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, 1913

, Vol. VIII

theories to account for the new. This is the true scientific spirit, and it is true that no theory has ever proved fixed. Every scientific law is in a state of constant flux. Sometimes the changes in centuries are infinitesimal to be sure, but as a rule a decade or two makes marvellous modifications in our interpretations of phenomena. We make these remarks now, to warn the profession against a too hasty acceptance of some of the current scientific work until it is assured that no facts are suppressed. Under no circumstances should we accept statistics on their face value for we will be trebly deceived. Nor should we allow them to modify our practice until we know exactly what they do mean; otherwise we will injure both our patients and ourselves.

Lead poisoning has hitherto been considered by physicians as largely unpreventable in the case of certain classes of lead workers. Of course we have known that painters can generally prevent it by extreme care as to cleanliness, but those who work at trades in which lead salts float in the air as fine dust were considered somewhat in the light of martyrs to modern society's need of immense quantities of lead and its combinations. We are therefore extremely grateful to the American Association for Labor Legislation for calling attention to the fact that these deplorable cases can be largely prevented by proper methods of management in the factories. The workers themselves seem to be too ignorant or stupid to appreciate the dangers and the manufacturers, like too many of their class, are either callous to the risks which they themselves run as well as the workers, or they are really ignorant of preventive means. It is useless to charge

them with the suicidal policy of refusing to adopt means which will save their own lives. It surely is one of the duties of the state to step in and regulate the trades which are making public burdens of so many workers. Every day sees one or more men transferred from the productive class to the great body of the helpless who need personal attendants. We are informed that where these industries are under strict sanitary supervision and control by law, as in Germany and England, the number of cases of plumbism have been enormously reduced-practically eliminated because the few cases which do occur in spite of the utmost cleanliness, are detected early and prevented from becoming absolute wrecks. The association does not advocate laws which would in any way hamper or prohibit such industries, but merely to make them safe to the workmen. Nevertheless it would be wise to find out if the proportion of lead used in many trades could not be greatly reduced or the metal replaced by something less deadly. We use such enormous quantities of lead, as in modern enamel ware for instance--that it seems impossible now to find a substitute, but equally impossible things have happened. We ought not to go on sacrificing a certain number of lives every year, preparing society's needs, and it is one more illustration of the growing need of public control over public health. Those who are worrying over the increasing irksomeness of sanitary restrictions, should realize that the irksomeness is merely newness, for none of the rules are the least irksome after we get accustomed to them. There will be more rules every year and the result will be increasing happiness, health and longer life, as well as lessening of public burdens. We surely do need a better organized health.

department in every state as well as at Washington.

Recent criticisms of the public school curricula seem to indicate a fairly unanimous opinion that too much is attempted in the lower grades. For this crumb of comfort we are profoundly grateful. There is no question of course that our schools are doing most excellent work, and the critics recognize that fact. Nothing human is perfect and the suggestions to remedy imperfections in this matter are in a kindly tone of friendliness to the teachers who are doing so well. The critics need a little criticism themselves for they do not sufficiently emphasize the fact that in the grade schools the work is often way over the little immature heads of the pupils. The brain requires many years to develop and it is a wise provision of nature that the physique is also weak until judgment is fairly good. Otherwise it would be a wild world. with its irresponsible but large strong children.

Now it so happens that the large majority of children must go to work as soon as they are large enough to do something to help support the family. It is an unhappy fact also that they are anxious to stop because they cannot understand the lessons. They feel beyond their depth and instinctively turn to a firm foundation of motor activities. Trade schools keep some a little longer, but most of them, for lack of thinking material, are destined to be hewers of wood and drawers of water. Whether they should be retained any longer is doubtful, as they are not capable of much intellectual training. The teachers in the grade schools are sadly handicapped by the fact that most of the pupils must leave at the very time real education is possible

