The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-02

Inc aIcQI0l ana drug HapfGS are CON
staptly adding new victims to the de-
generate list and to the death roll.
Suicides are increasing and now
reach the enormous total of about IT,
600 annually.
Lynohings and burnings-at-tha-
stake continue, and are common only
to our country.
Attempts upon human life by indi-
viduaIs and mobs under trihing provo
cations, or none at all, are obviously
increasing.
Over 5000 murders are committed
every year, and it is estimated that but
an average Of 116 murderers are ex-
ecuted for these crimes. We have the
appalling estimated homicide record of
over 100 per 100000 population as
against seven in Canada, nine in Great
Britain and fifteen in Italy.
In the United States the death rate
above age 40 has increased steadily
for years (ahout q per cent since
1880, while it has remained virtually
stationary in England and Wales.
The important organs of the body
are wearing out too soon-the diseases
of old age are reaching Town into the
younger age periods.
The death rate from the ~degenera-
tive diseases of the heart, blood YES
sells and Kidneys, including apoplexy,
has increased over 100 per cent since
1880. These diseases claim over $780,
900 lives annually.
The doctors tell us that fully so per
cent of these deaths are preventable or
postponable If the disease is discover
ed in time.
Periodical health examinations
would detect these chronic diseases in
time to check or cure them.
All of our money, all of our energy,
seem to be directed against diseases
that can be communicated. Is not a
life lost from Bright's disease as val
liable as one lost by typhoid fever?
The annual loss from pneumonia
aggregates $4,000 lives, a large por-
ton Of which Is due to weakened bod
lily resistance resulting from these de-
generative affections.
Cancer, a battling disease of the de-
g~enerative class to which our people
in their present physical condition are
highly susceptible, claims $4,000 lives
annually and is increasing very fast.
Deaths from external cancer alone
have increased So per cent in ten
years.
P~ellagra, a deadly plague new to his
country, is increasing rapidly in some
of our southern states, and it eXcites
but slight public concern.
over lDU,UUU AIIlBTlCdI5 are ueSITby-
ed annually by tuberculosis. We know
how to prevent 1t, but our taxpayers
object to the expense and leave the
battle almost wholly to charity.
Nearly 1000, 600 afflicted people are
spreading the poison of tuberculosis
to the well, with virtually no official
restraint Or supervision because of the
expense.
Over $4,000 Americans are still sac
rifiCed annually to the p~reventable filth
disease-typhoid fever. About 300, 900
suffer from it and are more or less i'm
paired by it.
Other germ diseases are wasting
more lives than typhoid and tubercu-
losis combined. We are warning
against them, but compared to the
lives still being lost our efforts are
feeble and only partially effective.
Over 10000 Americans are killed an
nually by accidents and various forms
of violence. Cur efforts to prevent the
steady increase Of this waste have
failed.
The annual economic loss due to
~preventable diseases and death is con-
~servatively estimated at 81, 800, 600, 900,
and our fire loss at about $250,000, 900.
To prevent fire waste our cities
spend through the public service ap-
p~roXimately $1.65 per capita, and to
prevent life waste. SO cents per capita.
1t Is estimated that $500, 900 of our
people are constantly suffering from
~preventable disease, and that during
the next ten years American lives
equalling the population of the Pacific
coast and Rocky mountain states (over
5000, 000) will be needlessly destroyed
if the present estimated mortality from
preventable and ~postponable disease
continues.
These are the conditions we are ask
ing our people to correct. Is there
anything unreasonable in the request?
The money loss is stupendous, but if
this does not impress our people, sure
ly they should be stirred to action
when they reflect upon the immeasuc-
able sum of sorrow, suffering, poverty.
immortality. crime and the hereditary
degeneracy which results from this
wholesale wrecking and destruction Of
human life from ~preventable cause.