THE OUTLOOK OF PUBLIC HEALTH WORK 



the demonstrated efficacy of the method of attack upon 

 disease to which he has definitely committed himself. 

 His misgivings may arise chiefly from doubts as to the 

 direction in which his public is going. If it be upward 

 further into the light which reason and science are shedding 

 upon human affairs, he feels that his profession can make 

 relatively short work of the worst features of disease 

 prevalence. If the race is preparing for a retreat back into 

 the unprofitable realms of outworn tradition, bigotry, 

 unreasoning emotionalism, and mysticism, from which 

 it had begun to emerge, the health worker may well feel 

 that his efforts are not worth the trouble which they un- 

 doubtedly cost him. 



When one recalls the wonderful advances which have 

 been made within our own generation, there is every 

 reason for an optimistic outlook for the future. In my 

 opinion the progress of public health along logical lines 

 depends largely upon the intelligent assistance and guid- 

 ance to the movement from the medical and allied 

 professions. 



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