The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-27
would CONSERVE
PUBLIC HEALTH
DR.. Wiley Calls Attention to the
Wastefulness Of Disease
and Death
SUGGESTS CORRECTIVE STEPS
Would Restrict Marriages to Healthy
Persons and Seeregate Tuber-
culosis and Typhoid.

Kansas City. Mo-. Sept. 27--Dr Har-
vey w. Wiley of Washington. ID. c.,
chief Of the Federal Agriculture De-
partment Chemistry Bureau and exon
Grated star figure in the so-called
Wiley-Pure Food controversy, told the
National Conservation Congress last
night that the health Of the nation was
worth $4,000, 600. He made this es-
innate on the basis of 5000 per capita
average annual earning Of $4,000. O0C
wage earning adults, each representing
capital OF $4,000 invested at FIVE per
cent. This declaration was made in ar
address I'm which he advocated limita-
tion of marriage to normal and healthy
individuals, segregation of tubercuar
and typhoid fever patients as in small
pox, yellow fever and leper cases. es-
tablishment of a national department.
of health and rigid enforcement of
pure food and drug laws.
DIR. Wiley said that "if in the remote
future coal, iron, gold and silver should
become extinct. science would provide
substitutes" and that science would
secure the maintenance and increase
of the wealth i'm forest field and
stream"
Health Is Great Asset.
But there is another natural asset"
he continued lying at the very basis
of the prosperity of the country which
is sometimes overlooked. namely the
normal functioning of the human ma
chine, commonly expressed by the term
health This has more to do with the
happiness. prosperity and untllity of
the human organism than any of the
other natural assets which | have
mentioned" The dangers which con-
front this vast asset of the nation, he
said, were the Inheritance of disease
or of weakened bodies, poor nutrition
Unwholesome and adullerated food. the
taking Of disease by infection and un-
sanitary conditions; the latter caused
by overcrowding in big cities and by
lack of hygienic knowledge in the
country districts.
"In order to unity the national and
state activities making for the public
health" he declared, "the establish
ment Of a national department of
health is almost a necessity. Do not
be deferred by the cry which goes up
of n doctors trust The wise physi-
clans are i'm favor Of such a depart
ment not because it is a physicians
trust but because it is for the good
&C the people.
THE selfish physician will be glad
to see the present condition OF affairs
continue because it tends to produce
disease and thus throws into his
hands an increased practice.
Attacks Adulterated Drugs.
The altrustic physician believes in
prophylaxis rather than i'm therapeu-
tics. He is willing to sacrifice his own
income i'm his devotion to the public
service. Congress should take early
steps towards securing in the councils
OF the nation an adviser to the Presi-
dent charged with the protection Of the
heayth of the people and the proper
education of the people in matters re-
lating to their we'll being. both moral
and physical. What is needed is to
national government into one depart
ment having the prestige and power
of presidential advisement."
vigorously did Or. Wiley attack as
a "thief and "A corrupter of public
morals" of the manufactures who sells
man animal. he declared. is entitled to
a pure and wholesome diet "The drug
store and the grocery store, he said,
should be district concerns and not
sell each others wares. The man who
converts peanut shells into pepper. on
the ground that the poor man Is not
able to buy pure pepper is thief and
a corrupter of public morals. The rich
man possibly may be able to afford
peanut shells but the poor man never.
The man who dilutes the milk waters
the stock Of the wealthiest company i'm
the world.
Should Protect Children.
Especially Is this principle true" he
declared, "as regards children and no
penalty is too severe for the man who
deliberately puts a poisonous dye into
candy to sell the stick for a penny and
puts two thirds of the penny into his
own pocket or, when children of a
larger growth are able to frequent the
soda fountain why should
they be permitted to freely purchase
Injurious alkaloids or fraudulent sub
stitutes for sugar used as a sweetening
agent?
again. by what principle of poll
tical economy can the practice be JUS
titled of keeping wholesome food in
storage until its taste has vanished
and poisonous degradation products
have been produced.
advocating prohibition Of marriage
OF persons afflicted with incurablc dis
eases or imbecile or otherwise griev-
ously beset, he declared the power of
o.. ,r.fo,t ffc afff1apo from