The Washington herald., 1912-03-28
DISEASE STILL BATTLING.
Its sum Total Not Lessened by
Great Advances Made.

Its Eu" IoNhA NoN brssFutu w
Great Advances Made.
From the Medical Record.
Notw.thstandins all that has been ac-
complIshed in tho way ot medical re-
search, icw discoveries. and the army
OF surgeons AMI physicians who are
faithfully devotins their energies to COM
batting illness. there is DOUBT as 10 wheth-
er the sum total OF diseases In the civ.
ilized world In any leFs than Il was be-
fore the medical profession reached its
present high standing.
Little headway bas beer made in sup
pressing diseases by preventive medi-
cine. In the opinion OF some medical men
diseases are on tho increase. They at
tack humans in many open. as well a.
insidious ways. Infectious or contagious
diseases are often spread about the COM
munity by the very agency that is en-
ployed to fight and conquer the disease.
the physician. Poverty is also an indi-
rect cause OF extending q germ disease.
II child OF the tenements Is attack
ed by dlphtheria II is likely that many
others will become victims also. The
physicIan Is likely 10 Re q lodge physi-
clan whD has a long list of patients TO
visit each day and cannot devote much
time 20 any one OF them: nor has he
sufficient time TO fumigAte his clothes
or change them before going TO another
home where there are children. He had
no chance at tho home he Just left to
sterilize lis hands after having fused
about the diphtheria patients mouth.
Perhaps he didn't even wash his hands
in ordinary water.
Is Il any wonds- that this and simi-
lar disease should spread about a con-
- l. -
BILE TO suppress disease IN the face OF
modern conditions OF civilized life7
But the busy physician Is not the only
channel Of communicating the germs OF
sickness. The members of the child's
family may carry the Infection TO the
places where they work. A sister may
nurse the diphtheriA child when at home
and get the infecuon or her clothing or
hands and carry 1. to a factory, a store.
or other place OF business. Perhaps she
helps a woman customer to NJ on a pair
OF gloves. n mum or a hat. or some 9TH
ed article of wearing apparel Or II in a
store she may help woman customer
to pick out some toys or other things
for the customers chill at home.
II the child is with the customer the
saleswomdn may pet thu youngster and
In a gentle pat On the cheek transfer
some OF the germs from the diphtheria
patient.
The sources Of transmission Of disease
germs similar to this are very numer-
Gus, especially IN a large city. II Is
the social conditions, then, that prevent
the medical profession from lessening
the ravages Of disease. Medical men
know thIS. but ara next to powerless to
do anything to improve the situation.
The public does not seen. to appreciate
the dangerous conditions. II II did per-
har1 H. H.. l.... - -.
prove the conditions.
When an attack OF diphtheria occurs
In child Of wealthy parents the patient
Is isolated. has a trained nurse. and every
possible facility for good treatment. The
physician takes all possible precautions
against carrying away infection. He is
well paid and can afford tko time. That
child's sickness does not spread.
typhoid fever IS known to be diffused
mainly through water. milk. fruits. and
vegetables. Consider how the glasses
are washed in ice cream parlors. The
water Is soon dirty and unfit for cleans
ing purposes. and yet thousands Of per-
sons take ice cream or soda water from
these glasses.
Very 5ftsn the board OF health reguia-
tions are not carried out IN the case Of
an Infectious or contagious disease. The
doctor does not rerort the disease so
may hcve forbidden him 20 report It.
Very few persons would cause the ar
rest Of person for splitting in the streets
or in public conyeyances and thus scat
tering the germs Of tuberculosis or some
other serious malady. The public Is too
good natured. too easy-going and too
careless about tho spread of disease.
Much could be accomplished by a ra-
tionai system OF prophylaxis. There is
no docb. that malaria has been pretty
we'll conquered by preventive medicine.
II must me understood by the public that
every animal can be q source OF danger
10 the community. A dog or a cat in a
hat where there are children can diffuse
more disease than a child suffering from
iiphtherla. Yet nothing Is thought about
he eat CT dog and disease.
The ignorance OF the vast majority OF
he public is the greatest factor In the
spread ef disease The result of a gen
srai medical education would uft the
standard OF morality AMI show that dis
.ase can be prevented. Every human
being hrs the right to oC healthy and
strong. and tbei efore parents who, 4
through ignorance. do not take the prop
n care OF their offspring or reproduce |
mperfecr human beings are guilty OF |
'innlng against themselves and society. |
1t Is for social conditions to spread |
medical knowledge and thus assist in pre-
renting and suppTersing diseases.