PREVENTION OF DISEASE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 272, 11 August 1921, Page 8

PREVENTION OF DISEASE

LECTURE BY DR. HERBERT.

' At a largely attended meeting, which was held ?n the Red Cross Hall in Dixon Street last evening, Dr. Herbert gave a lecture in connection with the peacetime work of the Rod Cross and Order of St John, entitled "Ihe Prevention of Disease.” The chair was taken by Mr. Caughley .of Education) and Dr. Collins was also upon the platform. Dr. Herbert said that the war had demonstrated the practical scope of preventive measures in conpeotion with disease and for the first time in history deaths in casualty had exceeded deaths by disease, which constituted a triumph for preventive measures. Discipline and education helped file medical officers to perform the wonders they did under war conditions, and factors he was sure could bo brought into the service of preventive measures in time of peace. Dr. Herbert showed an interesting chart in which were set out the four principal causes of death registered in 1917. The highest mortality rate was that of death by accident, in which drowning figured very highly. For the years 1917-18-19 the number of deaths by drowning was 5G2, excluding those who took their own lives in this way. To combat this mortality he strongly advocated jblio learning of swimming, which, apart from any other saving grace, was one of the healthiest of exercises. He was glad that it was made practically compulsory in the schools, and he considered that the authorities, municipal and otherwise, should do everything to forward swimming. Tuberculosis was also highly placed on the chart. It was a very slow and insidious disease and was extremely common. It was, however, eminently curable, particularly in its early stages, and many people had recovered from it without knowing that they had had it. Cancer was one of tho most common causes of death to-day. Until its cause were found out, prevention must always be difficult. There was, however, no reason why we should do nothing. It had been suggested some time ago that it bo made a notifiable disease, but the opinion had been held here mistakenly, so he thought—that as the medical authorities in London were doing all in their power to find out the cause wo could do nothing. In his opinion, something might bo done to get at the cause by studying the habits of those who died from cancer bore and comparing them with the habits of those who died from it in other countries. Dr. Herbert explained at some length tho functions of tho various internal secretory glands of the body and their bearing upon the health or lack of health of the body, and more particularly of their work at various stages of tho body’s The great question to be considered was how tho efficiency of these glands could bo increased. There were three influences which affected the stability of the individual—the school, chronic exc&ssivo alcoholism apd syphilis. He believed the schools would bo tho place where the foundations of sound health would be laid, and ho did not think the public realised the value of the school medical inspection work. If wo could not afford to improve the hospitals, wo could surely support and further this work, which would do much to make hospitals unnecessary. The effects of alcoholism were described, and the speaker recommended outdoor worX, on farms preferably, 'rather than sending sufferers to hospitals. Tho effects of syphilis, mental and physical, were traced, and the lecturer urged that neither prejudice nor indifference should allow it to exert its baneful effect upon the community. In conclusion Dr. Herbert said that tho forces making for health should be martialled in an orderly manner Upon the leadership given by tho Public Health Department depended success or failure. The medical practitioners must be organised and th*ir co-operation sought as well as that of the general public. Once the latter was educated to know in what way tliqy could further the general health ’h(j was sure they would respond.