Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-24

Statistics Indicate that q million and a
half persons die in the United States
every year; 10000 persons are I'll all
the time. over 5.0oa0oO homes are thus
affected and the lives OF 2S.0Oo0Oo million
persons more or less endangered and
made wrstched by mortality or fear OF
the same At least eOoo00 OF these deaths
are preventable. in the judgment OF eX-
perienced physicians and scholars OF ma
tional reputation
Think what Georgia's share of this loss
aggregates. On the basis of a popula-
ton OF 100000 I'm 1910 and death rate
OF la per cent. 1880 people are laid
10 rest in this state every year. Nearly
a. per cent OF these deaths are prevent
able and largely represent a sacrifice of
innocent babies and children Is 1t not
worth while to try and save a part OF
this precious heritage 10 the state? Sta
tistics Indicate that there are probably
IL 500 persons In Georgia sick all the
time This represents a loss to the state
OF at least s1I25Oo per day. or for the Sls
working days in a year, $55,zl2.5Oo. Sure
~ il is worth while saving part OF this
material loss IL IL is as easy Of achieve
meat as physicians Of unQuestioned abil-
ity contend
tuberculosis will destroy at least $780,
90 out OF the present population Of the
United States. What Is the state gov
eminent doing 10 disseminate knowledge
in the homes concerning how TO protect
society from the frightful inroads OF this
plague OF all the ages? The losses from
typhoid fever are enormous, yet the de-
struction OF the house ny or at least pre-
venting its access TO the home through
the use OF screens and the protection
OF the water supply are simple means
by which this plague may be brought I'm
der control. Screening the houses and
covering the ponds with oil will prevent
the malaria-producing mosquito extort-
ing its toll OF human suffering. A lit
tie knowledge disseminated concerning
milk as a source of disease will prevent
innumerable deaths TO children In both
urban and rural communities. -Unques-
tionably the dietary can be improved and
made to more nearly furnish the supply
Of nourtshment which the body requires.
Were the elementary principles involved
IN the chemical composition OF the va
rfous food materials more generally APP
preciated the plague OF indigestion which
afTlfcts the American people as a race
would be greatly reduced and eliminat-
ed altogether in thousands OF cases. The
American people are said to be the most
wasteful in the world. The increased
cost OF living viii presently force
change in methods and Ideals. Why not
teach our people. Irrespective OF class or
society. the fundamental truths concern
ing the preparation and utilization OF
food products which scientific investiga-
tons have revealed? To do this means
10 save millions OF dollars uselessly vast
ed in the state every year.
Is II not worth while TO ease the suf
fering OF the sick by a better understand
ing OF the simple principles OF home
nursing and sanitation? Is 1t not worth
while to organize an active and system
attic campaign for the dissemination of
the essential information which has been
accumulated through the experience OF
our savants but has not been called spe-
cihcaIIy TO the attention OF even many
Of the so-caIled well-informed persons
Of our day and generation?
These suggestions are not made In any
spirit of levity or criticism, but from a
profound desire to check the menace
which the spread OF disease causes. TO
place our dietary on a more economical
and sane basis 10 save the lives OF citi
zens. and prevent the useless waste OF
enormous sums Of money.
In Justification Of our contention We
cite the fact that extension work for
women has been organized and success
fully prosecuted in North Carolina since
1906 In that year 81 meetings were
held in Is counties: in 1909. 70 meetings
were held In 81 counties North Carolina
tenth OF all the meetings held for wo-
men in the United States.
In the Province Of Ontario, Canada.
institute work for women was organized
g number of years ago. In 1903. 4.7TO
meetings were held and were attend
ed BY IIs.s64 persons; 6,S32 papers were
read and some S16.31I expended in the
organization and extension OF the work.
II Is needless TO say that when papers
were prepared and presented not only by
the leaders in local communities visited
but by the experts employed by the
government on such subjects as asepsis
in the home. disease germs, infant NOR
tally. water systems in the country
home. hints for the home nurse, labor
saving in the home. the worry and
waste OF modern housekeeping, the cul-
ture OF flowers. bacterial contamina-
ton OF milk. the care OF milk, house
plants. household conveniences. foods
their cooking and use, the farm, fruit
and vegetable garden. poultry raising,
butter making on the farm, educating
the girls on the farm, literature in the
home, what 20 eat and how TO prepare
IL. the influence OF the woman in the
home. etc, that good inconceivable in
its silent influences was effected for
the material uplift of the sphere Of wo-
mans activity: the home.
It is the desire Of the Georgia edera-
ton Of Women's clubs that work of
such an essential. far-reachSng and COM
prehensive character be undertaken here
in Georgia II there are those who
question the advisability Of II they
will be converted IL they will but in