39 



the back prodoininjites, we boar the words "l)ackache,"' or "lumbago" or 

 •'rheumatisui." or even "disease of the kidneys." 



One of the peculiarities of the human mind is that tlu' moment a name 

 is given to a thing, to a phenomenon or even a sensation, it is, by many 

 men at least, regarded as a something definite, as an entity. This is es- 

 pecially true in the case of abnormal conditions of the human body. The 

 average man does not regard an ailment simply as a warning from na- 

 ture that something Is wrong and that means should be taken to correct 

 the condition— by removing the cause, but he regards It as an entity that 

 should or must be overcome by an antagonist, an antidote, or In other 

 words a "medicine." Hence a pain calls for a "pain killer" and a cough 

 for a "cough cure." That chronic ill-health and disease may result 

 from such a course is well known to medical men, and that Is why they 

 say the more patent medicines the people tise the more work there is 

 for the doctors. 



With the active cause constantly present, that is infective dust, there 

 are of course many cases of ill-health. Minor ailments make up the 

 great mass of daily complaints of ill-health. There may be simple mal- 

 aise or lassitude, or well defined aches and pains for which we are 

 not able to account and take them as a matter of course. The relationship 

 between a ride on a dusty street car on the way down town or the con- 

 finement to an illy-ventilated, dusty room or an exposure to clouds of 

 street dust, to a subsequent attack of running nose or feverlshness, 

 wandering pains and aches or headache or biliousness or loss of appetite, 

 is seldom considered. People have to have their attention called to these 

 things and led to realize that a polluted atmosphere means ill-health and 

 may lead to a well-defined disease. 



The Patent Medicine Habit: When a man feels bad he of course 

 wants something to make him feel good or well. Simple means, such as 

 quiet, rest, fasting, good air, may be all that Is needed for a day or 

 two to enable nature to bring about a normal condition. But few persons 

 pursue such a course: It is easier to stop in at the drug store and call 

 for one of those widely advertised nostrums guaranteed to "kill the pain" 

 or "stop the cough." Repeated and increased doses may be required, 

 but that does not matter so long as relief follows, and no serious thought 

 is given the matter until nature rebels and a serious disease is the result. 

 Pain in nearly every case is simply a warning that something is wrong. 



