Future of Infectious and Malignant Diseases 
Arcadia 
Date unknown or unperceived 
Dear Junior (so many times removed), 
Encouraged by the inscription on old tombstones, “‘ Fé in 
Arcadia ego”’, I went to Arcady in order to inhabit the realm of 
perfect bliss and eternal happiness. Since the subtleties of the 
Latin language will escape you (if you ever even heard about 
Latin), let me tell you that I was wrong in interpreting “ Ft in 
Arcadia ego” as I did. It was George III of England who under- 
stood the phrase correctly when he said, “Ay, ay, death is even 
in Arcadia.” 
As you have guessed it, this is not the only time I was wrong. 
In order to help you avoid mistakes I have made, let me offer 
you a guide on problems of health which I have composed in 
my spare time. 
1. Use computers for diagnosis of diseases which you can 
recognize fairly a priort. In cases of infections caused by 
agents not encountered in the textbooks of pathogenic 
organisms, including the extraterrestrial bugs, you may use 
up so much energy trying to codify the information to be fed 
into the computer that you may still employ the do-it-your- 
self kit even though it may not yet be nationalized. 
2. Treat human subjects on a purely individual basis, i.e. 
determine the causes of the infection and the susceptibility 
of the agent to a given drug; use this drug alone, and use it 
sparingly. 
3. Continue washing your hands between patients and 
before meals, and advise others to follow this archaic custom. 
I would guess that even in your time, environmental sanita- 
tion cannot be replaced by the best of the antibiotics. 
4. If you happen to be a mechanical healer and if you are 
engaged in reconstruction of the human heart during an opera- 
tion lasting for days, do not rely on drugs alone in the preven- 
tion of infection in the newly reconstructed patient. Use 
your brains and good techniques of sterilization. 
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