The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-28
! pREvENrloN or DISEASE,


rae scientific wnrIa is at present
deeply wrapped np n study ef the most
sfgectlve methods Of preventing dis
ease. 1t has been positively deter
MINED in recent years that practically
all disease is due directly to our own
aarelessness. and that nearly every
sc,m of disease is infectious To
hr.ug the world to proper apprecia'
ton saf the gravity Of the situation is
the greatest problem Of the age
The task is a s,upendous one pre-
s.nting hewlldering array of condi-
lions that must be ceped with. Gus
toms Of long usage must be attacked by
arlentists and the people made %
realixe that they are disease breeding
To overcome the law of custom rs the
hardest Of All problems and In TINS
critical age Of the worlds existence
as,e eminent scientists are confronted
.i,h the most iisficult situation which
aas ever in the natural course of events
arisen.
Primarily the cause Of disease Is due
10 the careless habits OF the people
ror centuries men have expeciorased
apon the streets, for instance. with
no thought Of the terrible dangers
.,,sinr from the careless habit. or
Ia,e years II has been determined that
thls one filthy habit, which would not
nr uractlced by well-bred man. has
communicated much OF the contagious
disease. Neglect OF sinks in the kstch-
ems OF our homes, improper disposal
OF garbage, lack OF sanitation, etc all
ssntrieutk To the increasing sickness.
Just AZ the present time the city Of
New York Is wrestling with the pneu-
monia problem. Specialists are striving
60 determine the reason for the ap'
railing number Of fatal eases and find
As they progress in their work that &
is due to many conditions which have
not heretofore impressed the people "a
dangerous a correspondent ~ the
New YORK Trlbune contributes an m
seresune article Ia this respect Flo
complains that the elevated railways
of The metropolis are larse'y 70 blame
for the pneumonia epidemic lie re-
lates taat the sisAss ssaslal.sS ars N
aryaerei as 60 keep passengers wait
irg ia tbs opeN air for several miu-
uies ard adds tnat mueh 81 tbe dis-
case is doubi,ess due TO improper heat
H. arranevmen,s d the cars. Thou
naGs IL pcrsons rnd Il necesssry 70
use the ~ roads al might and an II
then are subjected 10 the dang rs
arising from exposure to Che eoId might
air.
This Is only an instance of the many
causes 10 which the seread of infec-
,lous disease ago attriouted, but IL is
sutacieut 10 show that our entire social
system needs revision Il we are tn be-
erme healihful. The municipal au-
ghotities of the various cities u the
snuutr, have been brought to reaiiza-
ton of the fact that rigid health laws
must be enacted and firmly enforced
Our laws make IL necessary for one
person to respect the rights and liber-
iles of another but the Necessity Of
su1h LAWS fades into tnsigniaeapce
Nhen compared wlth the need for laws
that win compel one person to respect
~ heaFh * others. The man who
strikes another or rohs his house Is
Snbiec, 10 the operation Of the criminal
hws. set the man who pcsieets the
aeaith regulations thereby enaanger-
inr the lives Of scores of persons, Is
seldom Il ever punished, for the rea
son maj We are as yet too ignorant
10 appreciate that our health is worth
protecting!
some day there Will hc httle or no
disease il this world, Or a least IN the
,roet Intelligent portions Of IL. The
hsaith problems with which we now
are Wrestling win then have been
allycd-which is TO say she people win
have become sufficiently intelligent 10
observe the precautions necessary to
sound body and mind. Education =
ne solution which winsoe applied 10
die great problem We are nov tax
snw eur arst lessons, and il is to be
exsecfed the services Of the police Sil'
- essential TO our advancement just