The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-25
Science and Health.

In primitive times the most generally
accepted theory OF disease was that It was
due to occupancy of tho a icted body by
+ a demon or spirit OF evil. th such on
explanation OF the origin Of illness, the
only logical plan Of protection was to
placate these spirits by charms OF anu
lets, or IL, despite these projections the
demon had actually taken up his abode
gin$the human body, the sole hope Of tNe
sufferer lay in recourse to incantaisons,
beating Of drums and other similar de-
vices, whereby the evil spirit might be
driven out. Thes e5 are even atthe present
day the principles ofEpreyentive and cura-
tive practice in " ogle among most savage
tribes. @
To trace the advance of the theory and
practice OF medicine from this crudest OF
all5ideas up to the definite and well estab-
lished doctrines Of the origin Of disease
which are generally accepted o-day, y takes
us through many Their fantasies notions,
each, as a rule, q somewhat nearer ap-
proach to tho truth as now known, but oil
Of them vague and unsatisfactory until
we come to the period which began only
twenty-five years ago,4wlthFthe discovery
Of the tubercle bacillus by Robert Koch.
FL During the quarter of a century which
has passed since that time, many adj
yances have been made In curative lnedi-
cine, but the conviction Is steadily grow
ing that tie medicine OF the future is to be
along preventive lines, and In this dlrec-
ton the progress which has been made
E is truly wonderful. And this has been
accomplished not In a desutory fashion,
81 but iys careful painstaking work, accord
ing to science. III ~ 81
The latest triumph Is the discovery Of
the means BY which yellow fever is pro-
pagated. This was worked out with the
same exactness that Is followed In q
laboratory experiment, and now th1
terrible scourge OF the human family can
8 be completely controlled.
3 But, while the triumph over yellow fever
and kindred diseases, epldemlcs Of which
have terrorized and devastated whole
countries, is OF incalculablo benefit to the
human race, 1t Is, nevertheless, In dlrec-
lions less dramatic than the chief VIC
tories OF sanitary scencc have been won,
namely, in the control Of ever-pressnt dis
cases which regularly claim their thou-
sands of victims. It is here that the con-
trast between modern sanitary science
and tho ideas and practices Of only O
quarter Of a century ago are best illus
trated,
10 those familiar with the subject, no
sharper contrast could be drawn than be-
tween tho slipshod, hlt-or-miss methods
OF muniplpal sanitation Of our fathers and
the perfect OF ganlzation and ndministra-
ton which steadily increasing number
Of modern communication enjoy. E
No man In this country has done moro tc
develop the possibilities OF sanitnry science
than has Prof, William T, sdgewlck, the
distinguished Boston authority in this
| line Ct work. The illustrated lecture whict
| he Will give at tho Academy Of Music or
| noXt Friday night (tho 30tD under the
| auspices of tho health investigation com
| mttee, will be open to the public. Prof
4 Sedgewlck is n gifted speaker, and, whllt
! a man of great scientific attanments, he
| possesses to m unusual degree tho powe
| OF satting deep truths IN the most simple
aud attractive manner.