Henry Baird Favill, AB, MD, LL.D., 1860-1916, a ... - University Library

MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 329
undertaken by intelligent persons without systematic effort
to determine the facts relating to the subject.
Rational as
this is, it must be admitted that as a distinct and predominating
feature of social movements it is comparatively
new.
The gathering of data of critical accuracy is for the most
part preliminary work. It is the work of individuals, of
small groups, of unseen hands, actuated and inspired by
clear social vision. There remains always to be accomplished
organization for the purpose of making effective
the moral value which such results embody. Here opens
up before us all the fine art of propaganda, the unlimited
field of the social worker.
As I have intimated, at this point there comes in a grave
danger— the danger that popular passion shall be substituted
for intelligent motive and utilized to extravagant
ends. The effective checks upon this tendency are clearly
defined data coupled with the determination that fancy
shall be made to square with fact.
Scientific accuracy is greatly to be desired in all discussions
subject to the illumination of science. Accurate
determination of underlying facts is obligatory upon those
who undertake constructive movements. The fullest array
of information having definite scientific value and bearing
upon such questions as social reform is in the utmost degree
desirable. It must be recognized, however, that there are
matters of human interest and enormous social importance
which are only partially open to scientific interpretation,
and with regard to which methods of adjustment must be
found other than purely scientific.
Considerable interest has been evoked, and some measure
of encouragement expressed, by reason of the fact that
there has been rather conclusively determined through laboratory
researches the fact that fatigue has a certain definiteness
of nature and degree hitherto not fully realized.
It has been conceived that if fatigue could be made a