Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-08
Programs in U. S. and Abroad
Honor Dr.. w. H. WEIGH
on 80th Birthday.
HIS RESEARCH PRAISED
BY HOOVER OVER RADIO
President, Speaking in Ceremony at
Continental Hall, Gives Him
Title of Statesman.

A kindly and retiring old gentleman
today emerged from long life of COM
parative obscurity to be acclaimed by
the world, on his eighteenth birthday,
as one of the truly great men of Ameri-
can history.
DR.. William Henry WEIGH of Johns
Hopkins University at noon today was
honored officially by the Nation, rep
resented by President Hoover, at a
ceremony in Memorial Continental Hall
and simultaneously by similar functions
in London, Paris, Berlin, Leipzig, Toxic,
Picking, Cincinnati, New Haven and
New York.
Through the years DR.. WEIGH has
worked quietly in university laboratory
and classroom while popular heroes and
enthusiasts have risen and fallen about
him-himself so little known that, as
a member of the birthday celeb ltion
committee said, sit Is almost mark
of distinction outside the medical pro-
fession ever to have heard Of him.
Takes Lead Role in Research.
The world has accepted the incalcul-
able good conferred upon 1t by the OBJ
scure Johns Hopkins professor as a
matter Of course, without inquiring its
source. The reason for this reversal Of
values and the significance OF DR..
Welch's work was expressed today by
President Hoover in his address:
Medicine until modern times was a
species of dramatic play upon emo
tionS rather than science made useful
through technology. 1t combined CEN
turtles of experience in trial and error
in reactions from many drugs, with a
maximum of skill on the part of the
practitioner in the kindly art of max
ing the patient feel as hopeful and
comfortable as possible while he was
dying of the disease, the origin and
treatment of which was as yet undis-
covered. Providence was responsible
which should never have been allowed
to infect him.
Modern medical practice, however.
Is based upon vast background of
scientific research and discovery. In
the creation of this science DR..
WEIGH has played a leading American
part. AS a research worker in pure
science, he has made original and val
liable discoveries. AS a technologist he
AldS uCN4OSu pIdCIlCdl Oh dDDlyS
ing pure science. AS a teacher he has
spread true knowledge and inspiration
among thousands. But in organizing
and directing research and application
Of medical knowledge on a wider field of
prevention OF disease he is among the
pre-eminent few who deserve the title
Of statesman.
Work Extremely Technical.
Because of DR.. Welch's unacclaimed
work in the obscurity of his laboratory
work which escaped headlines because
1t was extremely technical and de-
scribed in technical anguage-hundreds
of thousands live longer free from pain
The world today was honoring a man
who had brought it more life and more
living.
Today he is president of the board
Of directors of the Rockefeller Institute
for Medical Research and professor of
the history of medicine at Johns Hop
kins, where he has taught for As years
He Is one of the founders of the Johns
Hopkins Medical School.
The ceremonies at Memorial CONT
mental Hall today were opened with an
address by DR.. Livingston Farrand
president Of Cornell University. Other
speakers, besides President Hoover. were
DR.. WEIGH himself and DR.. Simon Flex.
ner of the Rockefeller Foundation. DR..
WEIGH was presented with the plate of
an etching of himself made by Alfred
Hutty OF Charleston, S. c., and there
was simultaneous presentation of
prints from this plate to more than 20
institutions in the United States and
abroad with which he has been asso-
clated as student, teacher or advisor.
Presidents Address.
President Hoover's address, which was
broadcast over a network of stations
and by short waves so that it could be
heard at the various gatherings ar
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