Argument38 求拍

iceforeverkidUID: 2641511

TOPIC: ARGUMENT38 - The following memo appeared in the newsletter of the West Meria Public Health Council.

"An innovative treatment has come to our attention that promises to significantly reduce absenteeism in our schools and workplaces. A study reports that in nearby East Meria, where fish consumption is very high, people visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds. Clearly, eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds. Since colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work, we recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, as a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism."
WORDS:540
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2010/3/8 15:35:38

In this memo, the author recommends that in order to prevent colds and lower absenteeism, Ichthaid should be daily used. To bolster his recommendation, he enclosed the reports from nearby area, concluding that it is the fish accounting to the low rate of getting colds. It seems to be obvious, at the first glance; however, it might have masked several exact reasons other than a fish diet, which probably inspired people to overestimate the effect it would bring by taking the Ichthaid.

As is suggested by the author, the report in nearby East Meria granted the positive effect brought by fish, but many details were neglects so that the results became unwarranted. First, the fish consumption is high, as it stands, while it is likely that the consumption is not utilized for food but only for export, arts or even cosmetic refining. Without a carefully examine the real reason of the fish consumption, it seems unconvincing that Ichthaid is a successful suggestion.

Even I assume that the fish consumption there is directly linked with the eating habits, the author still may imply a false relation between the preventing colds and the taking of fish. The evidence are given by the author that the records in East Meria show a lower rate in the treatment of colds. Nevertheless, there probably is merely the fact that citizen in East Meria are not willing to go to see a doctor when only getting a cold. Thus, it is unsubstantial to infer that colds can prevented by eating fish, let alone the scare proof of the real effect caused by taking the fish.

Moreover, even I concede that people in East Meria did benefit from fish, or the taking of fish could carry away the colds there to some extent, I could not be persuade that it is Ichthaid, the best choice to prevent people in West Meria, for the author may ignore the difference between the West and the East. Climate, taking into consideration, as well as any other factors, would question the effectiveness of the fish taking. Similarly, it might be other parts of the fish that amounts to the prevention of the colds than the fish oil. Therefore, without ruling out the explanation of the possibilities, I cannot agree with the recommendation that the Ichthaid is the best choice.

Finally, the author fails to illustrate that the recommendation surpasses alternatives in its expecting achievements. Perhaps the alternatives such as establishing a new healthy project, offering free breakfast, opening health consulting weekly and so forth would receive a greater feedback. As a result, the recommendation raised by the author pales. A more comprehensive research should be carried out, before the recommendation is implemented.

To conclude, the author recommends the West Merias taking the Ichthaid for its health function to lower the absenteeism and prevent the colds, but the reasons are weak for lacking further research and the missing of the actual causal relation between the fish consumption and the health condition. To strengthen the conclusion of the author, the difference of the East and West, as well, begs consideration. It would be more appreciable if the author concerns the alternatives when judging the final decision whether or not to take the Ichthaid.