INTRODUCTION 15 



Preventive medicine, still in its youth, has accomplished great 

 things. As I have stated, within the past thirty years in this country 

 the mortality from tuberculosis has been reduced more than half, and 

 with scarlet fever and diphtheria, the results have been more striking. 

 Within the past ten years, the average life has been increased four 

 years. Great epidemics which once devasted continents are no longer 

 known in the more intelligent parts of the world. In fact, it may be 

 said that the death-rate is now an excellent measure of intelligence. 

 In 1911 the death-rate in London was 15 per thousand, while that of 

 Moscow was 27.3. Preventive medicine is the keystone of the trium- 

 phal arch of modern civilization and its displacement would precipitate 

 mankind into relative barbarism. Should the health administrators of 

 any great commercial center fail, for even a few months, to exercise 

 the function of restricting disease, the history of the epidemics of 

 the middle ages might be repeated. Great things have been done, 

 but greater tasks lie before us, and their accomplishment depends on 

 the scientific wisdom of the medical profession and the intelligence 

 of the people. Without the harmonious adjustment of these forces 

 the greatest efficiency cannot be secured. While the mortality from 

 tuberculosis has been reduced half in the past thirty-five years, we 

 must not assume that the total eradication of this disease will be 

 accomplished in the same number of years. Only the more progressive 

 members of the profession have taken the initiative, and only the more 

 intelligent members of the community have responded. Intelligence 

 and the sense of moral responsibility must grow as the work proceeds. 

 It remains for all who have the welfare of the race at heart to plan 

 wisely and carry fonvard courageously the campaign against greed, 

 ignorance and disease. 



