438 BACTERIOLOGY. 



But just because these solid foundations are 

 frequently lacking and because the circles of 

 government officials are not yet in full posses- 

 sion of the facts, the ministers of finance, em- 

 powered to make the great expenditures of 

 civilization, do not wish to disburse much 

 money for this purpose, and in our municipali- 

 ties more politics than political economy is 

 practiced. Upon the continent of Europe the 

 authorities are very quick to adopt sanitary 

 police measures and mutually supporting or- 

 dinances. Police regulations are especially 

 welcomed in those places where the will and 

 the creative capacity for social reforms are 

 lacking. By such measures, however, atten- 

 tion is merely directed to the fact that a sani- 

 tary organization on the basis of 'hygiene and 

 adapted to the need of the times is still an 

 urgent want. 



A simplification of the statistics of sickness 

 and death is an imperative step in the accom- 

 plishment of any measures of reform. This 

 can only be brought about by the help of 

 practicing physicians. For this purpose the 

 schemata must be very concise and no difficul- 

 ties in respect to their transmission by post 

 should be imposed. Especially in times of 

 epidemic physicians have more to do than to 

 satisfy the curiosity of red-tape statisticians. 



