The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-27
(New York SUM-

Some people say that the medical pro-
fession has heightened the average of
human life. Others claim that new con-
ilitions have brought on new diseases.
1t is hard to get at statistics for or
against these opinions, and if one could
end figures to support either position
The average reader would probably call to
mind the saying that "there are three
kind Of lies in this world-plain lies,
damn lies, and statistics. One thing
is certain, however. Men live longer to
day than they did in the days of the
Revolutionary war. Prominent men at
that time were considered old at nfty
years. Today when a man reaches the
half century goal he is in his prime.
When asked his opinion as to whether
the average of human life had lengthen-
cd with the progress of medical science,
DIR. George F. Shrady replied.
Cndoubtedly it has, and we have no
rev diseases. 1t is gospel truth that
there is nothing new under the sun.
True enough, emergencies arise, but We
are prepared to meet them one by one;
not by new disc cries, however put by
merely evolving now methods out OF cid
laws. Every branch of medicine has done
much to rave life, and that, Of course,
brings up the average. Take. for exam
pie, the operation Of oyariotomy. 1t has
saved the lives of hundreds of women
within the last twenty years. The di-
sea . is not new; medical men have
learned to treat it. The Same is true of
anti toxine, and diphtheria, and so 1t
goes. There is Monitor to meet every
MerriInao. Appendicitis is not new
disease. People read in the papers about
this and that operation for appendicitis.
They scratch their heads and say:
"That's new disease. We didn't hear
OF that when we were young. What will
these doctors be finding nextf' People
have boen having appendicitis since the
days Of Adam and Eve, but it is only of
late years that surgeons have learned
how to treat it,. The physical body has
always been the same; SO there can be no
new diseases.
cOpl6 aIo very iuuSh 4lh0 napCuo5,
after all. Some of them are made with
good works and others have weak
springs and need mending often. Mortal.
tty has been greatly reduced, it is true;
but this is for the most part anon g chill
dren. Nothing has ever been found yot
that would preserve the body after death,
and it is pretty hard work keeping
person alive over his allotted years.
every branch of medical science has
done much to lengthen the average of
human life," said DR.. Landon Garter
Grey, the neurologist. Gin fact, the
medical profession is the only one that
Is laboring for the good of the human
race. Even the most selfish physician
Is al altruist to certain extent because
he knows that it pays Kim in the long
run, If for no higher resaon. If man
makes some great discovery, such as
vaccination, he gives 1t to the profession.
for he knows that the glory to be gained
by doing so will be infinitely greater
than a. success that he might attain
from ] eping his discovery to himself
for his own exclusive use; and then there
is the ostraoism of his fellows that would
follow to contend with in case he. kept MS
knowledge from the world.
ssKoch gave his lymph to the world,
and for while it created great sensa-
ton. Then many medical men pro-
nounced it failure. DR.. Koch set to
work again, and it is said that he Is
making discoveries Of great Importance.
Pro baby hs is building up success on
that failure, and will give us sure cure.
Anti toxine promises to revolutionize
tho treatment of dipthoria. Certainly,
it has saved many lives. Improved
methods of living have dona more to
lengthen the average of life than any
thing else We all have better houses,
food, clothing, and sanitation, and who
are the men who have made "a study of
these things and called the improve
ments to the attention of the people? The
doctors, never asking or receiving ons
penny for it. They have better know
ledge of diseases and the application of
medicines, and of coarse that saves many
people.
"a great many cry that the tendency
is toward the cities with out ever stop
ping to think that cityf1cation is civiliza-
ton. Certainly people tend to live to-
gethe-,for wherever they do they live bet
tel. in every way. The great mortality of
this big city is among the children of the
tenements. Other children are healthier
than those living In the country, not
withstanding that the latter have the ad-
vantage of purer air. Tho reasons for this
are Obvious.
First OF all, city houses are warm
and the city child is better protected
from the cold If you drive through a
street before it has been cleaned after a
snow storm there is disagreeable chill
in the air. Let the dirt and snow be
removed and go through the next day.
You will feel as il you were in another
climate. City children are Kept indoors
until the streets are cleaned. Then they
have fresh vegetables and fruits that 1t is
impossible to get in the country; they
are clothed according to the weather,
and the sanitary conditions are far
superior to thUse in the country