Epidemiology

A simple problem in epidemiology is described. The purpose is to demonstrate how computers, analog im this paper, can be used to assist the student in visualizing a complex system. The very act of creating the necessary equations to describe a system forces the experimenter to crystallize his understanding of the system. When, and usually if, the computer simulation does not match the data, the investigator must revise his model. Several iterations result in a more accurate understanding of the system being studied. The analog computer is a handy tool for performing rapid parameter studies and model revisions at low cost. More scientific investigators need exposure to the advantages of small low-cost computers.