Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-06
Is Disease a Crime?

Not so very long ago q popular magazine
published an editorial article in which the
writer asserted. in substance. that all dis
ease should be regarded as criminal. Ger
tain il Is that much OF the sickness and
suffering of mankind is due to the viola
ton Of certain Of Natures laws, which, il
understood and implicitly foliowed. would
result in the prevention OF much Of the
sickness and suffering of humanity. But
to say that all sickness should be regarded
as criminal must. on a little sober reflee-
ton, appeal to every reasonable and inteIi-
gent Individual as radically wrong.
Thousands suffer from contagious and In
fictitious diseases most innOcently and un-
consciously contracted. Other thousands
suffer and die of cancerous affections. the
cause Of which no. medical man has yet
been wise enough TO ferret out and deter
mine. and which cannot. therefore. be
avoided. Then. too. many times stress Of
circumstances compel people 10 expose
themselves 10 various disease-producing
agencies. such as malaria, bad air In over
heated factories. coal mines and many
other institutions, and surely those who
suffer therefrom should not be branded
as criminals.
insofar as disease Is contracted or
brought on One's self from harmful ex-
eesses. oyer-eating. intemperance and other
like indulgeneies and debsuchery, we think,
with our editor friend. that it should be
regarded as little less than criminal On
the other hand. Ne thing IL would be
harsh, unsympathetic, cruel yes. criminal,
TO condemn the poor. weak,
housewife who sinks under the heavy load
OF household cares and burdens which she
is oblige 10 struggle along under until she
suceumbs to the strain and over-exertion
and suffers from weaknesses. various dis
placements Of pelvic organs ana other de-
rangements peculiar TO her sex.
The too frequent bearing Of children, with
its exaeting demands upon the system,
coupled with the care, Worry and laoor Of
rearing a large family, Is often the cause
OF weakness. arrangements and debility
which the mother has 10 bear and which
are aggravated BY the many household
cares. and the hard and neser-snding work
which she is called upon TO perform Dr..
Pierce. the maker OF hat World-fsmed
remedy for woman's peculiar ills-Dr.
Pierce's Favorite Prescription-says that
one OF the greatest obstacles to the cure
OF this class Of maladies is the fact that
the poor. OverwOrked housewife can not
/ get the needed rest from her many house
hold cares and labor to enable her TO Sc
cure from the use OF his Prescription" It's
I fun benefits. It Is a matter OF frequent
experience. he says. In his extensive prsc-
tlee in these cases. 70 meet with those in
which his treatment failed by reason Of
the patent's inability 20 abstain from
hard work long enough TO be cured With
those suffering from D~rOlapsas. ante-ver-
sion and TetrO-version OF the uterus OF
other displacement OF the WOmanly organs.
il Is very necessary that. in addition %
taking his -Favorite Prescription" they
abstain from being very much, or for long
periods. on their feet All heavy lifting OF
~straining OF any kind should also be
aVokasd- As much outdoor air Is possible
with moderate. light exercise is also very
imrertaAt
II h Dr. Pierees observation hal many
housewives suffer much IN a Weakened cen