Evening star., 1947-10-09
ANA President
World
Health Group
Closer Ties Sought
Among Doctors
Of All Nations

Promotion of a world medical
organization ito assist people every
where to attain the highest possible
level OF health" was urged here
last night by DR.. Edward L. Bortz,
president of the American Medical
Association.
Speaking at the District Medical
Society's annual dinner in the Ho-
tel Statler. which brought to a close
this years scientific assembly, he
said such an organization would
work with the World Health Organ
1zation and other international
bodies to bring about closer ties
among the doctors of all lands.
He said, however, that under
present world conditions organized
medicine in this country should
work with the armed forces to sup
port an augmented medical pro-
gram" to prepare the Nation for
possible future wars.
q The American Medical Association
president departed from his pre-
pared text several times to denounce
Soviet Diplomat Vishinsky and the
role of world communism, which he
described as a threat to peace.
Medical Statesmanship Urged.
DR.. Bortz called for more medical
craftsmanship" which would bring
doctors increasingly into a leading
part in directing the social destinies
of the American people.
Such leadership, he declared,
should take the form of extending
more adequate medical care" to all
sections of the people. But he quail
fed the statement with the condition
that extension of medical care
should come through local expert
mentation," in an indirect refer.
ence to the national health insur-
ance proposals which his organiza-
ton has bitterly opposed.
Il don't believe it is possible to
set up such an experiment on a
Nation wide plan," the doctor said,
land expect it to work."
He also called for greater atten-
ton to matters of health In the
country's school system, so that ex-
isting medical knowledge may be
made fully available to all young
people. and through them, to their
families.
Hear ANA Aims.
Earlier yesterday, at luncheon
meeting of the George Washington
University Medical Society, also
held in the jStatler, doctors attend-
ing the assembly heard another
summary of the American Medical
Associations aims by Dr. George F.
Lull secretary and general man.
ager.
(; He said it. was surprising to find
in a recent survey that IA per cent
of the country's doctors are still
ignorant of the existence of pre-
paid medical plans sponsored by
local medical societies.
, The biggest obstacle to more
widespread public adoption of these
plans, he said, has been the diff
Guilty of getting farm families COW
cred. He reported, however, the
California Grange has recently
signed an agreement to extend farm
coverage in that State, and pre-
dicted similar moves elsewhere.
During yesterdays scientific ses-
sion the District Society took up
the problem of the chronic drunk.
Seen as Medical Disability.
E. NJ. Jellinek, director, of Yale
famed alcoholic study
center, said alcoholism can no
longer be regarded solely as a moral
issue. 1t is a medical disability
and should be treated as. such, he
pointed out.
A doctor must treat the physical
disorders caused by alcoholism, he
said, before any type of cure can be
effective.
He estimated the countrys chronic
drunks at nearly 100000 and said
20 to Is per cent of them need
hospital care. But he urged the
establishment of clinics where alco-
holics could come for treatment
without stopping work or leaving
their homes, rather than monster
for habitual drunks.
William M. Escavaille, jr., Of
drew a round of spon-
taneous applause from the sedate
audience after his exposi-
tion of the approach Alcoholics
Anonymous uses to encourage former
alcoholics to remain sober.
He stressed the fact that the
is only interested in
people who are willing to help
themselves.
1--WE are not running around try.
ing to reform the world" he declared,