425 



Coniosis should bi> looked upon as a reaction to an abnormal envirou- 

 nieut, rather than as a disease.^ It manifests itself by a variety of symp- 

 toms all more or less modifiable by the use of drugs, mainly by masking 

 them. Although incurable it is readily preventable. 



Coniosis is most prevalent during the closed door season when clean 

 or pure air is at a minimum. It may occur in epidemic form in winter, 

 at times of a thaw when sidewalk filth is tracked indoors and pulverized 

 under foot, as by sboiJiiers. It may also occur in epidemic form at times 

 of higli winds, when street filth is blown about, as on the approach of 

 spring, when nearly eveiybotly complains more or less — and many think 

 they need a "spring tonic." , 



Coniosis is prevalent among people in all walks of life. Among poor 

 people to whom life means a constant struggle for existence there is an 

 early and constant weeding out on account of the apijearance of well- 

 defined diseases that kill. Among the well-tf>do many reach old age be- 

 cause they are careful but there is more or less constant complaint of ill 

 health. Coniosis is not incompatible with long life, that is in those who 

 are prudent. The attitude of the poor man, and of those who are heed- 

 less, is shown by the old observation of Plato : 



"When a carpenter is ill . . . he expects to receive a draught from 

 his doctor, that will expel the disease by vomiting or purging, or el.se to 

 get rid of it by cauterizing, or a surgical operation ; but if any one were 

 to prescribe to him a long course of diet, and to order bandages for his 

 head, with other treatment to correspond, he would soon tell such a med- 

 ical adviser that he had no time to be ill, and that it was not worth his 

 while to live in this way, devoting his mind to his malady, and neglecting 

 his proper occupation : and then wishing the physician a good morning, 

 he would enter upon his usual course of life, and either regain his health 

 and live in the performance of his business; or, should his constitution 

 prove unable to bear up, death puts an end to his troubles." 



What the carpenter needs, what the workman needs, is a knowledge of 

 the influence of environment, and a l^nowledge of the limitations of the 

 physician in curing ill health and diseases. Much ill health is incurable 



1 The term disease is really an objectionable one because many people at once 

 think of a "cure." The patent medicine man keeps alive the old belief that there 

 is a cure for every disease. To simple people all things are simple. As a matter 

 of fact the "diseases" of the patent medicine man are mostly symptoms. Many 

 people still have an idea that a disease can be "knocked out" or "killed." 



