UNSOLVED PROBLEMS

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 6, 23 January 1903, Page 2

UNSOLVED PROBLEMS

MEDICINE.

The unsolved problems of medicine arc merely waiting their turns for solution, After the discovery of ether, chloroform, the Kontgcn rays, aseptic surgery aiul microbes, anything and everything seems possible. The microbes of cancer, scarlet fever, small-pox, and measles arc yet to be discovered. But in laboratories all over the world thousands arc working to-day in their pursuit. It is safe to predict that soon they will bo discovered and classified and become a part of the certain knowledge of medicine, as much as now the microbes of tuberculosis or diphtheria.

CURING THE INCURABLE. The promises of the future lie in the ftcaomprishmont of the past. Great progress has been made in curing diseases that a few years ago were looked upon as hopeless ; and the efforts of medical men to-day are devoted to the study of those maladies which are still classed as incurable. Probably the disease that has baffled study and research in the line of bacteriology more than any other is cancer. No microbe or parasite has been discovered in that disease, although countless observations have been made. Perhaps when the organism is discovered the cure, perhaps in the nature of a serum, will suggest itself, and cancer, alter so long withstanding his efforts will yield to man’s persevering research. It is possible too, t hat Ihe blood tests now being used in typhoid and malaria may be utilised. There remains much yet to bo learned of the maladies of diabetes and Bright’s disease, which also rank among the less curable of prevalent affections. The prospects of curing consumption are exceedingly promising, improved hygienic conditions, light, air, and exercise will doubtless do much to control it and lower the death rate from that disease —now 10 per cent, of the entire mortality. Among the unsolved problems one should record heart-disease, in the treatment of which there is great room for improvement. The heart never stops for repairs, and the dit(iculty in treating diseases of that organ can be easily appreciated. Insanity is another of the problems The chances are that the cure of insanity will 1)e greatly helped by a more thorough study of pathological damage of the brain substance. This method will explain many morbid conditions which are still unexplained and open a way for new treatment. t he treatment of epidemics is still a problem, but that it has already been partially solved is evidenced by the comparative rareness of widespread pestilence in modern times. In the future treatment will bo wholesale, rather than detailed ; general rather than individual. This is in keeping with the demands of a growing civilization. The medical profession will do its greatest good for humanity in the way of preventing disease. Prevention of disease is perhaps, more important than the discovery of new cures. Much may bo done in this matter by the education of the people. But the problems before medicine to-day are well defined, and tiio students of them are working along lilies that must in time bring the desired results. No longer do medical men work blindly, experimenting in the hope of achieving results. Medicine has come to he as nearly an exact science as controlling natural conditions will admit. Bacteriology, of such recent development lias shown us the cause of many diseases—microbes, Tiio.se not yet discovered will be in time, and once the cause of a disease is accurately known the possibility of euro becomes proportionately more promising. The strong tendency of medical opinion is in the direction of vaccination methods in the treatment of diseases. The observations made in typhoid fever, pneumonia, and yellow fever are of incalculable importance, although the beneficial results of those methods have not been as yet absolutely verified.

UONTGEN RAYS WILL HELP. The Rontgen ray will do much to develop the resources of medicine in certain directions, especially in accidents of fractures and gunshot wounds. It is not improbable that by moans of these rays wo shall bo able to see tumours, cavities and growths, and, perhaps diagnose tumours of the brain, although this last is hardly probable under present conditions. Thus, it may be seen that, although there are problems in medicine yet unsolved, we have discovered many of the means, and are led to predict their solution with conlidencc. When such a hope is consummated medicine will become more than ever the ministoring angel to suffering and pain. The alloted time of man's life may bo lengthened, and because of these advances and because people will be educated to follow the rules medical science lays down, the average number of years of man's earthly existence will doubtless be greatly increased and his stay here on earth made freer from the pain that comes with disease.—" Science Siftings."