Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

ORIGINAL CO.MMCNICATIONS. 203
pubiic is not alive to the possibilities for will say this is not preferable to being left
jjood that lie in a properly conducted health behind, or trampled down or ignored. The
department, consequently the financial sup- doctor must not miss the significance of the
port of the department is invariably inade- trend of events. For unless he broadens
quate to its needs. The only hope, there- the range of his activities to include a
fore, for rapid progress lies in the high deeper knowledge and a wider practice in
sense of duty to the public welfare in the the preventive side of his profession the
doctor which the ethical principles of the future holds no rainbow of promise athwart
medical profession inculcates and which his pathway.
needs to be more deeply impressed upon Civic Duty.—Another duty touched upon
medical men everywhere lest the old ideals in the text quoted is that of bearing full
lose their force. part in sustaining the laws, institutions,
Duly of Prompt and Accurate Reports.— and burdens of the community. I have
Then again a concert of action is necessary already dwelt upon the doctor's special
among the doctors in the matter of report- qualifications for service. I wish to specificing
infectious diseases. The health depart- ally lay before him the duty of getting into
ment is absolutely dependent upon them for the thick of his municipal or community
this information, and upon the promptness life, instead of wrapping his dignity about
and accuracy of these reports the whole him like a cloak and letting the places of
public health structure rests. 'I'he doctor's honor and preferment in the community
first duty, therefore, to his municijiality fall into the hands of those whose use of
after aiding in the formation of an efficient them have done so much to discredit our
health department is to report the prevent- whole system of government. The doctor
able diseases he is called upon to treat, should get into politics; the council chamespecially
typhoid fever and tuberculosis, ber needs him, the school boards need him
Even,- doctor reports scarlet fever and diph- sadly, the boardsofsupervisorsneed him, the
theria and smallpox, but from the. stand- whole governmental scheme needs his qualpoint
of the community welfare it were bet- ilies of heart and head and hand. It means
ter to neglect to report smallpox than to sacrifice and disagreeable duties and "more
fail to regularly record and report every kicks than ha'pence," but did the-se ever
suspectfd case of consumption, for small deter the real physician when he heard the
pox kills its tens, but consumption kills its duty call. The trouble with the doctor has
ten thousands. The doctor's heart and been that he has pulled at cross purposes
hopefulness have out-run his head and his with his brethren so long that his sight and
helpfulness in his dealing with the early
stajie of tuberculosis, and the tendency has
hearing have been somewhat dulled. It
may be that he is so wrapped in the task of
" lo let these cases rock along in the trying to keep life in the sick individual or
;! until past the point beyond which so busy trying to keejj up the fences of his
a well nigh impossible
_'.e-is of no avail. Xow that the jjro- precarious clientele (
n's and the world's eyes are opening task) that he has not had any eyes or ears
i:!v diagnostic measures and positive for the special fitness of the rival praciMi'ds
of cure of this dread disease the titioner for service of a wider kind. Who
I'll becomes a malpractilioner of a ter- knows but that observation along this line
•ype who does not arm himself com- may not prove to be the best kind of enfor
this battle, and who does not lightened selfishness.
;s strength and his equipment to that Duty of Public E.xpression.—Another duty
' \- agency in his town or community the doctor owes his people is the expression
•lids to lift the terror of this scourge of his thought either in public speech or
lie hearts of men. Prompt, accurate written word. The most useful knowledge
..uiplete reports to the health depart- in the world is his, and practically his
ilien form the essence of the highest alone, we see every day in the newspapers