Page:The Harveian oration, delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, Wednesday, June 27th, 1877 (IA b22314623).pdf/42

 may claim for our knowledge of what is summed up under the modern term of State medicine a high position among the sciences that are directly conducive to the welfare of mankind.

In the application of medicine and the allied sciences to the prevention of disease, the present century may claim precedence of rank before any carlier periods in human civilisation. During the last forty years each decennium has been cha- racterised by an ever-growing appreciation of the great truths of sanitary science. From the days of the Health of Towns' Reports by Edwin Chad- wick to the later days of Parkes and Simon, medical men have continuously and unselfishly waged war against the vested interests of filth and zymosis. Nor have their efforts been futile, if increased salubrity and a higher average duration of life may be regarded as tests of success. No- where have these tests yielded more satisfactory results than in our naval and military forces; and seeing how much has been achieved, it does not appear out of place to express a hope that our Governments may always take the precautions that are necessary to insure to medical men, in their official capacities, such power and position that their representations may receive due support. I have already had occasion to dwell upon the Reports of the (late) Medical Officer of the Privy Council. The work of which he has been the