The Globe June 10, 1927
Sir George Newman Refers to Co-ordination of Health Agencies
BUILDING IS OPENED
Praising comment upon the unique combination of medical education, public health nursing, laboratories, research facilities and social service at the University of Toronto was the keynote of the speech with which Sir George Newman, Chief Medical) Officer of the Ministry of Health for England and Wales, formally open- ed the newly constructed Hygiene School of the Department of Public Health of the university yesterday morning.
"The University of Toronto," the speaker said, "has taken upon itself the honor of having the most complete, advanced and thoroughly organized faculty and equipment of. its kind of any similar institution in the world." And Sir George' then proceeded to stress the significance of the occasion, which, he said, did-not mean only the opening of a school, but he felt convinced that the event at the same time meant the inauguration of a new chapter in the life of Canada.
Value of Preventive Medicine.
Time and again the speaker mentioned the importance of knowledge of preventive medicine, which, he said, in the past, and even in our present time, more often than not has been, received with hostility, ignorance, neglect, and sometimes even with enmity, by those who ought to appreciate it. And in this connection Sir George referred to the age-long controversy between the two schools of medical teaching. I one of which contends that disease is a process and due to the reactions within man's body, while the other contends that disease comes from outside causes.
After enumerating some of the problems facing the new Hygiene School. and quoting Goethe's saying that only an educated people can become an effective people, the speaker brought his address to a close with a reference to the great progress which has already been made by research, and predicted great results for that section of re- search which is related to influenza, cancer, rheumatism and measles. In this field there is room for a lot of progress, Sir George said, as little is known of the diseases, whereas much has already been learned regarding diphtheria, smallpox and typhoid. In fact they are under control, if not conclusively eliminated, According to the speaker.
Building Is Inspected.
After the address in Convocation Hall there was an inspection of the various departments. In the basement and the subbasement the Connaught Laboratories, including those for, Berkfeld filtering, insulin testing, antitoxin and various others are situated, while the second floor gives room for the parasitology, bacteriology and sanitary chemistry laboratories and lecture rooms. The library and Dr. Fitzgerald's study are on the third floor, together with the departments of epidemiology, vital statistics and psychological hygiene.