BIOLOGY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS 



cultivate fields at first sight apparently remote from health 

 subjects. Existing research institutions of the governments 

 — municipal, state, and Federal — should be encouraged 

 and supported, as should those of educational and volun- 

 tary health organizations. 



The health official cannot fail to feel the need of a greater 

 knowledge and understanding of the public whom he is 

 striving to protect against disease and help toward a more 

 healthful life. Perhaps this is especially difficult to come 

 by in America, where populations are so often heterogene- 

 ous as regards race, social and economic status, tradition, 

 and other pertinent factors. He should also be keen to 

 make known to his public what he is doing and planning 

 to do in their behalf. He will often find, however, that the 

 greater part of the population is unprepared, by reason 

 of its lack of training and experience, to comprehend just 

 what he is driving at. He will look forward to the time 

 when popular education has habituated a considerable 

 portion of the people to a scientifically oriented manner 

 of thought, so that what he has to propound will be readily 

 and convincingly assimilated. 



A health worker of long experience will remember 

 almost with wonder the expansion in the scope of health 

 work within the period of his service, and be prepared for 

 a similar broadening of conception in the future. To this 

 end he will appreciate the need for the perfection and ex- 

 pansion of organization in order to deal effectively with 

 new problems. He will realize the need for increasing 

 support of his efforts, both financial and moral, and will 

 cultivate more assiduously than ever the opportunities for 

 cooperation with his co-workers in the public health 

 field, and with all legitimate agencies which may need or 

 offer a helping hand. 



And yet, he will sometimes look into the future with a 

 hope mingled with misgivings. His hope is based upon 



[270] 



