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know how to behave in varying circumstances, others do not; some men
find truth and strive to live by it, others do not. 'Ignorance,' it has
been well said, 'is the great human curse.' "
If, then, ignorance is the great human curse, with disastrous results
for mind and body, the duty of making knowledge accessible to and
understandable by all is of first importance, and is being rightly urged by
medical men and laymen. Sir Arthur Newsholme, in his valuable book,
"Medicine and the State," tells his readers: "Personal hygiene has
secured triumphs over disease in the individual as striking as those previously
attained by measures of environmental hygiene affecting the health
of the aggregate of mankind.'' Lord Horder has said that the condition
of vague ill-health was often due to preventible causes, which could be
dealt with by concentration on education work; in matters of hygiene,
and in the general prevention of ill-health, education was far more
important than legislation. From practical knowledge of the campaign
against ignorance the Poplar Public Health Authority may well stress
the truth of this point of view, and it is to be congratulated on both its
wisdom and imagination in promoting good health by laying the foundations
of knowledge.
As one who has been able to have a small share in this work of
education, I would point out that the work has grown beyond a grateful
appreciation of knowledge made available; it has now developed into a
warm and friendly relationship between all kinds of gatherings of men and
women and those who have the privilege of teaching them. What this
means, not only for the dissemination of sound knowledge concerning
health and disease, but for the building-up of a wholesome esprit de corps
in personal relationships between a Public Authority and those whom it
seeks to serve, there is no need for me to make clear, for it must be
obvious to all. Much more remains to be done, but what has been done
so far has more than indicated the confidence of those who, seeing the
most urgent need, set themselves to meet it.
Eighty-eight lectures have been arranged to be given at 14 centres
and 76 lectures have been given up to time of writing this report. Again
and again, members of audiences have expressed their appreciation of the
opportunity, which has been provided by our Health Authority, of learning
more about these vital matters, and wished that such knowledge had
been theirs years ago.