BIOLOGY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS 



as well as on the problem of the incidence of cancer; and 

 with the advances which these studies are bound to make 

 there is every reason to suppose that we shall soon be able 

 to deal with pathological conditions that are incurable 

 and fatal in our present state of knowledge. For this we 

 shall have to thank not only medical and surgical science, 

 but also the zoological research which is fundamental 

 to the success of clinical practice. 



Ill 



We have agreed that wealth is the second factor in human 

 welfare, not as measured in millions, perhaps, but at least 

 as represented in sufficient property and income to maintain 

 us in reasonable comfort and to provide us with the 

 opportunities and things that seem reasonably desirable. 

 Many animals are of interest to us from this point of view; 

 they destroy things we want, or they furnish things we 

 can use. Now, economic zoology is the study of such 

 animals, and it is not purely a matter of economics proper, 

 because the effort to foster beneficial species and to destroy 

 those which are injurious involves researches essentially 

 zoological. The habits, life histories, physiology, classi- 

 fication, and distribution of economically important species 

 must be known before practical measures can be formulated. 



All civilized governments recognize the value of eco- 

 nomic zoology and maintain more or less elaborate depart- 

 ments for its pursuit. Politicians come and go, but the 

 scientists (who often fall temporarily under their dubious 

 direction) remain, slowly advancing their laboratory, 

 museum, and field work and contributing, after their 

 fashion, to whatever measure of prosperity the country 

 may enjoy under varying administrations. It is well for 

 the public to realize this essential continuity underlying 

 political change, and it would be to the people's interest 



[304] 



