The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-06

There are 100000 preventabie deaths occurring among the people of the United States every year. If this number could be lessened enough to lengthen the span of the average life only five years. the economic gain therefrom would amount to $500, ,000, 900 a year. The American Association for the Advancement of Science would cut down the death rate and extend the span of life, and is just now labor ing earnestly in that direction, and with every assurance of success. Through it's Committee of One Hun dred on National Health-a committee which is practically a roster of the 100 leading spirits of American progress it is waging a campaign which seems certain to result in as much govern mental interest in the human being as is already shown in the hog. horses sheep and cattle.
 This committee is urging the conso1- idation Into one bureau of all the na- tional agencies for the promotion of public health to be administered by a man eminent in the science of pre- ventive medicine. Already 1t has se- cured the endorsement of the President to its aims, and its emissaries came away from Chicago and from Denver with blanks in the Republican and Democratic platforms favoring the es- IaDuSnI0enL or buCn h UuECAA. \ AAO Independence League has followed suit. so that no matter who is elected in November. the Committee of One Hun dred will win.
 sIt is probable that Congressional &C., ton will take the form of law es- tablishing a Department of Health whose head shall be a member of the Cabinet. That is what the Committee of One Hundred desires and what 1t is seeking to secure. When any one comes forward with the objection that such a course is paternal in its na-. ture, he is met with the reply that no line of governmental activity could be more paternal in its nature than the Department of Agriculture, and that notwithstanding thts fact no branch or the Government service has yielded better returns for the money put into if than this one. Not long ago the on expenditures in the Ag- ricultural Department from the House of Representatives asked Secretary Wilson to furnish them with an es- innate of the value of the Department to the people of the United States. Tax" ing only such farm progress as every bodv admits has been due to the work of the Department, he found that they aggregated the enormous total of x2S2'- 00O. GOO. The Committee of One Hun dred believes that what the Depart" ment of Agriculture has done for the uplift of the farm. Department or Health could do for the health of the people.
 The work of the Department of Ag- riculture is educational. Its duty is to reach out to the individual farmer and show him what to do and how to do if in a way that will yield greater returns to him and the nation. It has been slow work. It began in 1899, when Congress appropriated money for getting new and rare seeds for the farmers of the country. It has done wonders, but 1t has made little more than a beginning. When every far mer in the country substitutes science for main strength and brains for mus cle, the aggregate annual contribution to the national wealth will be nearer $20, ,00o. 900 than $s.000.000, as 1t Is to-. day So 1t will be with the work of the proposed Department of Health. Its final success would be measured by how completely 1t reached every one of the 90,OOo 900 people in the United States and enlisted their cooperation in the prevention of disease. Its aim would be to reach the homes of the people, teaching them how to be scien- tifically clean. how to have sanitary surroundings, and how to maintain good health.
 Today there are at least three bu- reaus in the Government working to- ward one and the same end-the health of the people. But they are working of one another and there is much travelling over the same road, and much needless expenditure of money. Each has contributed great ser vice to the public health; each has rem dered great aid in educating the peo- pIe in the protection of their own health and that of their neighbors. likewise, each has contributed it's quota to the creation of the public sentiment which has resulted in the massage of such henefcent measures as the quarantine law. the pure food law. and the meat inspection law. But had thev been working together as one harmonious whole the results accomp- iished might have been even more val uable to the people and to the na- tion. This Is the view the Committee of One Hundred takes. at any rate, and which leads it to advocate their con- solidation.
 One of these bureaus Is the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service. of which pr. Walter Wyman is the head. This bureau is already accomplishing many things in the direction of the aims of the Committee of One Hun dred. pr. Wyman has been the lead ing spirit in the promulgation of in- ternationaI health regulations. and has reduced the dangers of the importation of contagious diseases to a minimum. His bureau has made many investIga- ttona as to the spread of contagion. and at all times is ready to corporate with State boards of health in find. ing and eradicating the causes of epi- dennIcs occurring within States. Its re- commendations as to the future are of