The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-09-03

IdhC ~ OOluCI.
plies and things affecting health, is
of as much practical Importance as
any court in the jurisdiction can be,
and the time has come for people to
quit putting men in office, either as
legislators or administrators of the
law, who have not sense enough to
understand this. 1t is worse than USE
less to try to do these things any
where without a health officer, who
has been specially trained for this
work, whose heart is in it and who
is so supported that he can devote his
entire time to the duties of his office.
No man can be an effective health Off
Ger, in the sense in which l am speak
ing and practice medicine. The posi-
lions are absolutely incompatible. 1t
would be just as wise to expect a
judge to occupy the bench and prac-
tice law for his support at the same
time. This is so important that it is
worthy of serious consideration if it
would not be better for all imperfect
ly equipped and unsupported health
boards in the country to resign, so
that the people would be brought face
to- face with the knowledge that they
have no proper protection for their
homes and families, than for existing
conditions to continue. And it will
pay a hundredfold to do these things,
because the greatest tax on your peo-
pie is not what is paid into your city,
county, state and national treasures,
but is just as definite, though unrecog-
nized, tax levied upon them for pre-
ventable sickness and Unnecessary
funerals.
e realize fully the magnitude of
the reform we have undertaken. We
know that the obstacles are not only
woven into our laws and the very
fabric of our governmental system, but,
even more than that, into the fixed
habits of thought and mode of life
of the people. They have always
trembled and paled at the report of
cholera, yellow fever, plague or other
exotic or unusual epidemics, from
which they have never been in real
danger and one case would create
a panic in almost any community, but
most of them look camly and hopeless
ly upon tuberculosis, typhoid fever
and other domestic p~estilences, their
real and most constant dangers, and
the conditions which produce and
spread them, as evils which must be
endured. 1 dwell upon this, and
lterate and reiterate as to the danger
OF this ignorance, misinformation and
lndlfference, because legislation and
appropriations, however complete, un-
less supported by public sentiment.
have little real value in such a work
except as they furnish the means and
object lessons for popular education.
Knowing all of this, the American
Medical association, with branches
reaching in every state and county,
with over $4,000 members, has en-
listed and, in a broad and systematic
way, joining hands with the Ameri.
al Health League and all others who
will take part in it, has begun a cam.
paign of education to enlist the lay
leaders of public opinion in every
community I'M the entire country.
In the very nature of things medical
men must lead this movement In
every community, and. with this In
view, a careful devised postgraduate
or university extension course. ad.
apted to the special needs of FRACTION.
ers of all schools or creeds, with week.
ly or semi-weekly meetings and at
tractive rewards for those who COM
plete the four years course, has been
furnished to every county society in
the United States without cost. BY
means OF such facilities and incen.
t1ves to study it is proposed in time.
not only and that up-to-date, modern
real doctor may be put within the
reach of every family in every county,
but that the leaders and instructors
for this reform may be developed
where they do not already exist. Every
FAMILY is in danger whose physician
Is not kept informed and broadened
by joint study and constant associa.
tion with the members of his county
society and intelligent people should
know this ! m selecting or changing
doctors and no excuse should be ac.
cepted for failure not only to belong
but to attend it's meetings.
In addition to it's scientific work
1T Is expected that each county society
or school will first hold frequent Joint
meetings with local organizations of
teachers, woman's clubs, ministers.
awyers. editors, druggists, commercial.
n other bodies, which create
n mould public opinion and then
with the general public. for the pur-
pose OF such p%racticval discussion and
mutual instruction along health and
medical lines as will further this
movement. AS the work goes on.
through the teachers, by means of
s~tereopticon and ether demonstrations.
1t is proposed that every school and
ultimately every child and family in
this country will he reachod WITH nra ~,