Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1915-02-19
Copyright. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
DIAGNOSIS.

difficult matter to secure the facts
concerning any given subject; but 1t
is. Much data is available but we
have come to distrust it because we
know 80 many investigate not to
ascertain the truth, but merely to win
point for some particular theory.
just as some lawyers strive only to
win cases, not to secure justice; some
doctors to cure" diseases, not to pre-
vent sickness; some ministers to gain
church attendance, not to secure
wholesome practical morality in the
home and in the place of business.
The fault undoubtedly lies in our edu-
cational system. What the world
wants to know is, what Is known, not
what is thought, and 1t is not getting
what 1t wants and needs. In conse-
quence we are continually being called
on to decide momentous questions in
volving our lives without possessing
adequate information concerning tho
fundamental facts. How fit Is the
average sick man to decide what shall
be done? And yet the burden OF that
decision usually rests on him.
There are two methods Of education.
the natural and the artificial. BY the
natural method one observes particu-
lar facts and forms therefrom general
ideas. BY the artificial method one
acquires a vast store Of general ideas
through hearing or reading what other
people have observed and think. Tho
first method is very reliable but very
slow. The second method, the one on
which most of US depend for our ad.
vancement, is rapid but very unrelia-
BILE unless we are extremely careful
in selecting the source Of our informa-
ton. This explains why 1t SO fre-
quently happens that after a long
course Of learning we enter real life
either with an almost artless igno-
rance Of many important things or
with wrong and often distorted and
unwholesome ideas about them. We
were either misinformed, or were not
instructed at all, and must learn in
the school Of bitter experience what
we might easily have been taught.
We must go to those competent to
speak with the authority OF expert
ence for our knowledge, or work It
out each for himself. A very casual
consideration Of the subject will show
It to be quite impossible that We
search out the truth each for himself;
therefore, for our knowledge we must
go to those who by reason of training
and experience are qualified to speak
with authority. And even to make
such selection requires good judgment
and no small degree OF training under
existing conditions, because matters in
, general are too often questions OF
, opinion.
No progress has ever been made in
any science until three things have
been discovered: determined units;
measured units; devices for measure
, ment. These three requirements are
, comprehensively covered by our GEN.
sus enumeration, birth and mortality
, tables, when efficiently handled. And
. until this data is efficiently handled
! disease will continue to be a matter
!, Of opinion, whim and dogma, and the
4 sick to be subjects for exploitation
and rich material for the personal
aggrandizement Of the most incompe-
tent, because the most incompetent in
, their ignorance make the boldest and
most attractive claims.
/, The first step in the study OF dis
: = ease prevention is to have known
: base-and an accurate registration of
: births is scarcely to be found in the
. United States, and rs OF our As states
s do not require registration Of deaths!
= In place Of As distinct bodies having
= Jurisdiction over birth, accident and
!. mortality returns there should be one.
What we need In this country is a
!, well trained central body, free from
the paralyzing effects Of pecuniary
embarrassment and its temptations
possessed Of minds big enough, broad
enough and keen enough to see and
a to grasp the really few fundamental
principles Of life; with authority to
, reach over and beyond state, county
20 Dt
- Ing freed from the blighting influence
10 Of local prejudice and self.interest;
y with powers specifically limited &c
y ascertaining the facts, tabulatinl
"A these facts and giving the tabulatet
results and the conclusions to be de
duced therefrom the widest publicity
and further, body authorized to act
"A In an advisory capacity to any com
4, munity on request or to voluntarily
=, publicly recommend action along def
a mite lines where conditions warran
M and make such publicity necessary.
" Such an organization would com
mand the confidence and respect OF al
sane citizens and enable the United
r. States quickly to take her plac,
N among the civilized nations OF th,
a, world In the prevention OF avoidabl,
ar disease-because we are too sane
,d people to pursue fads and fancies 4
shown that they mean premature OF
tinction.