There's an ancient story about the fear-less general Zhang Fei of the Three Kingdoms Period. Once he was bragging about his courage, and his interlocutor said: "I know something that you will definitely be afraid of. Come closer and I'll tell you." Zhang leaned in to hear and immediately ran away yelling "I'm scared! I'm scared!" Do you know what that thing was? "Disease." Today people are still battling against this enemy.

At the end of August, the Department of Health completed revisions to the regulations governing prevention of contagious diseases in Taiwan. Previously, the regulations stipulated that doctors had to report any cases of certain specified diseases; in some cases, failure to do so could result in criminal prosecution. Under the revisions, diseases which formerly were supposed to be reported, but for which no legal punishments existed if a doctor failed to report them, now also have legal penalties attached. In addition, to create a more complete reporting system, these diseases have been divided into four major categories based on the seriousness of the disease and the extent of the affected area, compelling doctors to take immediate action in the event of serious outbreaks. New diseases, including the enterovirus which recently caused such panic, and ebola, have been added to the "must report" list. Moreover, the Department of Health can add other diseases to the list at any time, depending upon reports received from physicians. These measures should encourage doctors to report all unusual symptoms as soon as they see them.

With an improved reporting network, and greater public awareness of disease, everyone's health should be better safeguarded. However, even as we become more aware, modern man has not yet won the war against tiny viruses and bacteria. Indeed, often civilization itself is the main reason why. How has the search to improve life opened a Pandora's box? Where have new diseases come from? How have old diseases, apparently under control, resurged? What is the best path to insure long-term health for mankind? Our cover story this month explores these questions as they relate to Taiwan.

People by nature seek health and longer life. There are many indicators of this trend today. Since last year three new health magazines have come on the market. Newspapers' health sections are growing larger. There are countless books on health and nutrition, from sources modern and ancient. In recent years the sales of health foods and health products have been growing rapidly. Yet, ironically, even as progress is made, people are increasingly afraid and doubtful about modern medicine. As far as most people are concerned, the best thing would be to never have to go to a hospital to face examinations or treatment.

Actually, these seemingly contradictory thoughts are based on everyday experience. With improved technology, doctors rely increasingly on machines, and are unwilling to make any judgments before tests are completed. One book called Why Things Bite Back tells the true story of a Stanford University medical student who had a stomach ailment for four weeks. He entered the university hospital, and underwent a series of painful tests, and was told that the problem was with his appendix. But a retired old doctor only had to hear his descriptions of his symptoms, and that veteran physician knew immediately what the problem was.

It is not only doctors who implicitly trust technology, patients also do. When an experienced doctor tells a patient she has breast cancer, and must undergo immediate surgery, the patient's response is: "Shouldn't you do some tests?" As technology advances, people have less tolerance for error. When illness strikes, people worry: Does a doctor really know what the problem is? What's the best treatment?

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasized general health and preventative medicine. Conventional medicine increasingly places emphasis on these as well. The reason is that modern medicine has not been able to achieve any more advanced solutions to many of today's most serious illnesses such as cancer; indeed, treatment for cancer is little different than it was 50 years ago. In fact, many scholars are also beginning to doubt that the curative capacity of modern medicine is omnipotent. Moreover, as society sees medical costs spinning out of control, this causes people to place even greater emphasis on preventive medicine.

Pursuing good health benefits oneself and others, and is something everyone should do every day. But what information and methods are really valuable to us? Knowledge and education are the keys, and there is no substitute for a generally healthy lifestyle for body, mind, and soul. The Pandora's box of disease has been unwittingly opened by mankind's constant challenging and betrayal of nature. We hope that through knowledge and reflection, people can find the path of salvation.