The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-28

THE Value to Commerce Of Public
Health Measures" was the subject of
/ strong address by o. w. McMichael,
3. A. M. D., of Chicago, last evening,
DR.. McMichael took up the relation
ship of health measures to a city's
welfare, giving very interesting dis
course. He said:
Efficiency is one OF the most impor-
.ant elements in the cost of produc-
lion, and yet because it is practically
/ hidden element and does not appear
On the cost sheets, it is often entire.
" lost sight of, although it frequent
~ spells success or failure to an in
iustrial firm. A loss by fire or theft
can easily be computed in dollars and
cents, but the loss to manufacturer
through the physical unfitness of a
number of his employees
cannot, because of it's variableness,
be- accurately estimated-though 1t
may make it necessary for him to en-
ploy larger force to turn out a CIV
en- product.
Marshall in his Principle OF Eco
states that Health and
Strength physical, mental and moral.
is the basis Of industrial efficiency"
so the manufacturer, who because
rents are high, crowds more employees
into a given space than is wise for
their health actually loses more mon
ey in the increased cost of production
through their inefficiency than he
saves in rent.
Leonard Hill in the American Jour
nal of Physiology" described an ex-
pertinent in which eight men were
placed in small room. In A min
utes the temperature had become
much higher, the talking and laugh
ing of the men became less and less
and gradually ceased and they show
ed evidence of great discomfort. Elec-
trio fans were started and then men
were restored to more nearly normal
although the temperature
of the room continued to rise. 1t is
not difficult to imagine that the vol
ume and quality OF work produced un-
der such conditions would be very
much lowered
Good or i'll health is so generally
considered matter in which only
the individual is concerned, and we
are SO in the habit of thinking it en-
tirely per NAL matter that we are
surprised when we analyze the situa-
ton. Sickness of whatever character
among the employees is an added ex.
pense to the employer, whether il
causes the absence of an employe
from his usual duties, or through low.
cred vitality merely reduces his ca
pacity
Dodge the Brick.
Workers in close proximity tc
each other are much more likely to
spread the infections known as-bad
air diseases, such as common colds
bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculo
sis. 1t is now becoming a matter Of
common knowledge that colds are in
fectious and when anyone coughs il
your direction-dodge as if he threw
brick.
Suppose | am an employer ant
John Smith, one OF my men comes
down with pneumonia contracted in {
badly ventilated street car. Johr
Smiths services are worth $40 a weel
to me and the man who takes his
place is only half as efficient, but
have to pay him the same money
John Smiths pneumonia is COSTING
me $40 week. So, am, or ought tt
he, financially interested in the VENT
lation of street cars
| Again suppose / have one hundred
employees at $4,000 per week, five o
whom have incipient tuberculosis
| this is not an unreasonable estimat,
when we consider that out of ever,
100 workers between the ages of IL
and 20, 30 die of tuberculosis. A mai
who falls victim of tuberculosis ma,
have the disease for six months or
year before he breaks down, or befor'
his disease becomes manifest. Dur
ing this period his efficiency is re
duced, let us say one-fourth, becaus
4 he is tired all the time, and though
he struggles to do his best. he
much below par. Five men in thi
condition will cost me SIS per week
neither they nor ] know it.
1t is of Importance to the employ
er that his employees live in san..=s
homes, that his wife and childre
keep well, for man who sits up al
night with sick wife or child, 0
who is worried because of their il
ness is not in condition, either mer
| tally or physically to give his best e1
forts to his work next day.
--zsgr-
Open Air Schools.
! Next to the work shops, the school