Evening star., 1939-05-04
D. {. Medical Society
Launches Campaign
On Traffic Deaths
Dr.. Daniel L. Borden
Is Selected to Be
'President-eIect'

Naming LIT. bdIllel Il. bOTQeIl,
surgeon, it's "president-elect," the
District Medical Society last night
unanimously decided to embark on
a program to help reduce the num-
ber of traffic deaths in the national
capital.
This innovation in the traffic
situation will bring to the aid of
those trying to save lives here, the
help of the organized medical pro-
fession, and is expected to have far
reaching effects.
Action Of the society was taken
at its annual meeting at the or
ganization's headquarters, 17l8 M
street, on recommendation of the
Executive Board presented by DR..
F. x. McGovern, chairman of the
board.
Under the program. a new Com
mittee on Automobile Accidents
was authorized. 1t will be ap-
pointed soon by DR.. William j.
Mallory, president of the society
Notice of the societys action was
communicated today to an official
of the Traffic Advisory Council,
Edwin S. Hege, who is chairman of
the councils committee on educa-
ton. He had invited cooperation
OF the society.
In letter to Mr.. Hege, Theodore
Wiprud, secretary of the society,
explained the organization unani-
mously had approved the project,
with dual purpose. Not only will
the committee on automobile acci-
dents offer its full cooperation to
Mr.. Hege's committee and through
it to the Traffic Advisory Council, it
was explained. but will go forward to
make a careful scientific study of
the traffic problem.
ID. c. Officials Welcome Aid.
Although the full scope of the
committees authority has not yet
been completely defined, it is be-
lieved that the physicians and sur
geons to be appointed will plan to
make a careful study of the whole
situation from the point of view of
the human elements involved, the
resources available in the medical
profession, the results already &C
compliShed in other parts of the
country by the medical profession,
and what can be done here in
Washington. The American Medi-
cal Association has done some work
IN this direction.
The aid of the medical profession
will be welcomed by District officials
In their campaign to reduce traffic
deaths. Commissioner Hazen, Will
liam A. Van Duzer, traffic director,
and Maj. Ernest w. Brown, super
intendent of police, have been in
terested in the possibility of obtain
ing such cooperation.
Mr.. Van Duzer, in discussing the
situation recently, expressed the
opinion that the medical profession
could be of great assistance because,
he said, of the fact that many traf-
flc deaths apparently are due to
physical frailty or defects on the
part either of the driver of the
vehicle concerned or the pedestrian.
Preliminary studies of the traffic
situation are known to have been
made by several members of the
medical profession here in Washing
ton; some are known to have de-
veloped specific recommendations Of
their own. But prior to this time
the medical profession had no chan
mel of it's own through which to
implement such suggestions.
Presidents Change July 1.
DR.. Borden, the newly chosen
president-elect, will assume Office
July /, 1910, as president of the So
ciety. He will succeed DR.. John H
Lyons, who now is president-elect,
and who takes Office July l, this year,
succeeding DR.. Mallory. This system
of naming president-elect was es-
tablished last year in order to pre-
pare the incoming president of the
society with one whole years serv-
ice as a member of the Executive
Board, eX-oflcio.
The society last night also named
to take office with DR.. Lyons for
the year beginning July /, 1899, the
following officers: DR.. John j. Shu-
grue, professor of neuro-surgery at
Georgetown University Medical
School, first vice president; DR.. Cour-
sen B. Conklin, who has been secre-
tary Of the society for IL years, Sec
ond vice president; DR.. H. C. Ma
catee, delegate to the American Med
tch Association; DR.. Arthur c. Chris
tie, alternate delegate; DR.. Walter
Freeman, DR.. William B. Marbury
and DR.. Jerome F. Crowley, mem
bers of the Board of Censors.
A memorial to the late DR.. John
W. Chappell was presented to the
society.
The new president-e elect of the So
ciety, DR.. Borden, is a member of
the staff of the George Washing
ton University Medical School.