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to bear in adopting the best and wisest means for
preventing the spread and extension of the disease.
Unfortunately, so large an amount of ignorance
and prejudice with regard to the nature of these
diseases exist amongst the people, that frequently
a great deal of mischief is done before the
Medical Officer is acquainted with the existence of
disease at all. A vast amount of disease and
premature death might be prevented if children
were taught at school something of the nature and
functions of their bodies. This knowledge which
certainly is the most essential of all the branches of
instruction that can be given to the human mind is
almost entirely neglected in our schools. The
consequence is that children as they grow up
become the victims of the wildest delusions with
regard to the nature of disease, and are frequently
found acting in direct opposition to those laws by
which disease and death can be prevented. The
greatest allies that the Medical Officer of Health
can have in a community are those who have some
knowledge of the Divine laws by which the Creator
maintains the health and life of a human body.