Evening star., 1927-05-18

happy and promising family and
home When the necessary monthly
bills are paid, however, the bank bal
ance shows little or nothing. The
wife is stricken with an attack OF
acute appendicitis and operation iS
required. Her case is a serious one
and the services Of a skilled nurse are
required--in this day OF labor hours
in nursing, possibly two, maybe three.
each at IS a day. She recovers ana
he Is happy. But when he calls at
the office for his bill and then con-
suits his bank balance he finds he is
left hopelessly In debt for long time
to come. He would not accept charity
branded as such. He Is a man. This
circumstance In not due to overchaFge
on the part of the hospital. 1t is not
due to the expense Of medical service.
His surgeon waits---giadly and With
out pressing. He may decline to pre-
sent q bill at all. 1t is no criticism
Of any one. But the problem is there.
Must Protect Middle Glasses.
There is but one answer. Years
ago was propounded the question, Am
my brothers keeper" How VIII 1t
be answered? Hospitals Of such class
must not only be built by men; they
must as well be endowed. It has been
considered most generously charitable
to build q fine hospital and give 1t to
the church or to the community or
to an independent board Of trustees.
It cannot be made seif.supporting. A
load Of responsibility has been placed
on some ones shoulders. It can be
met only by further contribution from
the same or other sources. Perhaps
II an absolutely charity hospital. 1t
will be endowed. But what the public
must learn is that for the protection
Of the middleman endowment ia also
a observation-disclosures that VIII at
least provide for the expense OF purely
scientific service--a service which IN
itself has no direct return; endow'
ment that Will equip adequate modern
laboratories such as proper service
demands; endowment that will pro.
vide at least modest compensation Tor
the purely scientific laboratory expert
who has no other source OF remunera-
ton and yet whose aid is a necessity
to all who practice: endowment that
will meet the expense which the gen.
GRAFTON Of science has brought to
medical service. Men Of wealth have
contributed most generously to the
endowment of institutions for re-
search, and we bow in acknowledg'
ment Of such wonderful contributions
for the future good Of mankind. The
appeal Of charity has likewise touched
the heart and reached the pocket OF
men for contributions to absolute
charity. And for such we give praise.
But 10 there not possibly a higher
service still-a service which, unseen
and unnamed, 10 rendered to the man
xx,tn fS
pauper-the fellow who builds world.
generous to rich and to pauper alike?"
Law Held Inadequate.
In welcoming the physicians to
Washington, DR.. Charles 8. White,
president OF the Medical Society OF
the District Of Columbia, urged them
| to take up with their representatives
in Congress the question Of securing
| an adequate medical practice act Tor
! the District. The present law to regu'
| late the practice of medicine Is made
| Quate, he said, and added: ANY adult
can set up as q drugless healer.
| chiropractor, or something else, ano
treat any disease, even diptheria and
| smallpox. We need your help. Medi'
cal legislation here Is no one'man
| job"
| DR.. White stressed the educational
advantages Of Washington. particular
| ly the aid given medical science In the
laboratories of the Bureau OF Stand
ards, the Public Health Service, the
Department of Agriculture and ths
Army and Navy. He told how the
researches that resulted in the con
quest of yellow fever had been car
ried on in the Army Medical College
here.
1--WE have everything except the
college to make this the University OF
the United States Of America" he
| said.