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become attenuated, passing through several generations and,
of course, better sanitation has had its effect. We still know
little of Diphtheria, its origin and the factors that influence
its incidence in epidemic form, but its terrors are seldom
witnessed now if the anti-toxin is injected at an early date, and
in sufficient quantity.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Consumption) and Tuberculosis
generally are gradually becoming less prevalent. By this
date all forms of Tuberculosis should have been stamped out,
if sufficient money had been expended twenty years ago.
The fact is that politicians have been slow, until lately, to
recognise that a "nation's health is a nation's wealth." The
fact that last year more than a million days were lost, among
the workers, on account of sickness alone, is sufficient evidence
of the need for an even greater expenditure in the cause of
Public Health. What Sir George Newman says is true—
Public Health is purchasable and the cost must be paid by
Parliament, that is, by the State.
One of the most pronounced changes in Public Health
in recent years is in the lessening of Rickets, owing to better
and more scientific feeding of infants. It is by no means a
common experience now, as formerly, to see a markedly
typical instance of this disease.
Chronic Alcoholism is undoubtedly less than in former
days, and drunkenness in our streets is now far from common,
but doctors and lawyers and the clergy are still often made
aware of the ruin of homes and the misery produced by the
excessive use of alcohol. What really surprises one is the
fact that quite a large percentage of young men, potential
fathers of the race, in these more enlightened days, are still
willing to indulge too freely in drink before marriage, and during
the child-bearing period of their wives. Fortunately the
women usually save the situation, but this is by no means
always the case, and in a long experience, in the absence of
other Itaint, a doctor knows that the unexpected appearance
of insanity, asthma, bronchitis, epilepsy and many nerve
and asthenic conditions, in the next and succeeding generations,
are directly and solely traceable in this cause.
However, in spite of all that can be advanced against the
abuse of alcohol there can be no doubt that excess in feeding
is responsible for far more invalidism is the form of gastric
troubles, and general functional disorders, but even these