TALKS ON HEALTH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18547, 22 August 1928, Page 4

TALKS ON HEALTH

By A FAMILY DOCTOR

Whilst, for practical purposes, the dVision of diseases into separate groups, each with its characteristic manifestation, 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 Avhich we are liable are truly of this order. All those Avhich are due primarily to invasion by particular germs or bacteria, for instance, are essentially in line Avith fhe primitiA’e notion of disease. But there are many other disorders of the human mechanism —some slight, some of the gra\’est significance—Avhich ha\e none of this clear-cut specific etiological character. Even of a germ disease, such as diphtheria or tuberculosis, in Avhich 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 indVidual —a certain favourable condition of the soul, as it Avere —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 discoA*ery of germs as essential causative factors in certain diseases and the subsequent development of the science of bacteriology, have led to an amazing degree of control over many of the most deA’astating plagues that have afflicted our race. One after another great epidemic diseases haAe been conquered; and Ave have even at present reserA-es of knowledge Avhich are merely Avaiting for the plans of the economists and the statesmen to Vie 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 interna! degenerations—hoav looms more largely. Rheumatism. Bright’s i 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 ''Ti'Ts unlikely that, we shall be in ft position to master these disorders until we arc 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, ayc ought to rid our minds of the notion that each disl case, artificially defined and pigeon-

holed as it is, has some one specific, cause if aye could but find it out. This superstition is of the same order as ; that equally widespread and equally fallacious one that for e\-ery 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 r the * hostile outside force with those mani- : festajjons indicative of the resisting i and self-preservatVe efforts of our own : natural forces. : Many of the accompaniments of illL ness which Ave call symptoms of disease, i and do our best to counter by drugs l and other treatment, are really signs of : the AA’orking of that healing force within : us on which, ultimately, even the wisest : physician has to depend *or good re- . suits. The very process of inflamuia- [ tion is a defensive one, to be, within - reason, encouraged. Many signs and i symptoms cannot yet l>e placed with , certainty within the category of the ■ helpful or the injurious. The rise of - the temperature of the blood, Avhich so frequently accompanies bacterial in-A-asion for example, is just as likely' to facilitate the slaughter or weakening of 1 the germ’s malign activity. Wc are s equally- in doubt as to the real meaning ; of many other equally common bodily i reactions in the presence of danger.