TALKS ON HEALTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1928, Page 3

TALKS ON HEALTH

BY A FAMILY DOCTOR.

Whilst, for practical purposes, the division of diseases into separate groups, each with its characteristic manifestations, is almost essential, it has many drawbacks. For one thing, it has helped to perpetuate the notion that diseases are so many separate entities, or demoniac enemies, calling for specific exorcisms. Now, a certain number of the diseases to which we are liable are truly of this order. All those which are due primarily to invasion by particular germs or bacteria, for instance, are essentially in line with the primitive notion of disease. But there are many other disorders of the human mechanism some slight, some of the gravest significance —which have none of this clear-cut specific etiological character. Even of a germ disease, such as diphtheria. or tuberculosis, in which the morbid changes characteristic of the disease do not occur apart from the specific bacillus, that bacillus cannot be said to be the sole and only cause. A certain receptiveness on the part of the individual —a certain favourable condition of the soul, as it were -is also a sine qua non. In those other diseases I am thinking of the internal bodily conditions figure much more largely among the causative factors. The Subjection of Diseases.

The discovery of germs as essential causative factors in certain diseases and the subsequent development of science of bacteriology, have led to an amazing’ degree of control over many of the most devastating plagues that x have afflicted our race. One after another great epidemic diseases have been conquered; and we have even at present reserves of knowledge which are merely waiting for the plans of the economists and the statesmen to be applied to the still further amelioration of man’s lot. As so many ,of the fevers and other ancient enemies have been brought into subjection, it is perhaps not unnatural that the other group of diseases, those having their origin in internal degenerations —now looms more largely. Rheumatism,' Bright’s disease, degeneration of the heart muscle, and cancer itself (though, any one of them may prove to be related to the activity of a specific germ) appear at present to be due to quite other causes. It is unlikely that we shall be in a position-to master these disorders until we are familiar with the causes — including the minute cellular precedent circumstances —that lead up to them. Mere lucky guesses, in this department of knowledge, happen but once in many centuries. Meanwhile, we ought to rid our minds of the notion that each disease, artificially defined and pigeon-holed as it is, has some one specific cause if we could but find it out. This superstition is of the same order as that equally widespread and equally fallacious one that for every disease there is a specific cure somewhere to be found.

The Healing Force.

The naming and defining of diseases have been hopelessly muddled through the confusing of the direct injuries caused to our bodily structures by. the hostile outside force with those manifestations indicative of the resisting and self-preservative efforts of our own natural frees.

Many of the accompaniments of illness which we call symptoms of disease, and do our best to counter by drugs and other treatment, are really signs of the working of that healing force within us on which, ultimately, even the wisest physician has to depend for good results. The very process of inflammation is a defensive one to be, within reason, encouraged. Many signs and symptoms cannot yet be placed with certainty within the category of the helpful or the injurious. The rise of the temperature of the blood, which so frequently accompanies bacterial invasion for example, is just as likely to facilitate the slaugh ter or weakening of the germ’s malign activity. We are equally in doubt as to the real meaning of many other equally common bodily reactions in the presence of danger.