1
1379 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.-THE SERVICES reopen the door to corruption, and would prevent I the development of confidence in the appointment of the officers of local authorities. Nothing could be said in its favour as regards professional officers at any rate. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT) THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION THE American Medical Association met this vear, for the fourth time in its history, at New Orleans. The serious economic condition of the country was reflected in the attendance ; not more than 2778 physicians registered, fewer than were present at the last New Orleans gathering in 1920. Two States were without a single representative. The gravity of the i present hour was also reflected in the opening address of its speaker, Dr. F. C. Warnshuis, to the House of Delegates on May 9th. "We are at present," he said, "in the vortex of readjustment along every avenue of human endeavour. New professional and public relationships are being formulated. On you ... rests the tremendous responsibility of ... formu- lating the fundamental principles that will bring about acceptable readjustments wherein all the traditions and achievements of the medical profession will be conserved, and its relationship to patient and public enhanced." The relationship of the profession to society was also the main theme of the address of the president, Dr. E. Starr Judd, of Rochester, Minnesota. The address was conservative and yet took account of the reality of medico-economic problems and of the trend towards preventive medicine. "Organised medicine must do everything possible to escape having this function of the medical profession taken over exclusively by the Government." At the third meeting of the House of Delegates a report was adopted asking the board of trustees to appoint a permanent committee to consider medical economy and the cost of medical care in European i countries as well as at home. The subject of birth control was shelved. It was felt to be so controversial a subject that it was inadvisable even to appoint a committee to study the question. A resolution was carried protesting against the proposed reduction of the number of medical officers in the Army. For election as president-elect three names were put in nomination : Dr. Dean Lewis, professor of surgery in the Johns Hopkins medical school, Dr. Hugh Cumming, of Washington, and Dr. Fred Moore, of Iowa. Dr. Lewis was elected and Milwaukee was selected as the meeting place for 1933. LABORATORY SERVICE BY MAIL The most recent catalogue of Montgomery Ward and Co., which is one of the largest mail order concerns in the United States, contains an announcement of "A New Professional Service." The notice continues, " medical authorities agree that an analysis of the urine, even though the person does not feel ill at the time, often reveals sure signs of disease preparing to strike," and so on. A complete urine analysis " covering 29 chemical and microscopic tests " is offered for$1.50. The American Medical Association sent three specimens for examination, and the reports received were not very creditable. As a result the company have made an investigation themselves and now announce that they have discontinued this service. THE SERVICES I.M.S. ANNUAL DINNER THERE was a large attendance of officers at the annual London dinner of the Indian Medical Service held at the Trocadero Restaurant on June 15th, to meet Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for India, who was the guest of honour. Importance was added to the occasion by the presence in the chair of Major- General J. W. D. Megaw, Director-General of the Service in India, who is on leave in this country. Nine officers on probation at the R.A.M. College, Millbank, were also there as guests. , Major-General MEGA W, proposing in a combined toast the health of the Service and the health of the Guests, began by conveying to the gathering a message of cordial greeting signed by General Graham from the officers of the I.M.S. now serving in India. He spoke of the rising stock of the Service when a slump might have e been expected. They were getting excellent recruits ; the last batch, he said, carried off all the prizes open to them at Millbank-a good omen for the future. Excellent relations continued between European and Indian members of the Service, in spite of the suggestion of some Indian politicians that the European members strove to maintain a medical monopoly in India. While it was creditable, to all that the Indianisation of the Service had i progressed so smoothly hitherto, it would be dangerous I to force it unduly. He was glad to remind his fellow I officers of the cordial relations existing with the R.A.M.C.. paying a tribute to Major-General Nickerson, V.C., " who," he said, "had secured the love and I esteem of the members of the I.M.S. as if he were a member himself." He congratulated members whose services had received public recognition during the I year, among them Sir Leonard Rogers, Sir Richard i Needham, General Graham, and Colonel Mackie, I adding a word of sympathy to Sir Ronald Ross in his illness. WHAT IS AT STAKE Something more important, continued General Megaw, even than the preservation of the I.M.S. was at stake. There was no hope for India unless it had an efficient medical and public health organisation. That was a sweeping statement, but he made it with a full sense of responsibility. Let them consider the nature of the problem : a population of over 300,000,000, and rapidly increasing, engaged in a constant struggle for a precarious subsistence. Their task was to give these teeming millions a chance of securing a fair, rational, and satisfactory existence... None of the proposals of party politicians in India could influence to any appreciable extent the great elemental forces now ruthlessly at work. The problem of India was essentially biological, not political. He claimed that the medical research worker’s first duty was to make a clear statement of the real nature of the problem and of the proper method of providing a solution. Medical and public health workers could not, of course, deal with the situation alone; they needed the cooperation of experts in agriculture, industry, economics, and education. It was clear to all unprejudiced observers that India was rapidly reaching a condition which would demand the united efforts of Indians and Europeans to deal with. When that time came it would be a matter of vital importance to India to have a supply of men of the kind that could only be provided by a strong All-India medical service. Every member of the I.M.S. had, he said, been greatly encouraged by the promise that the British Government was going to keep in the letter and in the spirit the contracts made with all the Indian services. There were signs of a desire to throw up the sponge

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Page 1: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1379UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.-THE SERVICES

reopen the door to corruption, and would prevent Ithe development of confidence in the appointmentof the officers of local authorities. Nothing could besaid in its favour as regards professional officersat any rate.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT)

THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

THE American Medical Association met this vear,for the fourth time in its history, at New Orleans.The serious economic condition of the country wasreflected in the attendance ; not more than 2778

physicians registered, fewer than were present at thelast New Orleans gathering in 1920. Two States werewithout a single representative. The gravity of the ipresent hour was also reflected in the opening addressof its speaker, Dr. F. C. Warnshuis, to the House ofDelegates on May 9th. "We are at present," hesaid, "in the vortex of readjustment along everyavenue of human endeavour. New professional andpublic relationships are being formulated. On you... rests the tremendous responsibility of ... formu-lating the fundamental principles that will bring aboutacceptable readjustments wherein all the traditionsand achievements of the medical profession will beconserved, and its relationship to patient and publicenhanced." The relationship of the profession to

society was also the main theme of the address ofthe president, Dr. E. Starr Judd, of Rochester,Minnesota. The address was conservative and yettook account of the reality of medico-economic

problems and of the trend towards preventive

medicine. "Organised medicine must do everythingpossible to escape having this function of the medicalprofession taken over exclusively by the Government."At the third meeting of the House of Delegates a

report was adopted asking the board of trustees toappoint a permanent committee to consider medical

economy and the cost of medical care in Europeani countries as well as at home. The subject of birthcontrol was shelved. It was felt to be so controversiala subject that it was inadvisable even to appoint acommittee to study the question. A resolution wascarried protesting against the proposed reduction ofthe number of medical officers in the Army. Forelection as president-elect three names were putin nomination : Dr. Dean Lewis, professor of surgeryin the Johns Hopkins medical school, Dr. HughCumming, of Washington, and Dr. Fred Moore, ofIowa. Dr. Lewis was elected and Milwaukee wasselected as the meeting place for 1933.

LABORATORY SERVICE BY MAIL

The most recent catalogue of Montgomery Ward andCo., which is one of the largest mail order concernsin the United States, contains an announcement of"A New Professional Service." The notice continues," medical authorities agree that an analysis of theurine, even though the person does not feel ill at thetime, often reveals sure signs of disease preparing tostrike," and so on. A complete urine analysis" covering 29 chemical and microscopic tests " isoffered for$1.50. The American Medical Associationsent three specimens for examination, and the reportsreceived were not very creditable. As a result the

company have made an investigation themselvesand now announce that they have discontinued thisservice.

THE SERVICES

I.M.S. ANNUAL DINNER

THERE was a large attendance of officers at theannual London dinner of the Indian Medical Serviceheld at the Trocadero Restaurant on June 15th, tomeet Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for India,who was the guest of honour. Importance was addedto the occasion by the presence in the chair of Major-General J. W. D. Megaw, Director-General of theService in India, who is on leave in this country.Nine officers on probation at the R.A.M. College,Millbank, were also there as guests. ,

Major-General MEGA W, proposing in a combinedtoast the health of the Service and the health of theGuests, began by conveying to the gathering a messageof cordial greeting signed by General Graham fromthe officers of the I.M.S. now serving in India. Hespoke of the rising stock of the Service when a slumpmight have e been expected. They were gettingexcellent recruits ; the last batch, he said, carriedoff all the prizes open to them at Millbank-a goodomen for the future. Excellent relations continuedbetween European and Indian members of the Service,in spite of the suggestion of some Indian politiciansthat the European members strove to maintaina medical monopoly in India. While it was creditable,to all that the Indianisation of the Service had i .

progressed so smoothly hitherto, it would be dangerous Ito force it unduly. He was glad to remind his fellow Iofficers of the cordial relations existing with the

.

R.A.M.C.. paying a tribute to Major-General Nickerson,V.C., " who," he said, "had secured the love and Iesteem of the members of the I.M.S. as if he were amember himself." He congratulated members whose ’services had received public recognition during the Iyear, among them Sir Leonard Rogers, Sir Richard iNeedham, General Graham, and Colonel Mackie, I

adding a word of sympathy to Sir Ronald Ross in hisillness.

WHAT IS AT STAKE

Something more important, continued GeneralMegaw, even than the preservation of the I.M.S.was at stake. There was no hope for India unless ithad an efficient medical and public health organisation.That was a sweeping statement, but he made it with afull sense of responsibility. Let them considerthe nature of the problem : a population of over300,000,000, and rapidly increasing, engaged ina constant struggle for a precarious subsistence.Their task was to give these teeming millions a chanceof securing a fair, rational, and satisfactory existence...None of the proposals of party politicians in Indiacould influence to any appreciable extent the greatelemental forces now ruthlessly at work. Theproblem of India was essentially biological, notpolitical. He claimed that the medical researchworker’s first duty was to make a clear statement ofthe real nature of the problem and of the propermethod of providing a solution. Medical and publichealth workers could not, of course, deal with thesituation alone; they needed the cooperation ofexperts in agriculture, industry, economics, andeducation. It was clear to all unprejudiced observersthat India was rapidly reaching a condition whichwould demand the united efforts of Indians andEuropeans to deal with. When that time cameit would be a matter of vital importance to Indiato have a supply of men of the kind that could only beprovided by a strong All-India medical service.Every member of the I.M.S. had, he said, beengreatly encouraged by the promise that the BritishGovernment was going to keep in the letter and in thespirit the contracts made with all the Indian services.There were signs of a desire to throw up the sponge