EDITORIAL. 



The unification of the medical interests of the Philippine Islands and 

 the harmonizing of the respective attitudes of the American and Fili- 

 pino physicians has been steadily going on for a number of years. 



The Philippine Islands Medical Association had its first annual 

 meeting in 1903, with rather a small attendance and a limited number 

 of papers for discussion. No delegates from other countries were pres- 

 ent. Each succeeding year has brought out a larger attendance and a 

 greater interest. In 1906 we had two representatives — one from Hong- 

 kong and one from Japan. In 1907 three delegates attended — one from 

 Hongkong, one from Japan and one from China : In 1908 there were 

 eleven, representing respectively: The Imperial Japanese Government, 

 the Imperial Chinese Government, the Imperial Siamese Government, 

 Ceylon, Saigon, the Federated Maylay States, Singapore, and Hongkong. 



At the fifth annual meeting, a representation comprising many of 

 the countries included in the so-called territory of the Far East was 

 present and the time was thought to be ripe for the formation of the 

 Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, to meet once in two years 

 upon the invitation of one of the Governments of the component coun- 

 tries. This movement we hope will cement together the medical and 

 scientific fraternities of the territories in question, will stimulate inves- 

 tigation and in addition will bring the center for the publication of 

 research work in Far Eastern tropical medicine where it belongs, namely 

 to some Government or society in the Orient. 



Oriental medicine is undergoing a rapid expansion and is attracting 

 increased attention throughout the world. Oriental governments are 

 dealing with peoples whose -prejudices and traditions work against the 

 general scientific application of the art of medicine. This attitude must 

 gradually be changed, but the results to be expected are sufficiently great 

 to warrant the outlay of the best energies of the most prominent scientific 

 workers of the world. It means nothing less than an improved hygienic 

 understanding among Oriental peoples and the gradual removal of 

 the causes which underlie certain phases of their stagnation. It will 

 be accompanied by a general movement towards an enlarged sphere 

 of activity among the people. The papers read at the Fifth Annual 

 Meeting of the Philippine Islands Medical Association will be printed 

 in this Journal during 1908 and the discussions on the various topics 

 will be given in its editorial columns. By this system readers can not only 

 become familiar with the experimental data, but also with the opinions 

 of physicians in this portion of the globe. 



Paul C. Freer. 



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