Feb., 1915.] The Second Indian Science Congress. xcix- 
thought first of all pris oo aga choose a subject on which I could speak - 
refi 
from practical exper and. therefore, without too much preparation, 
for I had little time cai pape: and, secondly one which would be of inter- 
est to dwellers in India. § uch a subject I hope I have found i "h 
peti in ‘*The 
mportance of a Knowledge of Biology to Medical, Sanitary and Scien- 
- eye he cacti in ae icy _— i : would ses araabiente this subject to all 
hea dweller the n India; iti rding off 
depression. Ny of erie ueiee and youthful interest in this ‘‘ land 
of regrets.” One cgpaanie instance of the efficacy of this m method must be 
well known to some he I refer to the late Mr. E. H. Aitken, familia ar” 
many of us, I am sure, under so pen name of ** E.H. es = very 
hay is good,” says ‘E.H.A sign of good and an influence for 
ood,” 
ScourGES oF INDIA. 
It is difficult at the present day to realize our scapes of disease > 
causation . the early eighties, . fe have not time to do more than 
a. a few of ne more “ime t lacune which have, since been 
ill With regard to diseases ath have caused, still cause 
dreadful Gueeter i in me ands I dena only mention a few, er as malaria, 
Sen oer ry, plag 
did we know  abens the true meaning and actual cause of any 
of i tte scourges Absolutely congo Malaria was suppo' osed 
to be due to ‘‘an emanation,” choler ‘* blue mist’’ or other ~ 
er 
, sentery 
gue, we were not tau ba Sel sg at all about it, because it was 
thought to have disappea from the civilised pe and to be con- 
ned to the reagee slums ot: re ntal cities in the interior of China or 
villages o i i 
© i 
. Governme ent Lee: the facts ak 
i on has sa Fa cts are nape that winna ding and downa be 
IGNORANCE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE. 
of alr ee of you may say :—If these things are so, if we know the cause 
these scourges, and the proper measures to take in order to prevent 
her as me hat so many ionwnas still die of these di 
account, am parts of the country still remain barel itable on 
ne and Ir prese 5 ais e answer is, I eve, a ve e 
seit, it is this—** Ignorance, gross ignorance ” ves 
Vnitat any people in India know about these diseases, other than as 
‘i ions of m a ne nce to fe noone off sl incantations and 
se The when mpared with the: 
ming milliona 3 intinbidthog “thie pescih land of India.” Ask any of the: 
