The progress., 1904-07-30
AAss g. s @ sss s.Ss: 49, 81 ST S$S :sssSs g
Age 60 on $3.50, $1.305. 90; on LOCO 1920. 90.
Age 90 ON $3.50, 81. .057. 90: on 1.000 Il 290 an

more
arduous occupations where the strain
is great and the term of service there.
by materially shortened, there is lesc
difference against the disease: there
might be cases in which there is little
to choose between the effects of the oc-
cupation and the disease.
In some cases the community brings
up the child, in others the family or
both contribute. Yet the investment is
not selfish, for those contributing rare
ly receive the direct return; the child is
trained for general usefulness from
which the community or others than the
contributors receive benefits, SO the loss
is properly that of the community,
Any data based on general statistics
should be modified as suggested above
by considering the effect Of the disease
in shortening the period of eficiency,
Damage in case Of death Of disability
caused by accident fnay be fairly meas
ured by the Immediate lbss of income for
the average term of efficiency. Tuber-
culosis shortens such terms but does not
in all cases produce immediate disa.
bility.
Thus assuming that from the time OF
incurring the disease, the term of eff
cheney is shortened one-half, the aver
age loss might be ascertained by some
such method as suggested above; but
this Is apportionable among all who in
cur the disease rather than among those
only who die; it measures the loss Of EFF.
ficiency in entire group.
1t is a gfeWsofne task to attempt to
reduce down to a cold calculating basis
of dollars alone the value of d human
life. Nor can we estimate economically
only In the most general way, the value
to the state IF any or all lives lost from
tuberculosis. The possibilities for good
or evil of any life cah never be estimated
until that life has closed its career
This, however, we do know, that life is
the final product of years of preparation
and growth. Being the last it is the
most sacred; that which is the most
sacred should receive the greatest pro.
lection.
1t is absurd to suppose that we can
through legislation, or any other active
governmental process, stamp out the ex.
istence of tubercle bacilli in our state
They have existed from time i'm
and doubtless will continue ia
do so, but the danger that turks in thu
dried tubercle bacilll to the public health
is at once so potent and fruitful a sourci
of spreading the ravages of this dlseasa
that it becomes an economic necessity
for our state, as far as possible, to pre-.
vent the further contamination of public
health from dried tubercle bacilli
The victims of tuberculosis are tnost.
Iy of the active working age. Their |
deaths coming at the time of the period
,ftheir greatest usefulness to the state
the largest amount of eco
noinic loss. These deaths are injttine |
;ociety in a most vital way. Men and |
are taken from us at the zenith
Of their greatest powers for usefulness
and activity. It Is estimated that 81
per cent. of the people who die from
are from Is to "a years OF
age and that 20 per cent. are from 81
to As years of age. Since such is the
case. and the economic loss SO great and
20 evident, it follows that we simply can.
not afford to allow our state to be devas.
lated by the everyday danger from q
disease at once SO general and fatal. We
must fight tuberculosis, aim to check its
-avages, and finally bring about It's
practical eradication. The necessity fol
protection of our people against such
disease becomes more and more evident
We do not insist that the paramount
luty Of the state Is the care of its sick
but we must bear in mind that to take
care ofthose suffering from tuberculosi,
S of itself an economic as well as phil.
measure. The state gener-
ously and faithfully cares for the deaf,
iumb, those of feeble mind and insane,
and others unfortunately diseased, but
1t present goes no further than the care
If these. At present no provision IL
made for the care of the tuberculcus,
whose ailments are an everyday ele.
nent of danger to the health of the peo-
lie of the whole commonwealth. As q
'esult of the deaths from consumption
.ach year, the state at once loses ths
products and activities of thou.
ands of lives. With these lives the
tate has a direct money interest.
We know that go per cent. of the liv.
ng people are, or have been, infected
With consumption; that it is infectious
nd the germs are developed by damp.
less, impure air, bad food, close contact
S in schools, tenements, penitentiaries,
tc. This being the case. 1t would seem
hat it is part of the states business
D give freely of its money to the poor.
0 the boards of health. that the sick
oor may be properly honEed, have plen- =
y of fresh air and sunlight, or If that
not feaiible, provide sanatoria, or iso- ,
ltion hoipitals. that the patients may {
ave the bsst of care and csn be removed 4
rom the danger of spreading tuberculaI I
lfection.
Somersaulting the Chasm.
A new form of looping the loop 10
romised the. e.Parisians. A French en-
neer says fn will make motor car
in down a hope 10 a chasm in the b
ack. at the end of which 1t will mount I
oao,plofa =