Benefits of Sanitary Science by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1911

Benefits of Sanitary Science

By Editor

A CORRESPONDENT sends us a clipping from the New York Times of February 16, calling attention to a recent statement of Dr. Wm. H. Guilfoy, registrar of records of the health department of New York City. Dr. Guilfoy places particular emphasis upon the benefits of sanitary science, and tells how much has been accomplished for New York in the measures which have been taken in the prevention of disease. In sending us the clipping, the correspondent states that it is “respectfully dedicated to the REVIEW AND HERALD, a publication which has repeatedly asserted that the world is growing worse.”

Our claim that the world is growing worse has referred to the growing moral

decadence rather than to the increasing condition of physical degeneracy. We are quite willing to accord due credit to our medical brethren for the splendid fight which they have put up in combating the various diseases to which the human family is heir. Remarkable progress has been made through their efforts.

Had the doctors of the great professed church been as faithful in guarding the flock from moral disease, the outlook for the future of Christendom would indeed be more encouraging. But a moral paralysis has laid fast hold of too many professed teachers of religious truth, and instead of the church of God raising a standard against the inroads of the moral leprosy of sin, which has invaded the church, it has become contaminated itself; and in its departure from fundamental principles of truth, its denial of the power of vital godliness, it has become inert, and powerless to cope with the situation confronting it.

It is not enough to point to-day to our great benevolences, to fraternal clubs and philanthropic societies; these too strongly emphasize the makeshift from individual responsibility and personal Christian endeavor to ways of proxy working.

But even in the physical world the prospects are not so roseate as our correspondent would have us believe. While it is true that medical science has been enabled to cope much more successfully with many epidemic diseases, and while specifics and remedies have been found to meet particular conditions, there has also been an alarming increase of other diseases, with which the medical profession is utterly unable to cope. The New York Times, to which reference has been made, says of the conditions in New York City:—

Despite the general decrease in the death-rate, which was remarkable because of the birth-rate in this city,—26.55 per thousand was the highest in its history,—there were increases of death from cancer, organic heart-disease, and hobnailed liver. Appendicitis also showed an increase of deaths.

The only solution of this world's problems, either in its freedom from sin or its freedom from the results of sin, as shown in disease, is in the coming of the Lord. When sin and all its effects shall have been purged away by the cleansing fires of the last day, righteousness will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, and peace and righteousness supreme will reign in the hearts of men. But not until the coming of Christ will this condition prevail, no matter how greatly we may deceive ourselves into believing otherwise.