Arizona republican., 1910-11-19

have been because more important, JUS
in proportion as health and life ar,
more important than property interests
Since this has been so insisted upor
by political economists, an increasing
number of our more thoughtful public
men are coming to realize, as Glad
stone, Disraeli, Bismarck, Gambetta
and other real statesmen in the Older
countries did long ago. that a health
department at Washington, with
laboratories and research workers in
proportion to our powers and wealth
and the vast interests involved, as
would investigate the causes of the
common diseases not yet understood, To
gather, tabulate and make public the
facts in regard to every case of sick
ness and death which occurs in every
county and state, with prevention as
the only object, is as much a necessity,
if our people are to have the benefac-
| tiOns of modern science utilized daily
for the projections of their homes and
families. as is the supreme court of the
United states. This is done in 9TH
er well-regulated countries, as it is re-
CARELESS of of expense for domestic
animals, crops, trees and similar in
terests with us, and the time has come
| for voters to quit sending men to con-
| greSs, legislatures, or other positions,
who have not sense to appreciate the
value Of the health and lives OF human
beings.
For similar reasons a state board of
health, with ample funds and labora-
tories, and with members so compen-
stated that they can give their full time
to this life saving work, is as import
ant as the appellate court could posi-
| bly, be- And still more important, a
board of health for each city and coun-
ty, or for the two combined. with fire.
quent inspections of schools. Gairies.
abattoirs, bakeries, groceries. factories.
| renements. sewerage and garbage sys-
TENS, and with laboratories to which
any citizen may bring water. food
drugs, disease products. or anything
else suspected as a danger to his fami-
ly. for analysis without personal ex-
pense, is ef as much practical import
ance as any court or other official
agency could be. And il is not worth
while to try to do these things with
out a health officer with special train
ing and aptitude for his work, and such
salary that he can devote his entire
time to 1t; for no man can be the kind
of health officer here described and
practice medicine. The positions are
so incompatible that it would be just as
reasonable to expect a lawyer to act as
Judge and support his family by the
practice OF law at the same time. 1t
would be the best of investments to
provide such comprehensive health sys-
TENS everywhere, as substitutes for the
political make shifts so generally in
vogue. because the greatest annual tax
upon our people is not that paid into
municipal. county, state and national
treasures, but the long unrecognized
tax for preventable sickness and funer-
ais
With such aims and possibilities be-
fore il. fully realizing the magnitude of
the reform, the obstacles, and the self
sacrificing labor required to carry It on,
the American Medical association with
brances reaching into every state and
county, and about $4,000 members.
joining hands with all others, individual
or organized. who will take part in it.
has entered upon broad campaign of
education which IT is hoped will ultim
ately reach every home IL this land. In
the very nature of it, medical men must
lead this movement in most cOmmuni
ties. and to better qualify them to do
this. carefully planned post graduate
course, adapted to the needs Of all
schools of practice with weekly or
more frequent meetings, and attractive
rewards for those who complete the
four years work, has been placed with
in the reach of the profession of ov-
cry county without cost. Thus. in time
it is proposed that an up-to- date doc
tor will be placed within the reach of
every family now without one and at
the same time leaders for this reform
be developed or encouraged.
In addition to its scientific work it is
proposed that each county society shall
hold joint meetings with teachers in
stitutes. women's clubs, editors, law
yers. ministers, druggists, business. la
Dor and other organizations, for dis !
Cussion and instruction as to matters |
of mutual interest. Later. through !
teachers and others, the aim will be to |
reach every school, child and family !
with practical information as to the |
cause and prevention of sickness. In /
this plan. the physician is also TO be a |
moral as well as a physical leader of /
this people. setting an example of clean. ]
healthy living in his own person and
home, urging the same standard of /
for men and women, and Sc
curing the cooperation of teachers,
ministers and druggists in warning the
people. the young especially, of the |
dangers, of immortality, habit producing
liquors and drugs, and all other things
at enmity with pure living.
As will be readily seen, this reform
involves just such a revolution in the
practice of medicine as has gone on so
rapidly in the practice of law in re-
cent years. Lawyers were formerly en-
gagged almost entirely in conducting
litigation in the courts. Now. corpora
tions and wise business men employ !
them almost exclusively to keep them
out of the courts. SO, il is only a
question of time and popular intelli-
yence when a large percent of my pro-
fessiOn will be acting mainly as medic
Al advisers for families, to keep them
we'll. instead of the more difficult and
expensive task of treating them when
sick All sickness cannot be prevented
With present knowledge. but most Of
he common diseases which are de-
tructive to health and life in children
md young people can, and with proper