Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-03-19
HEALTH vs.. SICKNESS
WHAT DR.. L. p. BUSH SAYS
ABOUT 1T.
He Addresses the Legislature an,
Asks For Increased Appropria-
tions that May Ward
on Disease.

Health has prepared report for trans
mission to you, through the Governor,
regarding the operations OF the board Tor
the past two years.
1t has been the effort of the board to
make communications of q personal
character as would bring before the
minds OF the people OF the State the i'm
portance of hygiene measures for the
preservation OF health and life, thus hop
ing TO induce them to consider their i'm
portance to themselves and TO their fami-
lies.
These statements are not myths; nor
are they intended to misltad the people
or to lay grlevous buTthens upon them;
on the cgntrary they are facts as we'll
settled as any business principle on which
men rely.
But from the habit OF the people to
put oil the EVIL. day of sickness and to
think "ali men mortal but themselves"
they too often neglect the warnings given
to them, and when deith ente their
dwellings they refer his visits to any
thing else than 10 their own folly or care
lessntss.
Physicians see this statement verid d
every day, and will continue to see 1t
thus sadly shown to be truth until the
people can be brought up to a recognition
and practice of the hygiene principles
alluded to-
In the air, earth and water, are found
the germs of disease ready TO be deSel-
oped into maturity, which means disease.
We inha'e these germs with the air;
we drlLk tht IN With the water, mot as God
made Ihe air or formed the water, but as
the are contaminated by the ignorance
or carelessness, / was going to say by the
stupidity OF reasoning beings.
We have been endowed with reason for
the purpose among other things Of pro
tec,ing ourselves from the mAlign infiu-
eDces which are liable to arise among
IN Snkind, wEethCr In families or In COM
Inunlties, and whoever is wise will use
al! the knowledke which he possesses lor
that purpose.
1t s true that there are climatic influ-
ences which are not OF mans devislng,
but they are easily recognized and usual y
guarded against. Men do not clotbe
| themselves alike In winter and summer,
nor use food cf the same quantity and
quail ty irrespective OF the season. Neglect
OF proper precautions in these respects
ellis promptly uIou their own comforts,
and hence they recognize and avoid the
cause; but when they inhale Impure air,
or drink impure water, the consequences
may be slow and insidious and not
go readily recognized, and hence these
az ents are dlsi egarded as the causes of
disease. We have told the people that
fron some of tifete things come some of
the Ii osL fearful aud distressing conse-
uuences which aiillct humanity. Burning
ievers, us typhus, racking intermittents,
the devastating cholera, are ali the re-
suits OF such causes, while scarlet fever
and diphtheria spread In families and
schools, torturing the Innocent children
and bringing them down TO early graves.
| We have scattered this information
widely and have called upon our people
to read and consider theae facts. Thi,
board is not constituted to make money;
IL is composed OF physicians who have
no pecuhiary interest In trying TO induce
the people to guard sgainst the causes OF
| disease; as members OF the board they
receive no compensation, but leave their
own business to attend to this duty for
the pubiic-a benevolent action solely.
We have iE our papers called attention
to the cost of Sickness, whether in the
heads of families or In children, the sor-
row of bereavement, the pecuniary detrl-
ment to the family when Its head is dis
abled by disease, and still worse when
death removes the parent from the house
hold, thus depriying the State of services
| DulG VI iNEn anu leaving fOANn
often hard to be filled.
These thugs we call upon the people
to consider; It is Tor them to reflect upon;
the comfort and happiness of themselves
and families are involved more seriously
than in the acquisition of a superiluity of
wealth, which can never bring happiness
without health. The spring of youth or
OF vigorous and virtuous manhood brings
q Joy and repose which can never be en-
ioyed by any one, who from any cause,
whether internal or external, feels that
the equilibrium OF his physical powers
has been unsettled, and he can look for
ward only to prolonged discomfort and
d ath before the time. No pecuniary
means, no elegance of surroundings can
compensate for this impairment of health;
climate and country may be changed,
but too often the broken links cannoE be
welded.
10 many persons exposure TO malign
influences, as of malaria Is unavoidable,
they are immovably fixed by circum-
stances. Even when thus situated the
evil consequences OF their environment
may be greatly obyiated. With view
to illustrate this important point, ques-
:s,,3;;;s wase asked by the board s:.aa so.
plies were received from many OF The
physicians of the State showing that the
time of greatest danger from exposure Is
from the beginning OF the dew fall to the
evaporation by the morning sun, that
Cleanliness, drainage, ventilation, sun
light dryness about the house, and cul'
tivation OF the soil; these are the main
factors which ale essential to projection
from malaria.
The board respectfully submit that
without proper assistance from the Legis-
lature II cannot accomplish the beneficial
results which ought to flow from this
organization, and therefore ask an In
crease of appropriation so that the ntces-
sary visitation and supervision and 10
ports may be made to the secretary.
The reports which have been air a ly
made by the secretary show that the mt re
distribution of sanitary tracts is not suiii-
cient without the visitation OF an efficient
officer or member OF The board TO point
out and urge upon the proper persons at
tention to the requirements not only o
the law, but Of their own safety and tn I
OF their families.
The secretary will show what other
States have done, and that wherever the
importance of the subject has been fully
presented to the legis alive bodies, appro'
prlations sufficient 10 enable the boards
to do satisfactory work have been voted,
and certainly there is no other work OF
equal importance which is performed for
the State at SO trifing an expense.
Respectfully submitted,
L, P. Bush.