The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-11-06
copyright. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
THE QUESTION OF CURES.


not usually true ideas. Undeveloped
intellect, be 1t that Of an individual or
that OF race, forms conclusions
which require to be revised and re-
revised before they reach tolerable
correspondence with realities. Were
1t otherwise there would be no discov-
cry, no increase Of intelligence. What
we call progress OF knowledge Is the
bringing of thoughts into harmony
with things; and 1t implies that the
first thoughts are either wholly out of
harmony with things, or in very In
complete harmony with them"
In this quotation is the key to the
reply to the frequent query: What
has the spectrum got to do with my
health and digestion?" There Is a
close analogy between the building up
OF organic compounds out OF the inor-
ganic under the influence OF light
waves and the rebuilding of these
same complicated compounds into
higher forms In our bodies under the
influence OF the engines; and by COM
pretending what we can see of the
operation of light on the vegetable
kingdom we are able to secure some
understanding Of what we cannot see
In our own bodies.
Knowledge has value in exact pro-
portion to the benefit it confers. direct
ly or indirectly, on the human race.
Every new scientific fact or principle
generally grasped helps to an under
standing of natures laws, and when
properly applied is sure to lead to
increased health, efficiency and pros
perity Of the individual and OF the
community. For example: But few
years ago the milkman might let any
quantity of dirt fall into the milk
provided he strained 1t out again so
we could not see 1t, and might feed
his cows any kind Of slop that would
not kill them. We did not care, be-
cause we did not understand the rela-
tons OF things But today, because of
the general knowledge of bacteriology
and OF sanitary science, enlightened
public opinion compels the milkman
to keep dirt out OF the milk and to
give his cows good food. The result
of this is shown in the fact that there
has been an enormous reduction In in
FAINT diseases and in the death rate Of
young children.
Then there was the "fish test" Not
many years ago wise men wrote books
to show that If fish could live In water
the water was potable. No matter how
filthy 1t might be, II sufficient oxygen
got into 1t by aeration or otherwise so
that fish could live in it the water was
fit to drink At that time we believed
epidemic typhoid fever to be vista
ton of Divine Providence In punish
ment of our many sins and to be borne
meekly and with resignation. Today
we realize fully that epidemic typhoid
fever Is trAceable solely to the ignor-
| ance or carelessness of the individual
or OF the community, and that we can
secure absolute exemption from this
class OF disease by the observance OF
well defined precautionary measures.
And no intelligent person now defends
the fish test" we understand the re-
lation Of things.
The reduction of infant mortality by
ton Of epidemic diseases through pre-
ventive measures have produced a ma
terial reduction In the general death
rate. This has led to the false conclu-
sion that the length of human life is
increasing. 1t Is not Statistics show
IN hut
point to an increase in the deaths
| after passing the age Of forty years.
| The diseases showing increase, which
are responsible for this premature
mortality, are those which have their
origin in defective metabolism (diges-
| ton and tissue renewaD such as dia-
betes, Bright's disease. arterio-scle-
rosis. apoplexy and probably cancer
and insanity.
The greatest obstacle to progress
| along this line lies In the fact that we
have not yet grasped our relation to
things. We still harbor strong be-
lief in cures" and not until they have
| been tested and weeded out by the
| slow, painful experimentation of the
whole human race extending over a
| generation or more are we willing to
admit they are useless. The reason
for this is that about eighty-fve per
cent of all cases OF illness get we'll of
their own accord, no matter what may
be done or not done for them, and
therefore any remedy, provided 1t Is
not directly harmful, which is used
with SUFFICIENT constancy in any dis
ease. will score more than sixty per
cent of cures. Hence every new rem
edy starts loaded" with a margin
OF chances in its favor, and In the alb
sence OF comprehensive and reliable
statistics to prove that more patients
who took certain remedy got well
than recovered as the result OF not
taking it, we are left up in the air /"
The truth is buried under the mislead-
ing statement that 70 to 80 per cent OF
the patients taking that particular
remedy we're cured by It, This is the
foundation Of the deluge of half truths