Civilization and Disease (Phoenix Science)

Civilization and Disease BY Henry E. Sigerist PREFACE THE PRESENT BOOK is based on a series of six Messenger Lectures that I delivered at Cornell University in Ithaca in November and December 1940. I am very much indebted to the authorities of the University and Press for the permission to develop the six lectures into a book of twelve chapters, and I also very much appreciate the patience they have shown in waiting for a much delayed manuscript. While I was writing this book, I relived the very pleasant weeks it was my privilege to spend on the Cornell campus, and I am deeply grateful to the authorities of the University, to faculty and students for the delightful hospitality extended to me. I wish to mention particularly the keen and enthusiastic members of the Telluride Association whose guest I was during my visit. I shall always remember with great pleasure the stimulating discussions we had on many an evening. The subject of this book is one in which I have been interested for many years. In the pursuit of these studies I was greatly en couraged by Dr. Ludwig Kast, the unforgettable first President of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, with whom I discussed these problems many times and through whom I obtained a substantial grant from the Josiah Macy Jr, Foundation which made it possible to acquire source materials needed for this book, and for which I wish to express my paroffijid gratitude. And finally I wish tohank my coworkers, the members pf my staff and particularly Dr. Erwin H. Ackerknecht, for advice and criticism Genevieve Miller, my former student and present collaborator who took a very active part in the preparation of this book Hope Trebing and Janet Brock who helped to get the manu script ready for publication. I am much indebted to Mr. Harold Ward in New York, who read the manuscript critically and greatly improved it with valuable suggestions. Henry E.