NATIONAL PHYSIQUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1936, 6 February 1919, Page 4

NATIONAL PHYSIQUE.

NEED FOR MEDICAL RE SEARCH. .

Important progress in medical research is recorded in the report for last year of the British National Health Insurance Medical Research Committee. The work, in which many eminent investigators were engaged, covered a wide field, hut the manifold problems brought into existence by war conditions naturally absorbed the major part of their efforts. Commenting on one important branch of this special work, (he Committee slates: “It has only been some developments of bacteriological science, new almost within a single generation, that have defended the anni{i now engaged from a quite unimaginable loss of life. In all previous European wars, and in all wars fought elsewhere by our (roups in the past, the deaths from the infecting organisms of disease have greatly exceeded those caused by weapons of war in battle. If Ibis relation, this prcvmisly normal experience in war, had not been reversed by bacteriological science and its applications, we can find some measure to estimate, but hardly the imagination to grasp, (he volume of added suffering that would have overwhelmed Europe during these years. But happily some of the largest preventive problems had been solved in lime, and analogy, where knowledge is still wanting, has allowed further success to administrative and sanitary organisation.”

While war conditions have both justified and compelled the choice of the lines of inquiry during the past year, the Commit toe points out that the volume of avoidable suffering and economic lo>s from disease in civilian life during peace is measurable in terms of at least the same order of magnitude as that of the casualties and diseases of wav. Long familiarity tends to deaden the sense of the community to the immense toll of life and health levied by removable (muses in peace time upon our population. Therefore, the Committee looks forward eagerly lo a time when it may he free to us* 1 all its efforts for bringing the State resources put in its charge to the assistance of the workers who will thou again he engaged throughout the country in advancing medical science in general, and says:

“We wait, as all nations, for better knowledge and control of such widespread diseases as tuberculosis, pneumonia, measles, and influenza, measles, and influenza with its sequels—to name only some of the most obvious and damaging —and for further studies of the healthy body, of the early beginnings of organic- disorder, and of the best means for maintaining individual, industrial, and social health. The recent revelations of our low national standard of physique made by the telling figures now emerging from the examination and grading of- recruits by the National Service

Ministry—figures which the Prime Minister has himself described as

‘staggering’ —give fresh force to the demand for the knowledge by which alone right action can be guided.”