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

MISCELLANEOUS 589
Delivered, February, 1911.
THE
it
SUPPORTING THE CANDIDACY OF
C. E. MERRIAM FOR MAYOR
OF CHICAGO
medical profession has awakened to the idea that
has a duty to the public of far wider significance
than its ordinary function of treating disease. In
recent years it has become evident that there are possibilities
in prevention of disease — in preservation of health — that
outweigh the possibilities of cure of disease an hundred fold.
To the propagation of this intelligence, to the effective advancement
of practical sanitation and hygiene, the medical
profession is committed. As time goes on, the measure
of usefulness of medical science is destined to be its power
in accomplishing real protection of the public against all
forms of disease. The physicians are the natural leaders
in this movement. They are educated in the facts, experienced
in the problems, and charged by society ^"ith this
responsibihty. Can they shirk it"" The fact is, that the
medical profession is not shirking it. The further fact is,
that the eflfort is one attended with the gravest discouragements,
and we may well ask. WTiy?
There are many reasons, but one in particular is
fundamental
and almost universal. It is failure on the part of
administrative officers and bodies to see the importance of
the matter.
Protection of the mass of the community can not be
reached without an active and determined policy of administration.
Not only must the governing power be open to
the truth in these matters; it must be aggressive in its
measures to combat conditions that endanger the citizens
who are helpless as individuals to raise a finger in their own
defense. It is difficult for those who have not practical