130 
apparent under all forms of government. 
If there is any one class of countries in 
which the phenomenon attracts less atten- 
tion it is in those which are least advanced 
in civilization. Obviously many of the 
causes to which this general rise in prices 
has been ascribed must be fallacious be- 
cause of its universal prevalence. 
Tn explaining the causes it is essential to 
recognize three fundamental facts, very 
obvious in their nature, but not so readily 
understood in their bearing upon the pres- 
ent situation : 
1. The rapid progress made by leading 
nations in modern times. 
2. The striking inequality of this prog- 
ress in different branches of human en- 
deavor. 
3. The inevitable tendencies in every 
progressive era to overaction in enterprise 
and to extravagance and waste in expendi- 
ture. 
The second and third facts are subor- 
dinate or incidental to the first and closely 
associated with each other. Let us explain 
the effect of each in its order. 
1. Notwithstanding long periods of inertia 
and even of retrogression, the dominant 
note in the history of the race has been that 
of progress; this has been especially true 
in the last 100 years. Scientific progress 
has always been in the van, followed by 
material, intellectual and political prog- 
ress. Science has given to mankind a con- 
stantly increasing control over nature. 
Inventions and discoveries have greatly 
multiplied the supply of useful articles 
adapted to satisfy human wants. As a 
result, the convenience and luxuries of one 
generation are regarded as necessaries in 
the next. One marked effect of this prog- 
ress is the alleviation of the struggle for 
existence, with the resulting leisure or op- 
portunity to acquire greater skill and to 
discover new methods of production. The 
SCIENCE 
[N.S. Vou. XXXV. No. 891 
requirement of less effort for obtaining the 
necessaries of life gives a wider scope to 
human enterprise and makes it possible to 
multiply the achievements which contrib- 
ute to the betterment of the race. 
Nothing is more apparent than that the 
average per capita consumption is con- 
stantly increasing, not merely in essential 
food products, but in a variety of useful 
articles which are now available for more 
general use. Some tables prepared by the 
late Professor Richmond Mayo-Smith set 
forth clearly the increased consumption of 
divers articles in several countries of 
Europe in periods of 20 to 25 years: 
ANNUAL CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA IN DIFFERENT 
COUNTRIES IN DIFFERENT YEARS 
Article and country Date Mate pucress) 
Meat, France.............. 25.9 kilos} 33kilos | 27.41 
1868 1890 
Meat, England............ 100.5 kilos|124.5kilos} 23.88 
1871-75 1891-95 
Tea, Germany............. 02 kilo | .05kilo | 150.00 
Petroleum, Germany ....| 3.75 kilos |14.82kilos} 295.¥ 
1871 1896 
Flour, United Kingdom.|150 —_Ibs./257 —Ibs.|__71.33 
Tea, United Kingdom...| 3.91 lbs.) 5.77 1bs.| 47.57 
Eggs, United Kingdom.} 12.6 40 217.46 
Butter and margarine...) 4.7 lbs.| 11.1 Ibs.| 136.17 
(QOYEOE cacsotinos Gseksacontosos .23 Ib. 62 1b. | 169.56 
Bacon and ham............ 3.4 lbs.| 15.9 Ibs.) 367.64 
Refined sugar.............. 5.28 Ibs.| 41.53 Ibs.! 686.55 
It may be noted that modern means of 
communication, the ready transmission of 
news and the increasing scope of industrial 
and commercial operations have brought 
about a solidarity of interest among na- 
tions and rendered it easy to obtain by 
international trade useful articles even 
from the remotest parts of the earth. 
These same forces have promoted political 
progress, the assertion of popular rights 
and a greater equality of opportunity. 
One effect of this has been that wealth and 
the consequent increase of average con- 
sumption are no longer limited to a few. 
