“There’s no reason why you should ever have another if the children will take ordinary precautions.”
“Diphtheria?”
“We can’t guarantee the youngsters against getting it, though we can do something to protect them. And if they do get it, we can be pretty certain of pulling them through.”
“Scarlet fever and measles?”
“Why not add whooping-cough and influenza? The former kills as many people as either scarlet fever or measles, and the latter twice as many. They’re all in the same category; medical science is pretty near helpless against their onset. You and your family may be as rigidly careful as they will; if the family next door, or a family at the farthermost end of the town, is careless, we’re as likely as not to suffer for their sins. All that I can promise, then, is hope against the occurrence of these diseases, and the constant watchfulness, when they come, which they call for but don’t always get.”
“Cancer?”
“Eternal vigilance, again; so that, if it does come, we may discover it in time.”
“Let me see,” mused Mr. Clyde; “what else is there? Oh—nervous and functional disorders.”
“Functional disorders mean, usually, either a bad start, or the heritage of some disease like scarlet fever or grippe, or excess or carelessness in living. I think your household is free from them; and it should remain free. As for nervous ailments, they commonly mean lack of self-discipline. It may be overindulgence in work”—he glanced down at his right hand—“or it may be overindulgence in play.” His glance wandered significantly to the doorway, through which the voice of Mrs. Clyde could be heard. “By the way, you’ve left out the greatest destroyer of all—perhaps because you’re beyond the danger point.”
“Tuberculosis is the greatest destroyer, isn’t it?”