The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-28
COST e sIolxsrs6.


 Does the average reader ever try to imagine what sickness costs the people of this country every year! We do not refer to the misery and suf- fering and mental anguish caused by sickness and death. for these cannot bs. estimated or measured. What we aiiude to is the actual loss in doliars on account of medicine. .ioss of time, medical and other attendance and all other loss that may be estimated in money or its equivalent.
 We are led to these reflections by a recent statement issued by Profes- sor J. W. Jenks. of Cornell. who states that the actual cost of sickness each year to the people of the United States Is fully one billion dollars. and. this estimate does not include minor cases of sickness where the services of physicians are not required. and this he estimates at not less than q quarter of billion each year. Nor does the Professor include in his estimate the loss of vitality arising from impru- dence in eating and drinking. from over work. loss of sleep. and other losses of the kind which cannot be computed or estimated in money, and which he believes would amount to much more than the direct cost of ill., ness if there were any way to get at the cost.
 These estimates and conclusions, significant and startling as they are. become all the more SO when we re- fleet on how much of this sickness and loss could be avoided The opin- ion also expressed by Professor Jenks. as we find 1t referred to in . con- temporary. that ''nine-tenths of this loss could be saved is impressive. Ill., ness sometimes comes in spite of con- scientious and persistent endeavors to avoid 1t. but 1t comes vastly more of- ten as the result of isxity in or de- iiberate neglect of such endeavors. The majority of us. who have experi- erieed more or less of 1t. can, If we will bs honest with ourselves. recall risks we have taken unnecessarily. or precautionary measures we have neg iected to take. to. the end that we have. in effect. invited illness instead of repeiiing it."
 While some may be inclined to doubt the accuracy of the conclusions of the professor. 1t must be admitted that there Is much in them to be se- riousiy considered. All know that there are diseases which cannot be avoided. so far as observation goes People set sick without any shadow of blame on their part that any one can understand, and may suffer and die without fault of their own. but these apparently unavoidable ailments lack very much of comprising all cases of illness. Every obssryant person knows that people take risk s and chances unnecessarily. and thus trifie with fate. as 1t were. It would be difficult, we imagine. to find q man of mature years who cannot recall ons or moro occasions when he has been made III entirely by his own fault. and the same thing applies to women. Men and women who ought to know better expose themselves. neglect to take proper precautions against the weath- CT. be knowingly guilty Of imprudence in eating or drinking. and in various other ways violate the piainest rules of health and then pay the penalty.
 Just how many cases of sickness could be avoided if men and women would be careful cannot be told. of course. but there are many. beyond a doubt. Be that as 1t may. the con- clusions arrived at by the authority we have quoted are certainly interest ing and significant viewed only iron, the dollars and cents standpoint Reading the figures we are bound to admit that sickness costs too muchs ------s-aa-s.----
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