The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-20
Recent Publications.

DISEASES OF MODERN LIFE. By Benjamin Ward
Richardson, M. D &, &C. New York: d. Apple
ton & Co. For sale by Bailey & Noyes.
The country is flooded with looks whose os-
tensible object is TO impart such knowledge Of
medical matters as will enable people to regain
or preserve their health From the minute
pamphlet which carries its terrible predictions
of death to all who will rot follow the course it
advises, up to the ponderous tome on house.
hold medicines, in which are recipes for all
known and supposed diseases, the vast ma.
jority are little else than shrewd ADVERTISE
ments of men who hope by lingering the fears
of the crednlous to elicit the cheerful music of
clinking gold. That these publications often
contain something of truth is not to be lenied;
but this is used only as the passport to horde
of errors which are harmful just in proportion
to their specious appearance. The volume be-
fore US is as far as possible from belonging to
this class. Though medical in all its aspects,
it is written for the study Of the intelligent
public more than for physicians. 1t does not,
however, make any pretense of dealing with
the cure of disease, but simply with its preven-
tion. The author is one of the most prominent
of English physicians, celebrated for his origi-
nal physiological labers, and justly eminent as
a practitioner and clear and elegant writer;
and it is cause for deep congratulation that
such man. entirely above the suspicion of un-
worthy motives should undertake to write a
work for the people on a subject which few are
nearly as competent as he to treat.
Ir reading the book, one not already familiar
with the tendency of modern medicine, must
L. -. Al 10 .ol =.
declared to be of external origin. This rule
may, indeed, be laid down as universal. The
only apparent exceptions are those diseases
which are inherited; and, if we 60 back few
generations, we find the original case of the
particular hereditary affection we are investi-
eating, and invariably ascertain that its source
is external. The idea at once arises that we
may be able to control these causes as we do
other external affairs and so to large extent we
can. To be sure there are some causes of disease
which are and always will be absolutely uncon-
trollable, such as atmospheric pressure, tenn
perature, storm, earthquakes and electrical
condition, which in one or another form are
always present, being parts of and inseparable
from the natural order of the universe and be-
yond human governance The diseases aris.
ing from such causes we call accidental; but
there is really no more propriety in thus reck-
oning them, than the epdemcs and plaques
which at times afflict the race The essential
difference between the two is that the first
class cannct be regulated, and the second can
be almost perfectly-perhaps not to the point
of complete prevention, but certainly closely
approximating this. That is to say, it is quite
possible in the course of few gene, ations to so
nearly stamp out smallpox, typhoid fever
scarlet fever, cholera, syphilis and all that
class of diseases, that the per cent of mortality
from them would be actually insignificant
Of course, in order to attain such results,
ninety-nine out of hundred must be taught
to appreciate the value of life and health and
the desirability of conforming their practices
to rules which they habitually violate through
wantonness and ignorance. Our progress in
this direction is not rapid, but yet there is pro-
gress, and this is an encouragement to still
greater effort.
All the diseases referred to are produced by
causes which may be regarded as incidental
AMI general; but very many diseases are de-
pendent on causes which are induced and
special, as for example, modes of life and the
self-imposed acts of person or community.