The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-22
Pssvaaaloa ana the death rae.

Prevention and the Death Rate.
Il = said that 100000 preventabis
deaths occur IN the United States evsr9
ten years, as shown by the censua.
This Is merely another way OF stating
the fact that II proper and adequate
health measures were taken by the
constituted authorities, with the intel
lgent cooperation Of individuals, the
national death list could be reduced
each year by 100000. 1t would appear
that efforts toward this reduction are
well worth while.
The preser walton Of national yigor
should be natter Of national patriot
ism," says President Roosevelt. While
the presidents remarks have the merit
OF high mindedness, most of us may be
moved more easily and more effective
ly by an appeal to the claims OF self
preservation. But II we deliberately
ignore certain obvious health obliga-
tons, or II conditions beyond our con-
troll prevent us from taking proper
precautions for ourselves and our famI-
lies. then the situation demands that
this general public, by delegated author
10, take steps to protect the health Of
the people
Just here Is indicated the opening for
q national board OF health, and such an
Institution Is In prospect Of formation.
A committee OF 100 prominent educa-
tors, hygienists, scientists, philanthro-
pists and others has been formed, with
Professor Irving Fisher of Yale as
chairman. to urge the establishment
Of federal department Of health.
President Roosevelt's remark quoted
above Ii In approval Of this movement
The New York Times calls attention
to the lack Of uniform standards under
which the state can work without In
reference aud needless duplication Of
effort aud adds:
The water supply of New York city has
sources Ia Connecticut, For lack OF ju-
risdiction II ID diflcult to get pure water.
The milk delivered In this city comes from
several states and II is impossible to get
pure milk from the dairies. The Ohio
river, under the multiple Jurisdiction Of
the states through which II flows, repre-
aents 70 thousand miles of typhoid fever. !"
These are typical Of half a hundred
cases for constructive enactments al
| ready proposed by the committee Of one
hundred and awaiting the creation Of a
federal department of health. The nation
IN eager for the application of broad prin-
oiples that will insure longer life and the
| Improvement OF the general physique and
vitality CT It's people Health is the great
est Of all national assets.
Or. Nicholas Sem. a noted Chicago
physician and surgeon, is said to have
made the declaration recently that in
twenty-five years tuberculosis will be
eliminated from the human race "The
methods for the prevention of dis.
eases" he says, (which have developed
wonderfully in the last few years, lead
me to believe that the outlook for the
elimination Of the white plague is very
hopeful. Those affected will be lso.
lated. and II this Is done preventives
may he used until consumption win be
thing of the past"
| DIR Sem no doubt bases his highly
optimistic prediction upon the increas-
ing R1oyement for the study and treat
men1 OF consumption. Generations ago
smallpox was practically a universal
scomge. Today its tarrOrs are merely
nomlaal Cholera and yellow fever
likewise have been reduced by intelli.
gent supervision and control to a mini.
mum in countries which are truly civ
lllzed. Typhoid and tuberculosis are
next to be minimlzed by the scientific
process OF removing their cause.