MAKING AN A1 NATION.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 148, 2 September 1926, Page 2

MAKING AN A 1 NATION.

MEDICINE TO PREVENT DISEASE 1 ‘ The first duty of medicine is not to cure disease but to prevent it,” declares Sir George Newman, chief medical officer of the British Ministry of Healthy in his memorandum, “An Outline of the Practice of Preventive Medicine. ” As the result of what has already been done, Sir George says 11 apart from war, man is becoming (in co-operatiou with his fellows) master of his fate/ 7 But he also says: We cannot forget, too, that in this relatively enlightened age it is esti- . mated. . . .that 100,006 persons died of influenza % in England and Wales alone in 1918, that a million children of school age are unable to derive reasonable benefit from the education the State provides, and that a million recruits were found to be unfit for effective enlistment. The problem before us is thus partly a problem of the defeat of “the captains of the men of death” and partly a problem of husbanding and strengthening the normal physique of the people as a Yvhole in order that life may be happier, more satisfying and more productive. Coming to the ‘ ‘present problem/' he says: We have an immense body of knowledge and experience, new and old, on the one hand, and vast effort and desiro to apply it' on the other; but there is lack of correlation of the knowledge and there is lack of appreciation of the precise' problems to be solved and of the ways and means by which they may bo faced. . Good Milk. Sir George deals at length with the broad lines, of reform and makes special reference to matters to which the press has repeatedly called nttenfion—the necessity for an unpolluted water and food supply. He says with regard to the former, “ Happily I'thore'. is now widespread recognition of Hhas -primary public health requirement.With. regard io food, he asserts —particularly referring to milk: Broadly the solution here, as elsewhere, is to be found in (1) more effective laws and regulations; (2) a firmer administration in every areaj (3) the education of trie public; and (4) .realisation by trie tiade that good an cl. careful milk production and distribution is profitable business. ..... Again, the whole business of the meat supply calls for supervision. Public abattoirs, thorough and uniform meat inspection, and the control of imported meatfearfe necessary steps. The memorandum also deals with the necessity for an adequate medical service, and in connection with local modi-