The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-10-29
PUBLIC HEALTH
AND CONSERVATION.

Prof. Irving Fisher, the eminent DO
litical economist of Yale university
who in one of his papers before the
recent international tuberculosis con-
gress in Washington, declared that
consumption costs the people of the
United States more than a billion dol
lars year, is preparing an exhaus-
tive report for the national concerca-
ton commission, which will contain
not only these figures but similar data
on the economic loss to the country
from all other preventable diseases.
Prof. Fisher Is member of the ma
tional conservation commission and
for many years has been carrying on
studies along these lines. The COM
mission received letters from physi-
clans all over the country urging it TO
consider the bearing of public health
on the economic efficiency of the ma
ton In its efforts to ascertain the re-
sources of the country.
The commission from the beginning
has contemplated reports on the econ
omic aspects of several phases of the
conservation movement which affect
the duration and effectiveness of hu-
man life, but Prof. Fisher has under
taken to prepare a comprehensive
statement of the whole subject of the
relations of public health to the gen.
eral field of conservation, and espec-
tally as to the waste from preventable
diseases and unnecessary deaths.
DR.. Fisher is professor or political
economy at Yale university, and chair
man Of the "Commottee of One Hun
dren" of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, which
has for long time been carrying on a
propaganda for the increase of nation
al health through the elimination of
preventable diseases. This committee
of one hundred is composed of physi-
clans and men engaged in active So
Geological work in every part of the
country, and the results of their in
vestisations and experience are all
available to DR.. Fisher, so that his re-
port ought to be the most thorough
going and complete summary of the
situation ever made.
At the tuberculosis congress, Prof.
Fisher declared that $4,000 persons
die of consumption every year. The
cost of medical attendance 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 earned with health, the to-
tai loss in each case is about $4,000.
he pointed out, also, that the disease
usually attacks young men and wo-
men just at the time when they are be-
ginnlhg to earn money and cuts off
Their earning power for about three
years on an average, before they die.
rms subject OF the economic value
TO tha country of general raising
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 de-
crease in the vital assets" of the
country through typhoid fever in
single year is more than $3.50, OOO, 600
typhoid is spread by polluted water
largely so that the death rate from
this disease can be directly reduced by
the publication of city drinking water
Or. kober quoted statistics to show
That the increased value Of the water
to the city of Albany, where the ty-
pnOld FEVER rate was reduced from
1O4 In 100000 to rs by an efficient fill
tration plant, amounts to $475,OOO a
year. OF which $350,OOO may be con-
sidered real increase to the vital as
sets OF the CITY, Census bureau figures
show that the average annual death
rate from typhoid In cities with con-