Evening star., 1948-12-21
DR.. Cumming, 79,Dies;
PHS Surgeon General
Under ) Presidents

DR.. Hugh S. Cumming, 70. sur
geon general of the United States
Public Health Service under five
Presidents, died yesterday at his
home, 2219 California street NV.
The veteran Government official,
who devoted a career to public med
icine, was appointed to the top
Health Service position by President
Wilson during the last year Of his
administration. DR.. Cumming re-
tired February /, 1886, and was
succeeded by DR.. Thomas w. Par
ran.
His administration was credited
with completion of the quarantine
system, Inauguration of the pre-
immigration examinations at Amer
ican consulates abroad, establish
ment of a national leprosarium and
national narcotic farms and organ
ization of the National Institute of
Health on a research foundation
basis.
Had Service Abroad.
During his early tenure as head
Of the PHS he was in charge OF
medical care for World War I vet
erans. The system evolved by DR..
Cumming was retained when an
independent agency was established
to handle veterans welfare.
Intensely interested in the isola-
ton of deadly preventable diseases
as well as their prevention, he spent
much Of his early career abroad
His work in Japan and the Near
East and his experience in attempt
ing to contain such diseases as
yellow fever and bubonic plague was
eliminated when, as head Of the
Public Health Service, he was in
strumental in promoting interna-
tional sanitation treaties.
A native Of Hampton. Va, he re-
ceived his medical degree from the
University of Virginia Medical COL
lege at Richmond. He joined the
Public Health Service Immediately
after his graduation.
Married. I'm 1896.
After his marriage In 1896 to the
former Lucy Booth, also Virginian,
he spent many years travelling
throughout the country and the
world. After directing quarantine
work in San Francisco, he was sent
to Japan, where, he found, two vases
which had been presented him by a
cousin Of the Emperor in San Fran
cisco proved to be a magic open
sesame" to the Emperor's court.
The trip to Japan was the start Of
q trail which ended only when Pres
ident Wilson called him home from
Smyrna to take over the high post
he was to hold so long.
Convinced that only through in
ternational cooperation could world
health be improved. he continued
activity along this line after the in
ternational sanitation treaties be-
came effective.
He was one of the organizers Of
the Office International d'Hygiene
Publique and represented 1t on the
League of Nations committee for
many years. He was elected presi-
dent of the Pan American Sanitary
Bureau in 1870, and held this posi-
ton until 1947, when Ill health
forced his complete withdrawal from
all activities.
Honored by Latin Americans.
In 1945, physicians and diplomats
from the United States and Latin
American countries gave DR.. Cum
ming a testimonial dinner for his
work In the Sanitary Bureau.
During his career he was deco
rated by Peru, Ecuador, France,
Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mex
leo, Cuba, Colombia and Poland for
his achievements in worldwide pub
lie health.
He was a member of the American
Medical Association, the Medical
Society Of Virginia, the American
Public Health Association and Phi
Beta Kappa. He was an honorary
fellow in the American College of
Surgeons and belonged to the Cos
mos. Chevy Chase and National
Press Clubs.
Surviving, in addition to his wild
ow, are son, Hugh S. Cumming,
jr., counselor at the American En-
bassy in Stockholm, and a daughter,
Mrs. Diana Cumming Kendrick.
Sheridan, Wyo.
Funeral services will be held at
Hampton on Thursday.