The Sentinel=record., 1910-01-21
AMERICA COULD
 CHECK TYPHOID NATIONAL. DISGRACE BECAUSE THE DISEASE IS NOT GIVEN
 MORE ATTENTION.
Harvard Physician Addresses Life in. surance President on Question of
 Vital Health Importance.


 Washington, Jan. 20-"There is more typhoid fever in this country than in any other civilized hand" saii Dr. J. Rosenau of the Harvard medical school, Boston, Mass, in an address delivered nthis city today before 7he third annual meeting of the As sociation of Life insurance Presidents.
 The annual total is 35,0o0 deaths. and over S50.00O cases. This is a na- tional disgrace and IS due entirely to lack of education on the subject. We probably know more about typhoid and its methods of spread and the means for it's control than we do Of any other disease
 Yet right here in our capital city there is an excessive amount of ty. phoid and this sad story finds repeti- ton In ali our large cities. If the public were taught to fear typhoid as ia does case of cholera there would soon be a mend of it.
 Tn advocating a public health mil itia in the cause of preventive medi- cine, do not mean a marching col umn of men in uniforms armed with microscopes and disinfeetants The public health militia that l nave in mind calls for the enrollmenr of all good citizens.
 Preventive medicine is the watch word of the hou rand enlistment in the cause can come only through ed ucation.
 There are two important factors in public health work One is the gain ing of new knowledge through scien- tific research; the other is the diffus- ion of this knowledge through educa- tion. With prophetic foresight and characteristic energy, Harvard Uni versity has established a chair Of pre-. vensive medicine as an integral part Of it's educational system.
 Not only the medical profession, but the public at large. should be en- frightened. The scientific and profes- sional corps may be the regular army. but the public must be the reserve militia in any effective warfare against disease.
 When the people understand that typhoid fever Is as preventable as are railroad accidents we shall have a casus belli. and the courage neeoad for a victorious campaign The gov einment now protects us from cholera, ieprosy, yellow fever and other exotic plaques, why should it moi also guard us against the dangers that are pres enf as well as those that are but re- motefy imminent?
 '-sPresent Hangers, such as tubercu- osis, pneumonia typhoid fever and in. fections which reap the highest toll of death among us and are foemen worthy of our best efforts.
 When this matter is better un- derstood the state will be required to protect it's citizens against such pre- yentable diseases and the officials ap- pointed to safeguard us will be held responsible just as the law now holds employers liable for preeyntable acci- dents. Organizations like life insur- ance companies. with their legions Of doctors. armies of agenxs and a host of patrons. could lend an effect i've and useful hand in this worthy warfare against disease
 The life insurance officials not only as organizations, but as individ- ual citizens. could and should help in this campaign of education. and ought to foster fruitful and useful legislation of public health char acter.
 Tt is the plain duty of the public health militia to see that our govern ing bodies. whether the federal gov ernment. the state legislatures or the municipal assemblies, enact public health measures of an obvious, use fnl and tried nature and also provide for their enforcement"
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