Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-30
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
sEvENTY-FIRsT SESSION.
SENATE

=
Papers from the House disposed of in
concurrence.
On motion by Mr.. Burns of Cumberland
it was Ordered, the House concurring,
that the treasurer of state be and hereby
is requested to advance to the members
of this Legislature their pay on or be-
fore the adjournment for the recess which
is necessary to complete the revision of
the statutes.
On motion by the same senator resolves
on the pay roll OF the Senate received 4
passage.
On motion by Mr.. Goodwin of Somerset
that when the Senate and Horse adjourn
it be to meet on the first day of September
in the year of our Lord, 1903, at 1890
o clock in the forenoon.
Bill, An Act relating to the public health
came from the House, accompanied by mi :
nority report "ousht to pass and ma
pending question being upon the accept
ance of the minority report.
Mr. BRYANT of Somerset:
Mr.. PRESIDENT. on that motion wish
to say few words. This is a resolve
which came into this body two years ago
and which was sent to the committee on
financial affairs, which committee was
very favorable to the proposition; but
owing to the state of finances. it was re-
ferred to this Legislature. This year it
went to the committee on public charities
mously reported. 1t came to our commit
tee and, while | think all favored it. yet
some thought perhaps the State could not
afford it. The minority felt that the bill
had merit enough to warrant us in signing
the minority report 1t calls for the eStab
lishment of a archaeological and chemical
laboratory, 5000 and $4,000 for an expert
bacteriologist and chemist to manage it.
| think that Maine in this respect is far
behind the other New England states.
New Hampshire has such laboratory, es-
tablished some years ago to which she an
nually contributes S509O-$20O0 more than
this resolve calls for. Vermont has one,
established quite good many years ago,
and she has for many years appropriated
$4,000, and at the last session of the Legis-
lature they raised the amount to $4,000.
Massachusetts, appropriates $40 900 annual
sets I.abora tory. There are in addition
to that at least 10 or dozen cities in
that state that have laboratories run as
adjuncts to the local boards Of : health saitl,
or local board of health can do
it's best work without such a labor
atory. They are cramped from the be
ginning. 1t is evident, suppose, to every
one that the control of any contagious
disease depends very largely upon the
early diagnosis of what the disease is; and
we consider it as Indispensable to the pub
lie health to have this done It saves life
1t prevents the spread of infectious
diseases and contagious. Take it IN diph-
iberia, for instance. it is difficult for the
most sklful physician to diagnose the
true bacteria. or pseudo-bacteria. and
there is no way to do it but by bacterio--
logical test maze from cultuIe tuDe'-dil
without that, everything is guess-work.
With it, it is reduced to a scientific GER
tainty | could relate hundreds of in
stances that have been told me by physi,,
clans, where such things would have saved
life or prevented the spread of contaglon
throughout the State. remember one
case, where little. girl, the only child II
a family, was taken with sore throat
and unusual rise of temperature. a
physician was called, and did not diagnose
the disease as true diphtheria; and later,
1nl in
nounced it false diphtheria. Later 1t de-
veloped true diphtheria, and word was
sent for anti-toXine, but it was too late,
and the life of the little sufferer went
out The physicians believe that if they
could have known in the first stages that
it was true diphtheria, the life of the
child might have been saved.
Another case that will show the ad
vantage of the laboratory: In a similar
instance in New Hampshire, culture
was made and sent to the state labora
tory; in II hours it was flashed back over
the wires that it was diphtheria, and the
life was saved. In diphtheria no local
board of health can determine whether
the danger OF contagion ceases IN ~ days
or 80 and does not know when 1t is safe
to remove the quarantine. With this 1T
is reduced to a certainty. Even heads OF
families are uuarantined at times for "
DAYS when there is no need to be, because
it has been found by meteorological tests
that the danger from infection is past and
in 1G days the head of the family could
be out attending TO ms usllS uutlsS. lHeiC
have been reported. in the last 10 years,
1924 deaths from diphtheria in the State Oh
Maine; reckoning about eight cases unrc,
ported and cured to one death you would
have over A. 900 cases in the last lO years
i'm this State, or li00 year. l submit
that the State Board of Health are not
far wrong when they claim that IN TINS
disease alone, the State would save all
that this bill calls for. In tuberculosis
We have about 1000 deaths per year; and
here as in diphtheria or other contagious
Of hi hare t.ars
would be very essential to the health and
lives of the people. Of course, in that
disease, it is impossible for Il physician
to tell for months whether patient is
suffering from some other disease or tu-
berculosiS, but with the AID Oh the labof-
atory it could be determined at once. |
know, some years ago, gentleman Was
trying to get wealthy man to establish
q reformatory and training school FOR boys
growing up in a reckless way, and II
called for 100000: He said: II you save
one boy year, it would be worth all IL
costs: but, said the man, do you think y
boy is worth 100000? Said he Yes; il
it is my boy. 5000
ming expenses. Do you not think the life
of a child is worth $4,000? | say yes, If X
is my child: l say yes. If 1t Is the child
of Maine; and | submit that not only IN
tuberculosis and diphtheria but in scarlet
fever and typhoid fever it is going. to be
equally valuable l also claim i t6a II Ina onat
raisers Chambers and foot and mouth dis
ease and tuberculosis could be just as east |
Nv determined; and so | might go on illus |
trating its advantages in may ways The |
question may arise Can we afford it? My |
sympathy says we can, my humanitarian |
instinct says we can, and my best 1udS-
inert saws we cannot afford to do without |
it; and trust the minority report Will tie
Mr. RANDALL. of Cumberland: Mr.. |
President, as a member of the committee |
on public charities I wish merely to say I
that the committee thought this a very l
Important measure; and after a full hear--
ing which was attended by dozen or Is \
Of the most eminent physicians all over
the State, we came to the conclusion that
it should pass unanimously; and l trust H
the motion will prevail l4sF
Mr. HYDE, of Sagadahoc: Mr.. Presi-
dent. would like to say that agree with
the two senators who have spoken upon
this matter. | hope the minority report Il
will be accepted.
MIR. MORSE of Waldo: Mr.. President,
as an undertaken, perhaps | come in con-
tact with these matters as much as any
other man outside the profession. and dur
ing IS years experience in that line have
had a chance to witness some of the things
that have been allowed to go through neg
li.yence and by default in these matters
Where seemingly they might have been
if proper precautions nad been