Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-01

health of all mankind, In which
service it has recognized no limita-
tons imposed by international
boundaries; has recognized no dis
tinctions of race, of creed, or of
color.
The total defense which this Ma
ton seeks involves great deal more
than building airplanes, ships, guns
and bombs.
Importance of Health
In National Defense.
We cannot be a strong Nation
unless we are healthy Nation. And
so we must recruit not only men
and materials but also knowledge
and science in the service of ma
tional strength. This we are doing
We have recognized the strategic
importance of health by the crea-
ton of Health and Medical Com
mittee III the Council of National
Defense whose job it is to co-ordi-
nate the health and medical aspects
of national preparedness. This COM
mittee is assisting the Government
in the mobilization of the medical
and health resources OF the country
to serve the best interests both OF
the military and the civilian ele-
ments Of the Nation.
To do this will require the best
energies of the professional and
technical leadership of our country
To do this will require the full
est cooperation between the Gov
eminent and the hospitals, the med
ical. dental, nursing and other pro-
LESSONS. We seek the same part
nership that we seek for industrial
production in the Advisory Com
mission.
No Intention to Socialize
Medical Practice.
Neither the American people nor
their Government intend to socialize
medical practice any more than
they plan to socialize industry. In
American life the family doctor, the
general practitioner, performs a
service which we rely upon and
trust.
No one has a greater appreciation
than of the skill and self-sacriflce
of the medical profession. And there
can be no substitute for the personal
relationship between doctor and
patient which is characteristic and
a source of strength of medical
practice in our land.
Altougn we have still much to do,
the Nation today is better prepared
to meet the public health problems
of our emergency than at any pre-
vious time in the history OF the
country.
Since the passage of the Social
Security Act with its health pro-
visions in 1885 Federal, State and
local health and medicine are CO.
operating more broadly than ever
before.
Our people are better informed on
health matters than ever before.
Scientific knowledge of the causes
of disease and also the conditions
for health has exceeded any pre-
vious limits.
Facilities for health and medical
service are more numerous and
better.
Progress of Research
Against Disease Cited.
The Public Health Service is an
old institution and has done magif1-
cent work, but 1t is only recently
that the Federal Government has
indicated that it can do infinitely
more-that disease disregards State
lines as well as national-thal
among the States there is inequality
Of opportunity for health-and that
in such cases the Public Health
Service must help.
That partnership is making
definite progress against many
diseases.
Among the buildings of the Ma
tional Institute of Health to be dedi-
Gated here today stands the National
Cancer Institute, created through
provisions of the act, which signed
August S, 1887.
The work of this new institute Is
well under way. 1t is promoting ano
stimulating cancer research through.
out the Nation; it is bringing to the
people of the Nation message OF
hope because many forms OF the
disease are not only durable but
,{oI pounp1 fpiC If is
doing research here and in many
universities to unravel the mysteries
of cancer. We can all have faith In
the ultimate results of these efforts
These buildings, which we dedi-
cate, represent new and improved
housing for an institution which has
long and distinguished background
of accomplishment in this task OF
research.
Civilian Ramparts
Must Be Watched.
The original demonstration of the
cause and method of prevention OF
pellagra has been followed by other
important contributions. Great work
has been done in the control of tu-
laremia, Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, typhus fever, yellow fever, ma
laria and psittacosis.
Now that we are less than a day
by plane from the jungle-type vel
low fever of South America, les
than two days from the sleeping
sickness of equatorial Africa, less
than three days from cholera ano
bubonic plague, the ramparts We
watch must be civilian in addition
to military.
For the spacious grounds or
which these buildings stand we ART
indebted to Mr.. and Mrs. Luke I
Wilson, who wrote me in 1885 asking
II part of their estate at Bethesda
could be used to the benefit of the
people of this Nation.
I would tell her now as she sit!
beside me that in their compassion
for suffering, their hope for human
action to alleviate it, she and hel
husband symbolic the aspiration!
of millions of Americans for caus'
such as this.