Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-02

and it is hoped that the recently ap-
pointed membership committee may
bring about this ch-to-be-desired
result.
During the heated months Of last
summer an appeal was made for con-
tributions to fund to be used for
the purchase of milk, eggs and ice, the
response was most generous, but the
fund is now about exhausted and the
supply of milk and eggs to tubercular
patients must be discontinued, un-
less additional contributions are made;
it was not necessary to expend any OF
this money for ice, as all that was
needed was donated by the ice COM
pany.
Our work is growing, and all the
while we are learning lessons from it.
Among those which have been brought
home to us with the greatest force
during the past year, not the least
has been the evil of child labor. More
and more do we feel that every child
born into the community must get u
square deal, more and more do we
recognize it as truth, that COM
munity cannot afford under any cir
cumstances, to let any child grow up
with less than a full, square, fight
ing chance, and that one of the deep
est truths in sociology ever spoken
was Whose shall offend one of these
little ones g it were better for him
that milestone were hanged about
his neck, and that he were drowned
in the depths of the sea-"
a certain amount of play is neces-
sary to the child, and when the hours
which should be spent in play and
sleep are spent in the factory or
store we who while knowing the evil
consequences raise no voice Of protest
against it, may through our neglect
be some day classed with those who
offend. These children are an easy
prey to tuberculosis-that dread mon
ster who is so eager for the lives of
the young.
Another evil, but one much more
easily remedied, is the lack of health
laws in Alexandria. 1t is now gener-
ally acknowledged that the mainten-
ance of public health is of much great
er Importance than the cure Of dis
ease. We have in the past considered
the highest work of the doctor to be
the diagnosis and cure of disease, but
in this era Of preventative methods
we are beginning to believe that the
highest value Of their work (both
from the economic and humanitarian
standpoint) is the prevention of dis
ease. The reason is obvious: Cure is
uncertain and can be effected in only
q percentage of cases, and in every
case cured there is a loss Of time and
energy which means an economical
loss to the community as well as the
1t is only recently that business
began to realize that the health and
welfare of the man had distinct
bearing upon his value to his employ
er. regarding the man simply as
machine; and also, that the sanitary
conditions of the shop and home af-
feet the efficiency of the workman and
his value to his employer.
Typhoid, consumption, ETC., are no
longer regarded as inevitable and un-
preventable; hygiene can prevent
these and many other diseases, as
we'll as Ito large extent) insanity
feeble and crime. How
much better, therefore, to guard
against disease, and thus help to
the economical efficiency Of
u community. But without proper
health laws, this is impossible. Dur
ing the past year this society called
the attention of council to the two
Acts Of the General Assembly for
1910 which treat of tuberculosis, and
for the non-enforcement of which
there is penalty, but no action was
taken by council, nor have they, in
the absence of local health laws, seen
to it that the state laws are being en-
forced here. Meat, fruit, vegetables,
are still exposed, where the fly, per-
haps just from the tubercular sputum,
may alight, or on which the dust from
the street, filled with disease germs,
may blow; still may tubercular cat
tie be killed and sold in our market;
and still may houses in which are
known to lurk the germs Of tuber
culosis, be rented.
1t is not an enviable record for the
city fathers, at least it makes one
think they are not good economists;
or at any rate that they do not be-
lieye that the wealth of a nation is
- ~ I.