The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-09
WOULDFIGHTREAPER



New Haven. Aug. s..-tspecial.)-
Profssaof D. Peace Norton OF Yale
University says:
Among the most destructibie wastes
IL nations. preventabis death exacts
the heaviest toll. Every hour Of the
DAY, thousands of deaths occur and
tens Of thousands OF cases OF protract-
I'd illness. A large proportion Of
these deaths are due to Ignorance.
BY ignorance. we should exclude all
eases In which death 10 due to un-
known causes or conditions. BY ig-
norance, we mean simply those cases
In which the causes were preventable
IN accordance with our present knowl-
sake, but the individuals were ignor-
ant Of the knowledge possessed by
others.
sdge exists, It 10 not easy for an IN
aIvidual to acquire Il. Dependable
knowledge would be In great demand.
provided the public could be assured
that the matter did not cover up some
deceptive advertising. The age IL
prone to suspicion, and not without
Justice. TO read a carefully prepared
statement on the dust nuisance In
cities and ind that 1t IL a publication
OF the gas companies who are selling
xas tar for dustless roads, or that
movement for pure food. heralded
throughout the land. 10 being engineer
ed In the interest of pickle factory,
a not only depressing, but repellant.
Doubtless. much good Is accomplished
BIZ those commercial movements which
travel under philanthropic move
ment. But the people have q right
to demand that this knowledge shall
be systematized and placed In con-
venfent shape for all.
with our annual appropriations OF
billions of dollars. by national, State
and municipal government. we have
right to expect that those agencies
shall handle this matter with efficiency.
AZ II Is, the health officers are al
most everywhere poorly provided for.
In general, they are doing little more
than to collect vital statistics. Some
OF the progressive communities, how
ever. are accomplishing great deal.
ITO level up all health agencies to
the rank OF the most progressive. 20
eliminate the duplication now In
voived In disconnected offices by prop
erfy organizing a national department
OF health and to disseminate in b
systematic way millions Of pamphlets
containing directions how to avoid
disease would accomplish more In a
brief space Of time In reducing the
death rate than even the health ex-
perts themselves completely recognize.
s.I.ife-saving on the sea is eonsti-
tutional. How about life-saving on
land7 Saving the lives OF hogs. cat
he, plants. even cotton and figs. all
nf II Is constitutional. How about
human life saving in the cities?
.swrapped in red tape and guided
roo often by commercial motives, pub
lie health agencies In all nations are
apt TO wage war against yellow fever
in the colonies, hook-worm In the in
suiar possessionsN and the plague in
the far-off tropics.
aTherefore, we should support those
health oficers here and there who are
accomplishing SO much at home. To
Or John 8. Fulton, Secretary OF the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Congress, is due the
success of the Anti-Tuberculosis Con-
efess. 1t Isl understand. the judg-
rnent Of DR.. Fulton that an accurate
census ,of our greatest needs. With
.stsf seeial bookkeeping even intellikent
poIftau Life Insurance Company Is
able to state that 46 per cent OF deaths
between 20 and ~ years of age among
the policy holders were due to tuber-
euiosis. Against this loss, this com
pany is distributing 100000 pam
phlets on tuberculosis. 1t the Gov
eminent continues derelict in the field
Of public health. 1t is possible that
life Insurance companies may usurp
this function. The preservation of
health Is a totally distinct problem
from curing the sick. The latter COR
responds with wrecking companies on
the ocean. The former to the light
houses along the sea coast. The ma:
rine insurance companies have always
supported the Government in efforts
to extend the life saving service. It
is hopeful sign that the life insur-
ance cumpanies are now leading the
way for a national department of
health"