SECTION III.
HYGIENICS, OR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE.
The prevention of disease is either the removal of the causes which produce it, or the use of an antidote, as vaccination. Many diseases once excited being incurable, it is manifestly of great importance that their occurrence should be prevented. Since attention has been given to this object, the value of life has generally increased ; some serious maladies have become less frequent and severe, and a few have altogether disappeared.
If all the causes of disease were ascertained and were susceptible of being removed, Hygienics would take the place of Pathology and Therapeutics. But obvious as are the ad- vantages of its study, the difficulties in the way of prosecuting Hygienics as a practical science are very considerable. Many causes of disease are unknown, and of those that are known, not a few are so related to occupations, social customs, and in India to religious observances, that it is at present impossible to prevent their operation. It is the duty of the medical practitioner to set the true nature of such causes before the public and the Government, leaving their removal to be effected by the gradual progress of enlightenment and a wise and cautious legislation. In treating of the causes of disease in the preceding section, much of what might have been placed under Hygienics has already been discussed, and as the prevention of particular diseases (prophylaxis) can be most conveniently considered in Special Pathology, the remarks in this section will be very brief.
Hygienics may be divided into—1st, General Hygiene, or the adoption of measures for the prevention of disease amongst large numbers of persons or in communities; 2nd, Special Hygiene, or the adoption of measures for the prevention of disease in families or individuals.
