An address on the position of the state in respect to modern bacteriological research : delivered before a General Meeting of the XIth International Medical Congress, held in Rome, 1894 / by V. Babes ; abstracted and translated by F. Parkes Weber.

  • Babeș, Victor, 1854-1926.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address on the position of the state in respect to modern bacteriological research : delivered before a General Meeting of the XIth International Medical Congress, held in Rome, 1894 / by V. Babes ; abstracted and translated by F. Parkes Weber. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    l-’rom these few examples it becomes manifest that a State, perfected in the way 1 have laid down, could by the means at our disposal already do much more for the healtli of its citizens than it does at present, and it is clear that the erection of proper institutions w’ould help to this end. It is clear also that we are not justified in separating the public health from that of the individual, but just on this account the State work will be increased and a thorough reform of the sanitary administration appears necessary. If we were to contrast the demands made here with those acknowledged by statesmen, we should see that the lattei limit the rights of the State too much and do not take the universal importance of hygiene into due consideration. Although they profess to acknowledge the immense importance of hygiene, they place other State interests in the front, which prevent the carrying out of measures for the advantage of hygiene * they only recognise certain conditions under which the State can take care of the health of individuals, and they always dread the interference of the State with family lile though in the interest of public health. Against these objections science will be powerless until it can practically and clearly demonstrate the results of modern research ; but on our part it will first be neeessary to free ourselves of all non-scientific interests, and leave toothers the interests of commerce, industry, politics, the army and the family. There should be doctors who are not fettered by practice, but specially trained to make known to the ruling bodies—especially the Parliament-the advances and practical application of science, so as to obtain that position For the organisation of hygiene which belongs to it as being of the greatest importance for the happiness of the citizens. The first result of this should be the erection of a richly- endowed institute of State hygiene, in which laboratory work may be turned to practical use, and which may serve as a high school for the statesmen in question, directors of hygiene and hospitals, and all Government officials, whether of the departments for instruction, medicine, or the useful arts who occupy themselves with matters of liygien . An international and social reform should be obtained because individual health cannot be separated from public helh.because the health of one class health of other classes, and the hea { ‘ ° 1Thl £th is nf the liiehest economical value to the State, mt n( a 1 * however of the lower classes is affected by an unjust want of the nrimarv necessities of life and health, as well as iy the insufficient care taken by the State for public and private health. A settling of the social question becomes, therefore, eS^i^^ermor^bthereaymuld have to be an international agreement bv which the sanitary interests of the working SKSaasaMW