The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

THE HEALTH BULLETIN. 221toms of that horrible disease, hydrophobia.But dogs must not be muzzled.Women with plumes, torn fromliving birds, in their hats, formed a societyfor the prevention of cruelty toanimals and so declared.It must not be inferred that all ofDr. Smith's experiences on that Novemberday were sad. Men are mortal;all sickness is not preventable;accidents will happen and distressingInjuries result. This world is not anEden and no one expects that all sorrowwill be banished from it. Decayand death approach with advancingyears. Strength and weakness arerelative terms, and those possessed ofthe former must help bear the burdansof those afflicted with the latter.Dr. Smith being a hard-headed, reasonable,scientific man, is no Eutopian,and he frequently meets in sick roomsexperiences which greatly increaseboth his interest and his confidence inman. He finds the young and vigorousdenying themselves many pleasuresin order to brighten the pathwaysof the old and infirm, the fortunatelending a helping hand to the unfortunate,and the wise leading the unwise.No one, more than the familyphysician, can measure and appreciatethe innate goodness that springswithout an effort from the heart ofhumanity. It is difficult for the physicianof large experience to unreservedlycondemn anyone, and he is inclinedto regard all sins as due toeither heredity or environment. However,it must be admitted that on thisday Dr. Smith had seen but littlesunshine,and the clouds that had gatheredabout him had hidden the virtuesand magnified the vices of his community.Especially was this trueof the vice of ignorance, for ignorancewhich results in injury to one's fellowsis not only a vice but a crime, amoral, if not a statutory one.The Deeam.Late that night as the doctor sat beforehis grate he fell asleep, and nowhe is busy among his patients in a wayhitherto quite unknown to him. Hiswaiting-room is filled with people, oldand young, of both sexes, who havecome to be examined in order to ascertainthe exact condition of theirhealth. A young man before proposingmarriage to the woman of hischoice wishes a thorough examination.He wishes to know that in offeringhimself he is not bringing to the M'omanany harm. He desires to becomethe father of healthy children and heis not willing to transmit any seriousdefect to them. He tells the doctorto examine him as carefully as hewould were he applying for a largeamount of life insurance. The doctorgoes through the most thorough physicalexamination and tests the secretionsand blood with the utmost care.He understands his own responsibilityin the matter and appreciates the highsense of honor displayed by his patient.A young woman for like reasonshas delayed her final answer tothe man who has asked her hand inorder that the doctor might pass uponher case.Here is the doctor's old friend, WilliamStone. Mr. Stone is in the earlyfifties. He has been a highly successful,honorable business man, has accumulateda sufficiency and enjoys thegood things which his wife preparesfor the table. A careful examinationof the urine leads the doctor to cautionMr. Stone to reduce the carbohydratesin his food. Mr. Perkins, alawyer who throws his whole strengthin every case he tries, and of late hasfound himself easily irritated, showsincreased urinary secretion and ablood pressure rather high. A vacationwith light exercise and more restis the preventive prescription which