1893-1894 - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

FIFTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 1 0.3
hygiene, and exact of candidates for the degree of Doctor of ^Medicine
an examination in this branch of medical education?", I was sincerely
surprised. At the same time as a patriotic North Carolinian I was gratified
at the reason assigned for the selection of so humble an instrument,
to-wit, that our State was a pioneer in such matters.
I must, however,
disclaim any particular credit for North Carolina so far as making any
special effort for better education in hygiene is concerned. If I am
rightly informed, to Illinois, in the person of our late
friend and associate.
Dr. Ranch, that honor chietly belongs. But I am constrained to
confess that we are proud of the fact, which is well known, that in the
matter of elevating the standard of general medical education, by the
enactment of a practicable license law, North Carolina was tJie pioneer,
and that she continues to march in the front rank.
The subject before us, Mr. President, is, by odds, the most important
on the programme. Every other question proposed represents some
particular part of the superstructure of hygiene, while this is the very
bed-rock upon which applied sanitation rests—and theoretical or unapplied
sanitation is of no practical value. The fact is, gentlemen, that
the answer to this question is so plain and so irresistibly self-evident
that I feel embarrassed lest in arguing in its support I insult your intelligence.
You will, therefoi'e, please pardon me if I appear to be elementary.
It is a well-established fact, which no man of experience will deny,
that no law, unless supported by public opinion, can be enforced—certainly
in this free countr)^ of ours. The opinions of the people on any
subject are controlled by the attitude of trusted leaders in whose knowledge
of that subject they believe.
No class of men have the confidence
of the masses of the people, in matters generally, but especially in all
relating to medicine, to the same degree as the family physicians of our
land.
Disease being a depai'ture from health, the proper study of disease
implies a study of the laws of health.
Every man of common sense
assumes that his physician is familiar with these laws. If he hears
nothing of them from him he takes it for granted that they are of no
special importance and, consequently, instruction from others of as
little, or less, authority in his opinion makes no impression. It is
through the medical adviser, therefore, chiefly, that a public opinion in
support of the practical application and enforcement of the laws of
hygiene must be built up. But it is a lamentable fact that the attitude
of the profession generally to this most important subject is one of cold
indifference.
Indeed, I am informed that it sometimes happens in individual
cases—rare let us hope for the honor of our profession—that the
physician, in order to conciliate a paying patron, will actually countenance
a deliberate violation of the plainest rules for the prevention of
the spread of contagious diseases—and for no better reason than that his