358 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



17 to 19 per thousand. I will not burden you with further statistics, 

 but will simply say that even more notable results have been obtained 

 in many parts of the civilized world as a result of increased knowledge 

 and improved methods for the prevention of infectious diseases and the 

 general improvement in hygienic conditions. 



The time at my disposal only permits of a brief general survey of 

 the field which comes within the purview of the department of pre- 

 ventive medicine of the Washington Post-Graduate Medical School. It 

 will be our aim during the course to give detailed information and 

 practical laboratory instruction upon all the more important subjects 

 connected with this branch of medicine. This will be apparent to those 

 who have read our 'circular of information' with reference to the 

 course of instruction. This includes personal and municipal hygiene, 

 a practical knowledge of sanitary chemistry, including food adultera- 

 tions and pathogenic bacteria, of animal parasites injurious to man, 

 of preventive inoculations, of disinfection, of military and naval 

 hygiene, of national and international quarantine, etc. Fortunately 

 we have among our professors, experts upon all of these subjects and we 

 believe that the city of Washington offers unequaled facilities for a 

 comprehensive and scientific course of instruction in preventive medi- 

 cine. Such a course as would seem best fitting for preparing graduates 

 in medicine for the responsible duties of health officers in the towns 

 and cities throughout the United States, and as is essential for medical 

 officers in the various branches of the public service. But, while we 

 have many special advantages for giving a comprehensive and practical 

 course in the department of preventive medicine, it must not be thought 

 that clinical medicine and surgery are to be neglected. On the con- 

 trary, we have ample advantages for clinical instruction in the various 

 hospitals of the city and a corps of competent and experienced pro- 

 fessors who are prepared to give practical instruction in all branches 

 of medicine and surgery. Those physicians who enroll themselves as 

 students in the Washington Post-Graduate Medical School and faith- 

 fully follow the course of instruction which is open to them, can not fail 

 to return to their professional work with broader and more exact infor- 

 mation on many subjects relating to scientific medicine, with increased 

 skill in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and with greater 

 confidence in the resources of the noble profession to which they have 

 devoted their lives. 



