The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-01-26

mountain without hands, moving as
a mighty crushing power through the
earth, Christianity has ever honored
medicine as her collator, her CHIEF
of staff.
And now, having thus prelimin'
arily noted the two epochs of human
life, the forces SO to speak, particu
larly efecting it now and three
hundred years ago, I will proceed
by reference to the tables of vita
statistics. We learn that in the lat
ter part of the sixteenth century, one
half Of all who were born, died under
five years Of age, and the average
longevity of the whole population was
but eighteen years. In the seven.
teenth century one half Of the popu.
lation died under IL years of age
But in the first Go years of the eight.
zenith century one.half of the popu
lation lived over IT years. In the
latter 40 years one-half exceeded "a
years. At the beginning of the pres
ent century one-balf exceeded az
years.
You will all exclaim with me what
wonderful strides in the dial plate
of human life. And this work and
labor of love has been largely dele
gated to medicine.
We have shown to our law makers
the importance of state medicine,
without which it would be impossi
BILE to prevent wide spread epidemics
of scarlatina, diphtheria, smallpox,
etc. And they have organized nearly
all over the civilized world, State
Boards of Health. Yet it must be
admitted that at present these Boards
are in very inchoate state. In the
near future undoubtedly they will be
better organized and become far
more effective.
Two years ago our National Con.
gress appropriated a small amount
to organize a National Board OF
Health. This was done and a be-
ginning made and small amount OF
work accomplished A weekly bull
letin report was published and sert to
the Health officer in every town in
the land. This was move in the
right direction. But alas, the stupid
ity of our law makers is provervial.
The funds were soon exhausted and
the Health reports discontinued for
want of funds and no more money
has been voted for the maintenance
of public health.
But we do not despair, in the near
future when the people begin to
realize what preventive medicine
means in the fullness of its power for
good, an efficient health officer will
be found actively at work in every
village, township or city where hu-
manity is to be found. And his office
will be no sinecure. We are no
prophet. neither the son of one, yet
we will venture to predict that with
in the next quarter of century such
an officer armed with far Greater
powers (than his Insignificant name
sake of to-day, will daily visit all
our public schools examine into the
physical condition of all the pupils,
however slightly they may be indis-
posed, ascertain exactly how many
and who have been exposed to any
contagion, sending all home or into
some Sanitarium, those who should
on no account be there.
He will visit every home, thorough
ly examine its hygienic surroundings,
inspect every water closet and privy,
both public and private, give direc
tons for and enforce sanitary i'm
provement wherever required. In
fine, he will see to it as far as possible
that all have healthy homes.
AT the present day how many pa
rents send their children to endure
the inclemency of wintry weather,
insufficiently clothed and protected,
because Of sheer ignorance, In the
good time coming, this same lynx.
eyed medical man, who will also be
ubiquitors and armed with plenary
powers, will detect all such and enter
complaint against all such parents al
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