The morning call., 1892-01-23
PREVENT DISEASE.
This VIII BE the Future Aim of
Medical Science.
Or Cushing Lectures en- Seine of the Evils
Of Civilization, and T lis Many
Wholesome Truths.

DR.. William Cushing lectured in the
Cooper Medical Institute last night on
"CivilizatOn as Cause of Disease" the
second IN the tenth annual course of Lane
lectures.
lie maintained that to live in accord with
the present idea Of civilization it is impOS-
sble to conform TO the laws OF health;
hence civilization and health are not cordial
in their relations. The chief aim Of study
in the past has been to cure disease that has
taken such fearful hold of civilization; the
study OF the future will be to prevent
disease. The best means to that end will be
TO properly educate the people.
One Of the greatest sources of evil in
civilization is the use Of stimuIants; it has,
indeed, come to De regarded as necessary.
As a scientific fact, however, stmulants are
not necessary.
No beverage in use is so hurtful as tea,
particularly to women. it excites and
shocks the nervous system and TeSu It's
finally in prostration. The tannin in tea is
a poison that only serves to impede all the
natural functions. Coffee is much less hurt
tui because 1t interleres less with nutrl-
ton.
ALCOHOL HURTFUL.
Alcohol is bad in its concentrated form
and the primary cause OF q great many dis
orders. In its lighter forms it is less hurt
tul, ana IN some forms even beneficial II
! properly used. As 1t exists I'D matt and
! light wines it Is al aid to nutrition and
prevents the waste Of tissue. The study OF
! civilization should then be to learn the
! proper use OF alcohol.
Tobacco has no redeeming qualities; it is
| bad from beginning TO end and absolutely
no good comes from its use. 1t impairs to
| greater or less extent all the senses; but its
! chief evil Is its hurtful influence on the
/ heart and brain. 1t is particularly injuri-
| Gus when taken into the immature system.
/ II people are determined TO use It, the
! effect would be much less huTtfui by wait
| ing TIL after they are 81 years old.
OVeT-eatlng is a dreadful vice Of cvlliZa-
! ton. 1t takes into the system an excess II
! material that cannot be thrown Oft, and The
! inevitable consequence IS the turning OF that
| into poison, the chief agency Of disease.
| People eat too much meat, too many varic-
| ties OF food and too much trash, which
moves in genteel society under tile alias Of
'paStries.' Meat once a day Is usually
enough for any one, and there IS no better
specimen Of health thsn the ruddy German,
! who IS glad 10 get it twice a week Too
much food results in fatty degeneration.
EATING TOO FAST.
An evil hardly less hurtful than over
| eating is fast eating. This, too, IS one Of
the pernicious products Of civilization.
People not only eat too fast, but they live
too fast, and the extra energy they eXpeEd
is taken eff the end of life.
The fast living Of civilization causes riot
among all the natural functions. The nerv-
ous system becomes irrtated and weakened
TIL ii can no longer resist fatigue. Then
disease takes hold.
Contagious diseases are peculiar to civil
zatiOn. Consumption, scarlet fever, TYPHOID
fever, cnOlera, smallpox aud Others, all con-
tagiOus, are rare among the abOTigines.
They are in the great majority OF cases the
result Of drinking impure water.
The cure for all this is the education Of
the people. Every school in the land should
have one or more competent teachers of
hygiene. For every dollar spent in build
ing schools a like amount should be spent
in providing proper means of physical
training.
at Is a great shame" said the doctor,
"Ihat our sewers are not thoroughly flushed
every week with salt water, and our streets
W.T. down every third day with the same
cleansing and purifying fluid. What II 1t
does cost considerable? The cost of disease
and death-thc other alternalye-is infn-
ltcly greater