The Challenge to Democracy
locally, another shared nationally, and another shared
internationally. But they are all aspects of the common
good which the ordinary person enjoys in the
avoidance of disease and death or the extension of his
vitality. For such purposes the art of government
exists; and success in attaining such purposes is one
of the most reliable tests of the excellence of any
system of government. But the system of government
for health purposes is one whole throughout the world.
Local authorities are connected through central
Governments, and these again are connected by
international institutions. Differences between forms
of government do, indeed, affect the working of the
system; but no nation disregards health and in all
localities common folk are willing to assist and be
assisted by far-distant foreigners in maintaining and
increasing the common good—health, which they all
desire.
Nw Steps Necessary
But the institutions and policy we have inherited have
the defects natural to the way in which they have
been developed. The institutions for public health in
most localities and nationally, in most countries, are
the results of a succession of separate efforts to over-
come different evils. They are ill co-ordinated and not
governed by any single consistent conception of
their purpose. Whitewashing lodging-houses or in-
specting food or planning areas for new houses are
izz