Risk factors for disease consist of personal habits such as cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and bodily characteristics such as hypertension and high serum cholesterol. Progress in identifying, quantifying, and controlling risk factors is opening the way to the prevention of disease. (BB)

This is a discussion of preventive medicine. Included is a historical background, a discussion of improving the environment, moderating self-imposed risks, changing consumer expectations, recommendations, and conclusions. (BB)

The success of present and future immunization programs is endangered by public and physician complacency and by complex legal and ethical problems related to informed consent and responsibility for rare, vaccine-related injury. (BB)