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45
We are not surprised that the President of the British Medical Association,
Dr. W. G. Willoughby, in a review of the causes of ill-health and the
steps being taken to acquire new knowledge, should point out, with
reference to this recent research: "The application of such discoveries
by those whose duty it should be to look after the health of the persons
concerned would result in a very large reduction in the suffering of children
and in the subsequent defects of adults. It would be preventive medicine
in its best form, incomparably better than treating these ailments in
clinics.''
It is obvious that the greatest factor in prevention is education,
but education will be slow so long as there is lacking a positive enthusiasm
for it. When every parent and teacher becomes convinced that it is much
more valuable for a child to be taught something of the working of his
own body, and of the laws through which the body can be kept in health and
efficiency, than to memorise the dates of the Kings of England a great
step forward will have been taken.
It is the recognition of this fact which has wisely led the Public
Health Committee to offer free lectures on various aspects of health and
disease to any group, which is sensible enough to arrange to have them.
I venture to think that there is no public authority in our country
which offers a better and wider selection of subjects, upon which information
and advice are given, than that of Poplar, and the Public Health
Committee may well take a legitimate pride in knowing that it is definitely
leading a movement towards better health, the importance of which is
being increasingly recognised both by experts and by the public.
"In dealing with living creatures and with himself," says a wellknown
biologist, "it is temptingly easy for men to muddle along."
The days when men could be content to muddle along are rapidly passing,
for muddle breeds muddle. Knowledge and foresight mean power.
It is surely significant that in the great majority of cases in which
lectures have been given the appreciation of the audience has shown itself
in the request for more. This is a piece of work which should enlist the
most cordial co-operation of all those who care for the well-being, not
only of to-day, but of tomorrow.