The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-10-02
SCIENCE.
by Nathan Allen, M. ID.
From the New York Observer.

mOtiPfH III lis hlSt0IN. III is no
fifty Years since it's facts and prin
ciples became sufficiently known s
as to assume distinct form an,
character. Sacb is it's practical
importance that it has had ii yer,
rapid growth. and promises TO SUI
pass many of he older sciences i
its Influence and useful IeSs. A
this science is in its infancy it i
impossible TO forecast the great i'm
provemeniS aud changes it is DIES
tined to make.
A brief notice of some of til,
principles and applications of thiI
science will give and idea of it,
value aud utility. 1t virtually
makes a new revelation OF the law,
that govern the human body. /
teaches that ii man understand,
and obey those laws, he has bis
destiny in his own hands far more
than has generally been considered
One OF it's leading objects is the
prevention of diSease-the preser
walton of health. 1t teaches that
this depends mainly upon personal
agency. Physiology has formerly
been studied chiefly with references
to its connection with disease and
not SO much in its relations to
health. The great object and stu.
dy of the medical profession have
been to cure disease ana prevent it.
But when prevention shall be the
w%atchwOrd instead of cure, when
the demand shall be for an applica-
ton Of sanitary knowledge instead
of medicines, physicians will have
much less to do. In fact, when
the principles of sanitary science
become generally understood, it
Will change, yes, revOlntiOnlze the
present practice OF medicine.
Within II few years the nature
aud causes of disease have become
far better understood than former
~. Diseases are not now clothed
with tue same mystery as they
once were thought to be. They ara
not the product of "evil spirits" or
of "Divinr Providence" but in a
great majarity OF cases they have
been OccaSiOned alone by human
agency. Sanitary science shows
that disease generally is nothing
more nor less than the penalty at.
tached 10 violated law. Let the
principles of this science be thor.
oughly understood, and it will
throw a flood OF light upon the ma
ture and treatment of disease. In
the matter of preventing disease
it is found that there are many
agencies to be taken into account.
The most important are a pure
soil, pure water aud pure air, ex
%terual; then, personal, such as
cleanliness, exercise, clothing,
wholesome TODD, sleep virtuouS ha6.
its, etc. The individual has con.
Ir0l directly over most of these
agencies, Ont with pure soil, water
and air, it requires the help of 9th.
ers. But in order to secure the ad.
vantageS of these agencies the in.
dividual must have more or less
knowledge upon these sabiectS.
1t has been found by actual trial
that a great amount OF disease and
mortality can be prevented. A
OF diseases called zymOtic,
caused by Injection cOntagion, filth,
resulting in about one third
Of The sickness aud mortality that
II is found can be prevented.
1t has been thought that all chill
lren must have or cannot escape
diseases, such rs Welcoming
cough, measles and scarlet fever.
Jut this is entirely unnecessary. 4,
In every community suppress the
irst cast of each Que of these dis.
asses and its extension stops.
" ben sanitary science is generally ,
understood and applied this will be
lone. :
One of the most important dis. :
ovcries ever made for the preven >
of disease occurred within a .
ew years; that is, some OF the a
loSt terrible aud fatal diseases we =
are caused by small animalcu. =
e-calied Bacteria aud other o
1t looks as though we
ere on the eve Ofgreat changes in "
'edical practice. II these Bacte \
a whenever tonnd can be DESTROY. -
!, or their existence prevented. il p
Ill save u vast amount of disease.
his discovery comes directly in
le line OF sanitary science.
Connected with these great i'm.
'ovements in physiology aud hy.
cue there will be a gain, in pro.
SIS OF time, OF iucalculable adIan.
&c, viz, a diSpensation of 80
ucl medicine. When the people
large understand thoroughly
at the laws OF health aud life de r
nd, IN a great measure. upon
cir own agency, they will look =
pre- and more ia this direction for n
Up. Unfortunately, people slight
complaining or very i'll have too
lch faith in artificial means aud
icacy OF drugs. Too much medi.
Ie altogether is taken at the
.sent day. BY this means multi.
les are kept sick. Sanitary
fence is destined here to effect a
st surprising reform. =
lheie Is another thought which "
Duld be rmphasized-this ~scIence =
calculated to improve the physi-
, mental and moral condition OF
a.. It's principles harmonic
Do the inslrnctionS. the nrecenfs 20