"Good Time Coming."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13355, 3 August 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

"Good Time Coming."

EMPTY HOSPITALS AND NO MEDICINE. Sir Frederick Treves had' much that was of interest to i=ay in a recent .speech at Preston. "I am'certain it is safe to phophesy that ths time will come when hospitals for infectious diseases will be empty and not wanted," he declared. The argument of facts showed this to be inevitable, as was shown by the great success in dealing with these diseases. Very little, however, could be done by the Legislature, but everything by the progress of medical science and the intelligence of the people, and the interest they took in it. Men and women must- recognise that the saying that "■'everyone must eat a peck of dirt before lie dies:," was erroneous, and see that dirt was undesirable. Preventive msdicine was founded upon hard facts, prudence, and common-sense. The mystery of the ancient doctor, his use of long nam.*, and his extraordinary pr=.Scriptior.G weie passing away. The multitude of shelves full of bottles which surrounded the doctor were also passing away, and being replaced by simple, living, miitable diet, plenty of sun, ami plenty of fn sh air. The fii'.hl of the present day was against millions of microbes, and tho weapons w. re the sanitary regulations of municipal government, the sanitary inspector, and the medical officer of health. Tubercle at this moment wan killing 50,000 per annum, not one of whom n;ed die, for the disease was preventable. U could not be dealt v.ilh by physic, but by fresh air. sunlight, and such like. Consumption and similar diseases, could be cured by very simple method's, which would ha efficacious as soon as the education of the public on matters of this kind was of disease complete. These iM-tla..!-; -.vcro notification of di.-cas?. isolation. di>inl'oefion, and, lastly, preventive or protective

treatment. He looked forward to the time when people would leave oil" the extraordinary habit of faking medicine when they were sick. Consumption was preventable, but imuiv of th. in rem-, tnbered the lime when it was regarded as a. blight, or sunmthiug which came out of the heavens, anil the unfortunate patient was said to have fallen into a decline. Referring to thdiscoveries of the bacteriological si.ieneC and to the great results which had lieen achieved in the reduction of mortality from infections u'isrr.se, Sir Fivd.-rick said i,e looked forward to the time when it would be as anomalous for persons to die of scarlet fever, typhoid, cholera, and diphtheria as it would be • for a man lo die of a wolfs bite) in England.