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action. The first grand demonstration of the prevention of 
disease was that of Dr. Jenner when he discovered and put 
in use the means by which one of the greatest pestilences known 
can be controlled—vaccination. 
Previous to his discovery ninety-six deaths in every thousand 
in England were from small-pox. Shortly after the proportion 
was reduced to thirty-five per thousand. Now, when small-pox 
appears in any community, the proportion of deaths will be an 
indication of the extent to which Jenners discovery is applied to 
control it. Another great measure to prevent the spread of 
disease is the system of quarantining adopted by commercial 
nations. In this way the spreading of leprosy, cholera and other 
plagues have, to a great extent, been prevented. It is also the 
province of sanitary science to suppress the generation of disease, 
as well as to prevent the spread of it. 
It is plainly seen that to prevent disease is to preserve lives 
by thousands and tens of thousands that would otherwise fall 
victims to pestilences that stalk at noon day. 
The importance of the curative art sinks almost into insignifi¬ 
cance when compared with it. In most of the great plagues of 
the present, such as yellow fever, cholera, etc., the curative art 
steps in with its remedies and applies them with anxious and 
humane, but comparatively impotent hands. It sees the victims 
of disease suffering and dying by thousands, and can do but little 
more than ease their way down to death. Clearly, then, the 
most important province of the medical profession is to prevent 
disease; and in proportion to the extent that it is successful, will 
be the measure of gratitude and fame that awaits it. 
When it is seen, as Dr. Forbes says,that “the natural curative 
power is not one that operates merely occasionally or feebly, but 
one that is always present, ever acting and possessed of powers 
to cure the majority of diseases without assistance, then we think 
it must also be seen that a rational system of treatment must be 
one that will make due allowance for the force nature exerts in 
every instance.” To overlook this power in the value of art, 
says Dr. Forbes, would be equivalent to that of a rower in a 
boat, who, in estimating the cause of progress in going down a 
