Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-13
CAMPAIGN AGAINST
|. PREvENTAbLE DISEASES
American Health League Pro-
poses to Add Fifteen Years
to Average Life.

ever 81 500 600 600 Is each year belnS
lost to this country through failure TO
check preventable disease. facts and
figures were today made public in
this city by the American Health Lea
que, which is urging Congress to.earry
out President Taft's recommendation
for uniting government bureaus eAer-
cising health functions in one Bureau
OF Public Health" In a statement
prepared by Prof. Irving Fisher
president OF the league. it is pointed
out that this enormous economic loss
in life and potential earnings can only
be checked by medical Investigation.
education on hygiene and by improy-
ing the efficiency of the municipal
state and national health service.
Within one generation the average
American life can be heightened fif-
teen years by proper application OF
preventing disease, il is asserted.
To conserve their vital resources
by the establishment OF national
health bureau, Is the most wise and
farsighted economy for the people of
this country. the American Health
League declares, since statistics show
that at all times over 100000 people
are seriously i'll in the United States
end fully half of this sickness is pre-
ventable. OF the 100000 lives that
are lost each year in this country
through tuberculosis, at least a hun
dred thousand could be saved, it IS
shown, as the result of proper pre-
ventive measures and the proposed
systematized activities by the Fed
eral government. Though all the
principal national parties advocated
in their platforms the establishment
of a Federal health bureau in the last
presidential campaign and the Ameri-
can people as whole have ever since
supported the project. it is rumored
that some opposition is now develop
ing at Washington from the same
sources that are arrayed against every
effort for the conservation of the ma
tons resources.
Perfect balance Of work, play and
sleeq is required in the ideal condi-
tons Of health, Professor Fisher de-
clares In speaking of the conserya-
ton of life through personl hygine.
Healthful environment and nutrition
are also urged upon every American
as a matter CT prime Importance i'll
individually strengthening the vital
resources of the nation The deadly
effects of such drugs Is cocaine,
upon which the American Health Lea
que has induced Congress to place
prchibitive tariff, are mentioned. The
immoderate use OF alcohol and nico-
tine should be guarded against. Pro
fessor Fisher tells the ublic in his re-
port as a member Of the National
Conservation Commission. 70 that
body: adding that the somewhat in
furious effects of coffee, tea and con-
d;ments. though less than many other
evils. should be included IN any list
Of the imperfections in respect 10 by
giene OF existing habits of life That
on the European continent and in
some parts of England coffee which
has been practically freed from the
drug caffeine is being largely used
and made part Of the daily diet OF
such health resorts as Carlsbad, BAD
Neuheim and N,alieDbsi has been
called to tire attention of these in
yestigators Of even the staples OF the
American breakfast table.
Such representative bodies as the
National Grange have SHOWN Us by
their endorsements OF cur project that
the American people ss a whole seek
to benefits that viii follow the estsD-
tishments OF a national health bureau"
said Professor Fisher, today The
national government should exercise
at least three public health functions
Investigation. dissemination Of infoT-
nation and administration We have
nov Al Washington several bureaus
exercising health functions. which
only need 70 be concentrated under
enc department TO become co-crdinat-
Ell parts of greater health sevice
worthy Of the nation. believe the
public realizes the gravity 81 the SIT
uafion ard viii give US its active sup
port in urging congress 70 carry out
the Presidents recommendation Tor
an adeguste government organization
10 heac the work Ct Increasing the VI
taiity q our nation