Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-10-08
We Live Longer
And May Live Still Longer

IlSuCA, VAC CuAACuu PO1AVLCdI CNOA-
omist of Yale University, who in
one of his papers before the recent
International tuberculosis Con-
gress in Washington declared that
consumption cost the people Of the
United States more than a billion
dollars a year, is preprring an ex-
haustive report for the National
Conservation Commission, which
will contain not only those figures
but similar data on the economic
loss to the country from all other
preventable diseases.
Prof. Fisher is a member of the
National Conservation Commission
and for many years has been carry
ing on studies along these lines.
The Commission received letters
from physicians all over the coun-
try urging it to consider the bear
ing Of public health on the econo-
mic efficiency of the nation in its
efforts to ascertain the resources OF
theacountry. -.---:-- ~ ztzasss.s
The Commission from the begin
ming has contemplated reports on
the economic aspects of several
phases OF the Conservation move.
ment which affect the duration and
effectiveness of human life, but
Prof Fisher has undertaken to pre-
pare comprehensive statement Of
the whole subject of the relations
of public health to the general field
|of Conservation, and especially as
to the waste from preventable dis
eases and unnecessary deaths.
DR.. Fisher is professor of politi-
cal economy at Yale University
and chairman of the "Committee of
One Hundred" of the American
Association for the Advancement
of Science, which has for a long
time been carrying On propaganda
for the increase of national health
through the elimination of prevent.
able diseases. This Committee of
One Hundred is composed of ply
sicians and men engaged in active,
sociological work in every part of
the country, and the results of
their Investigations and experience
are all available to DR.. Fisher, sol
that his report ought to be the
most thorough-going and complete
of the situation ever made.
At the tuberculosis Congress,
Prof. Fisher declared that 1873, 900
persons die of consumption every
year. The cost of medical attend
ance and the loss of earnings before
death average at least $4,000, he
said, while if to this is added the
money that might have been earn
ed with health, the total loss in
each case is about IS, 900. He point
ed out, also, that the disease usual
ly attacks young men and women
lust at the time when they are
to earn money and cuts
eff their earning power for about
three years on an average, before
they die.
This subject of the economic val
ne to the country of general rails
ing of the average health came up
in the Governors Conference at
the White House in May. DR..
George NJ. Kober in his speech on
the Conservation of Life and Health
by Improved Water Supply at
the Conference presented figures
which showed that the decrease in
the "vital assets" of the country
through typhoid fever in a single
year is more than $3.50, 100000.
is spread by polluted
water largely so that the death
rate from this disease can be direct
ly reduced by the qualification of
city drinking water. DR.. Kober
quoted statistics to show that the
increased value of the water to the
city of Albany, where the typhoid
fever rate was reduced from 104 in