the training of judgment, will and inhibition. All three of these exist at a very early age, to be sure, even a new-born infant shows signs of their rudiments, but they are not strong until the high school age. We are very much pleased, therefore, to see the movement growing to exclude high school studies from the grade schools. Particularly in mathematics do we find attempts to teach things which are hopelessly beyond the child's capacity. There has been a great improvement from the time when tots of nine or ten were solemnly drilled in fractions, though not understanding any of the operations so painfully performed, but there is still room for more improvement. Memory is drilled and strengthened no matter what is taught and there are some few historical facts which even babes should know, so that a little geography and history might go hand in hand. from the beginning, not forgetting the fact that the lower grades are but little better than nurseries to relieve the mother a few hours a day. Those who believe in copying everything German should be informed that the long school hours for children there are for the same purpose as a creche or kindergarten nursing. It was a stroke of genius to utilize these nurseries to let the children hear and repeat good language and proper pronunciation, incidentally learning a few outside facts with the reading and writing exercises. Let our psychologists speak up more, so that our grade schools will be considered a mere preparation for the real education which is to be obtained in the higher schools and shops. If the grade schools can also train the motor apparatus so that those destined to go to work can earn a living sooner than by memorizing some geography and history, they will become ideal.

MEN AND THINGS.

Dr. Friedmann may be honest. His inHis protentions may be of the best. fessional ideals may be of the highest. He may care nothing for money. He may have a great and noble mission which he aims to fulfill for suffering humanity. He may be anxious to demonstrate the efficiency of his remedy. Finally, he may be all-as a man and as a physician-that But one his supporters claim that he is. thing is certain, if he had deliberately gone to work to repudiate the good reputation and character given him by his friends, and justify the suspicions of his bitterest enemies, he could not have chosen a more consistent course than the one he has followed during the past month. It is

needless to refer in detail to the restless activities of Dr. Friedmann or his associates. The newspapers have supplied a faithful chronicle of his goings and his comings, and few who have followe1 events connected with his affairs with any degree of care, can have failed to anticipate the grand climax just announced, "Dr. Friedmann has sold out!"

But distasteful as is the subject and unpleasant as it is to devote any further thought to an unfortunate affair, respect for the American medical profession and our German confreres to whom professional honor and integrity are so dear, so dear, makes it incumbent upon us to point out with no uncertain note that if Dr. Friedmann is imbued with humanitarian motives, professional desires and ethical purposes, his recent manners, methods and acts have been most unusual, to say the least. It may be that Dr. Friedmann has a different way of of manifesting

his likes and dislikes, than the ordinary physician. Thus his sudden loss of interest in the cases he was treating under government scrutiny and equally sudden trip. to Providence, R. I., may have indicated his lack of business acumen or his complete indifference to the call of opportunity. That Rhode Island was the only near-by state that would allow patients to force Dr. Friedmann to take their money was only a strange coincidence. It was certainly sad, moreover, after Dr. Friedmann

had fought so hard against going to Providence that he had to remain there for so many days at the mercy of patients who in spite of his most strenuous efforts would not let him treat them until he had accepted twenty or twenty-five dollars. Report has it that Providence physicians were strangely moved by the touching spectacle presented by the crowds of patients who refused treatment until Dr. Friedmann agreed to accept at least twenty to twentyfive dollars from each person. The anguish and suffering Dr. Friedmann was forced to undergo, with money constantly being offered to him, can easily be understood.

Then, cruelest act of all, Dr. Friedmann has had $125,000 cash and $1,800,000 in stock forced upon him for the American rights to his remedy, and this in spite of his repeated intention of giving it to the profession! It can be imagined what a bitter disappointment this must be to Dr. Friedmann after planning to do so much for humanity and expecting his name to go down to posterity as a benefactor of his race, to have his secret torn so ruthlessly from him, and especially by money! Sad, sad is the picture of Dr. Friedmann trying to give his remedy away, and not only being denied this happiness but being forced against his will to accept so much money for it. How commercialism must indeed dominate things in these United States of ours when an ethical physician is "kept" from giving his discovery to suffering humanity, and "made" to transfer it to a business firm for money which he abhors! "Alack, alas, that one should have listened to one's friends and trusted one's self so completely to the harsh mercies of a land where commercialism and money are so apt to get the better of one's better self!"

