Henry Baird Favill, AB, MD, LL.D., 1860-1916, a ... - University Library

430 HENRY BAIRD FAVILL
to hope that in
the years to come the medical profession
will assume an importance and render a service such as has
never before been approached.
If I had time and this were the occasion to pay a tribute
to sociologists in their efforts to advance the physical welfare
of the community and race, it would be very grateful
to me so to do. The vision and purpose shown by leaders
in that group command admiration and compel support.
In many directions initiative in social movements properly
is theirs. As they have gone on outlining this territory they
As they
have markedly educated the medical profession.
progress, however, they find themselves at every turn confronted
by necessity for expert, scientific advice. That
their need in this direction shall be met by free, full, and
cordial contribution from the profession is earnestly to be
hoped.
It appears in the present trend of events that there
can be no question about such deep and earnest cooperation.
The American Medical Association has definitely set
its face in this direction and established a policy through its
various councils with this distinct purpose. The Council
on Health and Public Instruction, of which I am a member,
and which I here officially represent, has for its definite
purpose the promotion and elucidation of relationships
between the public and the profession.
Corresponding to this official attitude of the organization
is a clearly defined recognition, amongst physicians individually,
of the paramount importance of such development.
It scarcely needs argument to show that the essence of this
evolution is fitness on the part of the profession to play its
part. Medical education must be not only the best it can
be in point of scientific equipment, but it must be broadened
in its social aspect to the point of maximum value.
Are we educating our young men and women as broadly
as we ought? To say that we are not perfecting them at
the point of graduation for valuable service in this direction,
though obviously true, does not meet the point. The matter