Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-16
ARE WE ImpaovIsa ?

6A~H W<s Aa1k as0yA01 |
Il the race of men physically deteriorst.
ing! is 8 question engaging much critical
attention. We Incline to the belief that it
is not, because Of our improved medical
systems in the treatment of physical ills,
aHd the advance made in sanitary science
and in general knowledge concerning pre-.
ventable disease. People are now talked
at constantly and persistentiy through |
the newspapers and through books on the
subject of their bodily health, and we be-
lisve all this lecturing has been beneficial, |
and that the race is as consequence phya-
ically better to-day than is popularity de-
clared and lamented, and this notwith.
standing the fact that we have some
physical vices to contend with that were
exceedingly rare few years ago.
Sanitary matters, as treated in newg-
papers. present nowadays the science of
health preservation in very abbreviated
form, and it is certainly true that it is liza.
bic to misapplica.ion and misinterpreta.
ton, but none the less the newspaper
treatment is of value. The loose publica.
ton of innumerable receipts for medicines
for the cure or prevention Of the many dis.
tempers of the body has been too common.
There are very few that are not about as
apt to do harm as to accomplish good, for
the unskilled person is not competent to
diagnose his own case, and the promiscu.
Gus use of unfathered medical remedies ia
more likely to injure than to alleviate
But still the observant must confess that
this generation is better informed as to the
general principles Of medical science, and
better versed in the laws for the preserva.
tion of health and the prevention of dis
ease and physical decay.
This is due to our advanced system of
education. which has made medical knowl.
edge accessible to all to the critical spirit
| of the age, and to that independence of
| thought that does not concede to any one
class the possession of all the knowledge
of given subject. 1t is also due largely
to the simplified medical literature Of the
day. Such journals as the French, Amer
lean and English sanitary magazines and
large number of the health periodicals are
to-day found in the homes of the people.
Some OF them are conducted solely for the
establishment of peculiar and eccentric
systems of healing, and not few are 80
radical regarding certain methods that they
deserve to be classed with the "cranky !"
Ia word now more generally expressive
than most of the Americanisms of the
day.. But the influence of the objection.
able class is small, and the people are not
SO easily deceived regarding doubtful nos.
| trums.
We have journals of sanitary science
devoted wholly to the better education
of the architect, the builder, the plumber,
the manufacturer, food producers gener.
ally, the house filter, the miller, the cook,
the housekeeper-and SO on through long
chapter of others whose good or bad work
bears intimate relation to the public health
hS ShSns mass vi tutsc
upon the proper key, address the simpler
as well as the cultivated understanding,
and have the approval of the best informed
of sanitarians and physicians. Added to
these are the journals of popular science
which have found in the masses an appre-
ciative and ready clientage. By their aid
| ahonnalo of i,fo Lo,,a =
up that few years ago were as sealed
books to the many. The publishers
presses have given the generation great
amount of cheap medical and scientific
literature, and the best minds and most
skilled and learned of healers, sanitarians
and scientists have found the ethics of
their schools go relaxed as to permit them
to freely address the people through these
mediums and convey to them simplified
information and advice that but a few
years ago could only be found in the vol.
luminous technical volumes of the physi.
clans library. The official Boards of
Health OF States and municipalities have
added to the current health literature their
circulars and pamphlets of instruction
upon preventable disease. In short, it
may be said that sanitary and medical
science have opened wide their
doors, and if the men and women of this
day lack information ON general health
topics, and "what to do until the doctor
"comes, y it is their own fault. All this
has been simply in keeping with the ad.
vance of general knowledge, and should
make its results manifest in an improved
state OF the public health, and we believe
that such improvement is apparent. There
is less fear OF epidemics than formerly, and
better preparation for them on their ap.
proach; greater vigor in the enforcement of
sanitary regulations better systems of
house-building and fitting a wider and
clearer appreciation of the laws of health /;
the demands of the physical being; the
necessity for cleanliness of person and
premises, and for rest and recreation. If
this people is living faster, existing upon
its nerves, as is said, and increasing risks
to heart and brain, it is also better pre-.
pared to do so.
Statistics prove though it is fair to say
that their correctness is questioned in some
quarters), according to English annuity ia.
bles, that, despite all the busy whirl in
which we live, the average longevity has
nos only not declined, but has so gone up
in the scale as to necessitate a readjust.
ment of all the tables of probabilities. In
view of this affirmation the comparison of
the new and the old will form a very in.
teresting study, and as this has been en-.
tered upon the results will probably soon
be prominently before the people.