The Education of the Public in Medical Matters

Permit me first to express my sincere appreciation of the honor conferred upon me by being chosen us orator for this occasion. The list of my predecessors includes the names of many men, eminent in our profession, whose success in this position I cannot hope to equal. If you go away without regrets at your present choice, and with a feeling that the time has not been wasted, I shall be satisfied. In searching for a suitable subject, one naturally thinks of the wonderful achievements of modern medicine. During the past few decades progress in the advance of,medical science and in the art of healing has been so great and so rapid that one is tempted to picture some of these achievements and to make a congratulatory address on what has been accomplished. This would not be inappropriate before a. society whose members have taken an active part in this advance. However, the spirit of progress demands that we constantly press forward, and that we seek new problems and try to solve them. Instead of resting on our laurels, we must ask ourselves whether we have really done our best in all respects, and whether there are not still other ways in which we can render even greater service to humanity. If I turn from the attractive field of the accomplishments of the profession and of our society, I hope it will not be interpreted as indicating any lack of appreciation of the great work of the past. Neither should a discussion of what may be done in addition, now and in the future, be understood as a criticism, because it has not been accomplished before. This is especially true of the problem of our duty in the education of the public in medical matters, for it is a relatively new one. Why do people in general show so little appreciation of the advances made in medicine? Why has the medical profession so little influence in directing affairs which affect the public welfare? Few will maintain that conditions are