PREVENTIVE MEDICINE—BOYD 517 
In a general way our problem of disease prevention has two as- 
pects, namely curative and prophylactic. 
The curative aspect is primarily the problem of the practicing 
physician and when effectively solved will be manifested by a 
lowered case mortality. The physician will be assisted in its 
solution by the development of methods and the provision of 
facilities for the making of prompt diagnoses and the develop- 
ment and application of specific therapeutic measures. ‘This aspect 
is clearly a problem of the practicing physician in his relation to 
the individual requiring his services. 
On the other hand the prophylactic aspect can only give satis- 
factory results when an entire social unit, such as any community, 
takes cognizance of its problem and attacks it with all the re- 
sources at its collective command. For this purpose our social and 
political units have delegated power and authority to certain officials 
for the protection of the public health. The problem confronting 
the officials relates particularly to a reduction in the number of 
cases of preventable diseases in the population under their care. 
They are not. professionally interested in disease from the indi- 
vidualistic standpoint of the physician. The degree of success 
achieved by these officials will be directly in proportion to the 
degree in which they educate their public in the principles they are 
trying to apply. Without the cooperation of the medical profes- 
sion and the laity, health authorities will accomplish very little 
effective work. : 
In general the field of public health work may be said to have 
the following scope: 
(a) Improved personal hygiene of all individuals, including 
better standards of personal cleanliness, better dietaries, reason- 
able working hours, recreation, and adequate clothing. 
(6) Improved standards of domestic and public sanitation, in- 
cluding relief from overcrowding, proper illumination, heating and 
ventilation, water supply, excreta disposal, ete. 
(c) Improved sanitation of places of employment. 
(qd) The immunization of susceptible persons and, the control 
of infected persons. 
(e) The improvement of the breeding stock of the human race 
by the elimination of the physically and mentally unfit from 
reproduction. 
- (f) The provision of facilities for aiding physicians in the diag- 
nosis and care of their patients, i. e., laboratories, hospitals, and 
clinics. 
