The Dawson journal., 1883-08-09
Is Disease on the Increase ?

that disease is on the increase. -
Well, as it seems to them, and to all
of us, as the matter affects our per-
sonai comfort and sense of security
as it did not do in other days.
Doubtless each successive generation
has thought the same, and it has
really, to them, seemed to be true
A correct conclusion on this subject
can not be arrived at without care
fully weighing some important facts.
We must, of course, run through all
of our calculations the rule of pro-
portion, and in doing this, we are
led to consider the gradual increase
of the population of the world, as
is evidenced by the thickening popu-
lation of, well-nigh, every locality
from which the question is viewed by
each individual. That disease should
be on the increase, may naturally be
expected, as there are in this year of
1888 so many more subjects than
there were, for instance, in 1900, or
at any other past period of the worlds
history, but there has been no in
crease in proportion to the increase
of the worlds population. Now it
is true that, in reference to disease,
there have been some new develop
ments of it, some increase in the
malignity of some forms of it, but
then thisis quite ofset..by the decided
notifications of others heretofore
more malignant and fatal, and super
added to this is the fact that the
science of medicine in its steady ad-
vance has thrown increasing light
on the whole realm of disease, and
the skill of physicians is now com
batting, successfully, forms of dis
eases that in an earlier age were
more formidable, and even baffied the
deftest efforts of the most skillful
doctors. Another fact that contri-
butes largely to this seeming increase
OF disease among the human family,
is the wonderful increase in the ia
.cilities for inter- communication. So
densely packed is our population
that intelligence is conveyed with
amazing rapidity from mouth TO ear.
Now,super-added to this facility is yet
another, to-wit tbs telegraph, how
amazing is the flight of information.
The disease or death OF a man NAV
be announced from one side OF our
continent to the other, with the
rapidiiy of the lightning's flash, so
that, except In districts remote from
cardinal points, the message may
become matter of universal informa-
ton. The serious illness or death of
man at 8 O'Clock tonight may be
transmitted through the medium of
the great submarine cable" and
may be read from the papers to-mor-
row morning in the city of London.
And yet there Is still another fact
which contributes to this seeming
increase IN disease among the human
family. Ali observers of these matters
have attained to that period of life
where we notice more critically and
concernedly the current events of
life. Especially do we notice those
facts, things and events which touch
and affect our individual destiny
The things, which in our youth did
not arrest our attention at all, we
now look upon as being of vast i'm
portance. The sad events of time,
the disease and death of our friends
and nearest neighbors made but
slight impressions on our minds, we
heard but did not heed these matters
and things. Now everything con-
Germs us, The disease or death of
those about us, and for flat matter,
those away from us, strikes us deeply.
We, observers, have arrived at that
period of life at which disease, death
and misfortune from every side make
fearful inroads upon our- spirits, and
interdict our joys.
Disease is not on the increase when
viewed in the light of the factsgefore
US. After the most careful investi-
Cation of the most learned and OBJ
serving of the medical profession, it
has been decided that the longevity
of the human race is on the, increase.
This doubtless (henor to whom honor
is due)'is attributable in part to the
advancement of sciences, or, at least
that part of it that affects the sub
lect i'll hand. But, observe: we never
speak of the Intentions Of science,
but gratefully and yet proudly do, we