought to a state Of physi-
cal well-being, President Coolidge told
the American Medical Association last
night at the official opening or its
seventy-eighth annual convention III
the Arcadia auditorium.
The meeting was one of the largest
ever held by the association. APPROX
mately 5000 physicians and members
of their families packed the audi
torium, and many members Of the as
sociation were turned away when fire.
men announced that the safety capac-
ity OF the hall had been reached about
S pm.
President Compliments Profession.
President Coolidge complimented
the medical profession on its contrl'
buttons to human welfare and said
that the world looked largely to its
members to bring about physical,
mental and spiritual regeneration
when not force, but reason, will hold
universal sway"
Somewhere in human nature there
still is a structural weakness, he
said "We do not do as well as we
know. Society still is afflicted with
crime and among nations there are
still wars and rumorS or wars. IN
spite Of all our progress and all our
success, no one doubts that much re-
mains to be done"
Mr.. Coolidge looked forward to an
era. of right living and right thinking,
of good will and of peace, in accord
ance with the teachings OF the Great
Physician"
''If we could effectively rid our sys'
TENS of poison" he added. mot only
would our bodily vigor be strengthen
ed, but our vision would be clearer,
our Judgment more accurate ana our
moral power increased.
Race Now Mature.
'sThe human race is by no means
voung." he said. 1T has reached
state of maturity. 1t is the lnherltoF
nf a very wide experience. 1t mas 10
Gated a great many fixed stars IN the
armament Of truth. No doubt a hlulll
tude of others await the reNelatIolls Oh
more extended research. BUT because 1
we realize that we nave not !eI ~
Gated them all Is no reason Tor Qoupt'
ing the existence of those already oo-
served or disregarding the recoros
which reveal their position.
The annual presidential address was
delivered nv DIR. Jabez North jackson
~ Kansas City. the incoming presl-
dent of the association, who pfeolcteu
that the age Of medical pioneering, IN
which scientific discovery mas maue
its great strides. is about at an emu
zrd that the age OF reconsruction'
ba sed on knowledge CLEANED from the
nsst. stretches ahead. DIR, jackson
stressed the fact that medicine ls sun
one of the Youngest Of the sciences
I'm its DEVELOPMENT.
Recalls Ignorance OF Past.
''It seems almost strange IN TINS
3sy." he said, ITO recount that IL was
only in the sos that appendicitis was
recognized as definite entity and ITS
sequences understood. Even as late
rs 1893 ] heard Il supposedly learned
man say: Il have practiced medicine Az
wears and have never seen case or
annandcitis.' And what is true or
appendicitis is true of numerous
diseases in which modern surgery has
not alone contributed relief. but eqal.
ly contributed TO the knowledge OF
earlier symptoms and of pathological
sequences"
''These fragmentary remarks" he con-
tinued, Twill serve to recall the mar
velous contribution of this wonderful
generation and a vision of their prac-
ficaI benefits to the world. In this
period Is years has been added TO the
span of human life. lives have been
saved, suffering relieved, derelicts and
Cripples restored to productive and
happy existence; pestilences mastered,
commerce saved, civilization recaSt-
surely a. record emitting medical
science to a vast credit balance.
And now we turn to face the fu-
ture. With the inspiration OF such
wwyfS Sl~
roseate expectations. And yet it will
probably be a different age, probably
less romantic. The age of the pioneer
Is always one of thrills. Each day
is O. new day. But let us remember
that the builder is equal to the newer.
the organizer more important finally
than the discoverer.
Begins as Educated Man.
'sThe doctor Of today faces the fu
ture as quite different man from
the one who entered medicine a gener-
alton ago. Then his equipment was
a rather meager education with little
absolute knowledge. His resources
were his own faculties of deduction
from the observation Of his own
senses. Today he is an educated man
to begin with, inheriting the knowl-
edge of the past and aided by all the
resources that science can add. The
laboratory and the hospital must be at
his command, for the people of today
have been educated to a new standard
OF service.
We hear much discussion today
of the lack Of general practitioners
and particularly of the shortage of
physicians in rural communities. But
could we expect otherwise? A gen.
Grafton ago the physician OF even q
small community could make a re-
spectacle living annually in the treat.
ment of a few diseases. Typhoid, ma
laria and the Summer dysenteries
alone kept one pretty busy through
considerable part of a year, and his
horse and buggy for transportation
with his own limited sense for dag
noSts and a saddle bag of medicines
for treatment were his complete equip
ment. Often he guessed-and guess
ed well for his training-and nothing
more was expected. Now he must
be equipped with at least the es-
sentials of laboratory; must cover
larger territory. in an automobile;
must have the aid OF a nurse in severe
illness, and finally must refer a large
and perhaps the most valuable part Of
his business to a specialist better
equipped or to a hospital where facil-
tiles are at hand. Is it surprising
that the modern man trained to mod
ern ideas looks elsewhere? The com.
munity of the future that expects
modern medical service must expect
TO furnish the essential necessities for
such services. The laboratory, the
hospital and the opportunity for CO.
operation become henceforth the
prime problems of medical practice.
These requisites are offered in large
centerS-though even here not en-.
tirely adequately. And in some more
progressive communities the need is
being foreseen. County or local hos.
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