Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-18
GREENEVIL.LE
Rev. c. H. Ricketts Speaks on Epi- den1ics-Need of Epidemic of Church Going-Notes and Bits of Personal News.

At the Greeneville Congregational church Sunday mornig Rev. c. H. Rickctts spoke on E1pidemics, and the text was taken from the Acts 12: 24. The following is part Of the address:
 The word epidemic means spreading out or abroad; it is any influence that starts from q common center, or from numerous centers, and, in so doing, attacks people in the mass, so as to make it common among them. There is nothing in the word itself to indicate the origin, duration and effect of an epidemic: it simply describes the mode of its operation.
 As commonly used the word is as- eociated with certain diseases which have tendency to start new centers of activity when they fall on con- genial soil modified by tHe age and general condition of the victim. There is nothing, however, in the meaning of the word itself to limit it to physical disease. Any force that tends to re- produce itself under given conditions and is common in a community may properly be said to run as an cpl demic.
 Most epidemic diseases rage through contagion; that it. they spread by one person coming into contact with an other. Some of the most dreaded dis eases belong to this class. Infantile paralysis that has struck it's cruel
 
 children probably belongs to this class, although this is questioned. But sure iy diphtheria, scarlet fever and small pOX are among the terribly contagious diseases.
 Epidemics may also rage where the human body does not act as a common carrier. Such diseases are said to be infectious or nOn-cOnta2ious. Typhoid fever is apt to run as an epidemic but Is not contagious. A community may be smitten with this fell disease be- cause infected iron: some common source. It may be tainted water from a common well, milk from single farm, or meat from a certain market
 Gossip Moral Pestitenoe. We do not strain the meaning of the word epidemic by giving it a far wider 1 range of application than mere refer ence to physical disease. The latter runs parallel to every form of moral wrorg that inevitably points to moral disaster that is both infectious and contagious. Moral disorders have their | periodic outbreaks and aGiict whole communities just as truly as the measles and whooping cough. Is there | a hamlet so small that it can boast Of 0 single drunk No, for men get drunk in punches and booze rages as an epi- demic. They also tell lies in squads, for a solitary liar is as rare as a soli- | tary case of smallpox. Gossip belongs to the same family of moral pestilence and is common to all communities like mosquitoes. All gossip like all Gaul is divided into three parts-meanness cowardice and imbecility. It runs as an epidemic because it reproduces as rapidly as vernlin. Scandal is another foul vulture that does not hesitate to claw away at the notoriety of the rich as well as the obscurity of the poor. But thank God, she isn't at it all the time--iIf the same community Crime spreads over the land in waves, for jails, like pesthouses, are sometimes filled to overflowing, and at other times are empty.
 Why don't we fight the moral epi