Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-11
So Declares Surgeon General
Blue In Address to Life
Insurance Men.
EXPENSE OF SANITATION
is CLASSIFIED AS LOAN
Cooperation Of Nation and State in
Enforcing Regulations Against
Disease Advocated.


was represented today at the seventh an
nual meeting of the Association of Life
Insurance Presidents. Members and OK
ecutive heads from as far west as Los
Angeles and many parts of Canada at
tended. Ex-President Taft is 70 be the
chief speaker at the afternoon session.
In addition to the presidents of several
companies the speakers today included
DR.. Rupert Blue. surgeon general of the
United States public health service. and
Dr.. Victor V. Vaughan. dean OF the de-
partment of medicine of the University
of Michigan and president of the Amer
lean Medical Association. The meeting
Will last two days.
Public health is a public utility. y
dollar laid out in sanitation is not an
expenditure, but loan. which will be
returned a hundredfoId.' declared the
su ~Seon general
Any municipality state or nation can
have public health if it will but pay the
price continued the surgeon general.
''The most needed reforms in public
health administration are greater cooper
alton between public officials, the en-
plcyment of fuIl-time workers, establish
ment of laboratories. accurate collection
OF vital statistics and the setting aside of
sufficient funds to accomplish those
things.
Tie future o. sanitary administration
In this country depends upon the interest
which the citizens take in its develop
msnt- There is no better index of the
state Of civilization of q community than
the manner in which il approaches its
public health problems. There is still
much room for reform in the sanitary adj
m us tEatlon OF many states and munich
palities IN our country. and not the least
Important duty devoiving upon the health
officials Of this nation is the education of
the general public to the end that sanitary
reforms will not only be accepted but
will also be earnestly sought for.
Slow Progress Explained.
Our slow progress in the direction of
. perfect national health is due to the
fact that the people have not as yet
fully realized its Importance and have
not demanded that protection against
preveDtable disease which they have a
right to expect from their administrative
officials. Neither have they demanded
legislation and appropriations which are
essential to the successful prosecution oil
pubic health work There are two main
causes for the paucty of sanitary legis-
lation. public indifference and economic
opposition.
The feverish energy in sanitary mat
terS which characterizes the general
public III time OF epidemic soon gives
way 10 lethargy and Indifference to pub
Tic health matters The average individ-
ual Is willing to take chance of con-
tracing disease when it seems a long
way off, and it is only when it is close
rupon him and i'll spectacular form that
he appreciates its danger. single case
OF ieprosy in a city will create wide
spread excitement. while thousand
cases Of measles which in their final re-
suits are Infinitely more dangerous, are
permitted to occur without remark.
Record of Past Decade.
Results of the past decade of sanitary
activity have been to prove that the
prolongation of life is entirely practi-
cable. and this prolongation has been
largely brought about by Improvement
in sanitary administration. The time is
not long since passed when the public
health official who boldly pointed out
the needs for sanitary improvement in
the factories of a wealthy corporation
endangered his position. Today, such
criticisms are gladly received and
promptly acted upon- The efficiency of
human machinery is quite as important
as the efficiency of the other machinery
OF the factories. and the realization of
this fact has resulted in an extension of
the powers and duties of the public
heafen authorities.
THE crudity OF method and appara-
tus of bygone days was only equaled by
the acmin- strative inefficiency of that
time To cite concrete examples, the
battles Of Cressy and Agincourt were
won through the efforts of individual
commanders supported by free COM
panles having but faint relation to the
army a. whole. The greatest battle
OF modern times, fought between the
Japanese and Russians at Mukden. was,
on the contrary, carried by the victors
only through the concerted and integral
ing efforts of a vast lighting machine,
the various arms of which occupied
miles Of territory. yet operated with a
deadly accuracy in which each and
every part of the army discharged its
duties without cndeavorine for .ndivid-
Uai bril-. fancy, and with the single aim
of interlocking efficiency without loss OF
power or time
From White House to Cottage.