Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-01-08
IMAGINING DISEASE.

Just now the attention OF the coun-
Try il largely conferred on the pre-
ventlon OF disease, which Is well for
the mass Of humanity, but which may
center public attention too much on
aches and pains and symptoms Man
iH endowed with an imagination,
which while one u the most beneficial
and plcaHurabo attributes OF the
mind, is. at the same time, one Of the
most easily abused and capable Of doc
ing great harm
II Is well known that medical stu
dents usually have symptoms Of the
disease they are studying as they 80
through college. The greatest nu-
thorlty on dieting was a glutton and
weighed more than three hundred
pounds. The recognized authority In
the United states on cancer died from
that malignant growth only q few
days ago, Examples could be multi
piled indefinitely
The tendency Of today Is for peo-
pie 10 he too careful about Them
selves. They can wcll afford 10 be
careful about sanitation and plenty Of
fresh air and preventive measures
against CONTAGIOUS ana infectious dis
eases. but they might be o little less
thoughtful Of symptoms Pluto, 10
his Republic, puts it thus.
Attention 10 personal health Is one
Of the greatest hindrancob to 4 uses
ful life, It fills ua with exaggerated
anxieties over swimminRs Ia the head,
twingos to tho limbs. leading ua TO at
tribute them "a ovefNnrk Ia our stud
les, or other business. until at last our
habituni ynleludlnarianim becomes Il
great stumbling block 70 q manly and
meFitoflons lfe'
We see daily proofs that i careless
and reasonably merry NE ~ not noces.
sarily q short one and that the man
or woman who rs constantly taking
medicine and watching Tor symptoms
% III health usually leads useless
80" anu tttAttN a tHHH Nit'f
on the other hand, there cannot he
too much attention given to proyen-
ton The ml but complete abolition
Of smallpox ana typhoid is so famtl-
iar "a story thai the few cases that oe-
cur are generally recognized as the
result o. pure neglect
Every step IA the advance N med
ical science increases the number Of
diseased prcAcniablo by private care
OF public compulsiou Dlphtherla
has been In that class for some years
Experience in the army, where dis
cipiine can make protection complete,
las placed typhoid fever definitely IN
the laetettablc group Science a.
slowly conQuorne tuberculosis and
can reduce trachoma as FAR as Il can
control the conlaglon.
Success Is possible In none Of thes,
diseases without lay and scientific co.
operation for meeting an the condl.
tons whether vaccination. anu-toxu
or Isolation OF tho eontaglon ii the RI.
uuirHmcut And an of these prevent
i've measures are better accomplished
without the individual having his min,
fixed ON some symptom 81 his own
In fact Il BE- well not TO discuss
aches and pains fhoy are bore /,
other people ana depressing 10 the Vie
tim of them Particularly Is it unwlai
20 rehcnrae M, history Of an the dis
cases one has heard Of or observed
Not long ago Young married wom
on ~ this ciiy WIS 10 become n moth
az Tor ne ffsl Time A Woman wilt
was grandmother. and should hay
had better SENSE, called on her ant
told her If 900 the cases q death b
child hnth OF which she ever ha
heard probably imontins feW 70
good measure
There IS no LAW against such hurt
fal fooilshuese AND none can be place
on the statute hHuks boz there 40
laws against thousands ~ things los
injurious 10 thc human race