There's a more serious side to the Friedmann episode. Without the slightest exaggeration it can be said that no recent event or series of events-for it has been more or less of a continuous performance since Dr. Friedmann came to New York

has given so much material to those who are ever ready to accuse the medical profession of insincerity, commercialism, premature claims, ethical hypocrisy, etc., etc. As a consequence, innocent as are American physicians in the whole unfortunate

affair, the American profession have suffered a hurt, a loss of the respect of the great American public that will take years to replace. The exceptional amount of publicity given to Dr. Friedmann is doubtless responsible to a certain extent for the widespread character of the harm done, for an enormous number of people have had a chance to follow the whole sordid affair to its recent not unexpected termination. Hundreds of thousands will repeat "I told you so," and with the positive claims, the spectacular secrecy, the loud and oft repeated protestations about serving and safeguarding the poor, and the final commercial outcome in their minds will unfortunately look upon the whole affair as a general medical proposition and not as the personal bargain of a comparatively unknown foreign medical man who has no connection whatsoever with the American medical profession. So the principal harm. and injury from the Friedmann episode will come from the hasty and unwarranted deductions drawn by those who will view the whole matter superficially. Let no one understand that we are denying Dr. Friedmann's right to enter into any negotiation that he sees fit, or the laws of the land allow. What we do maintain—and this is our excuse for discussing the proposition at all-is that since Dr. Friedmann chose to make his original communication to his professional colleagues, and has sought throughout the support and corroboration of medical men, he has given us the right to expect the fulfilment of obligations voluntarily assumed and an honorable adherence to the established usages of profession. Whatever may be the final verdict verdict of the scientific world concerning the specific value of Dr. Friedmann's vaccine-nothing definite having been determined as yet-it is a fact that this man has outraged every sense of professional propriety, and abused in the most astounding manner the courtesies and considerations extended to him for the purpose of proving the correctness of his claims. and the efficacy of his treatment. Genuine sympathy is felt for those honest physicians who accepted Dr. Friedmann's protestations in good faith and worked with him with. trust and confidence in the sincerity of his motives. Doubts and fears, however, that

would not down, grew rapidly as Dr. Friedmann's sojourn in Providence was protracted and the last vestige of belief in the purity of his intentions vanished like the dew when the statement at last appeared announcing the sale of the American rights to his remedy!

The feelings of the Government physicians and others who took Dr. Friedmann in good faith and believed him to be absolutely sincere in seeking to prove the worth of his vaccine, can be better appreciated than expressed when they read that "Dr. Friedmann having completed the mission that brought him to America plans to return to Germany in the near future."

An apology is due our readers for having devoted so much space to a subject that, unless we are much mistaken, the medical profession will be glad to forget as soon as possible. We have tried, however, to be fair to Dr. Friedmann not only because he was a visitor to our country but also because of the wonderful possibilities to humanity if his treatment could be shown to possess the properties claimed for it. When Dr. Friedmann was attacked for his technical shortcomings and his purposes were impugned he was given an opportunity to reply in these pages. Not a word was heard from him and his attitude from first to last has been one of boorish disregard for the ordinary demands of professional comity and complete indifference to the feelings of his colleagues. He has snubbed and ignored the physicians-men of high standing-delegated by the Government to investigate the effects of his treatment. meeting obligations voluntarily assumed in New York City, he has made one or more trips to the only state where he could treat patients for pay. Repeatedly he has ignored engagements and appointments made with various physicians and hospital staffs, because, as it has later appeared, he was delayed by negotiations for the sale or distribution of his remedy. In our final effort to be absolutely fair to Dr. Friedmann we have secured a frank, absolutely unbiased statement from Dr. Irving W. Voorhees who has had exceptional opportunities for observing cases treated by Dr. Friedmann. Dr. Voorhees' remarks are friendly (See page 263) but point out the

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