The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-12

successful prosecution of public
health work. There are two main
causes for the paucity of sanitary
legislation, public Indifference and
economic opposition.
The feVerish energy in sanitary
matters which characterizes the gen.
eral public in time of epidemic soon
gives a to lethargy and indifference
to public health matters. The average
individual is willing to tak a chance
Of contracting a disease when it seems
a long way off. and it is only when it
is close upon him n in spectacular
form that h appreciates it's DANCE
A single case of leprosy in a city will
create widespread excitement, while
1000 cases of measles, which in their
final results are infinitely more
dangerous, are permitted to occur
without remark.
Results of the past decade of SAM
tary activity have been to prove that
the prolongation of life is entirely
practicable, and this prolongation has
been largely brought about by i'm
prOVement in sanitary administration.
The time is not long since passed
when the public health official who
boldly pointed out the needs for SAM
tary 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 ma
ch1nery is quite as important as the
efficiency oft he other machinery Of
the factories, and the realization of
this fact has resulted in an extension
of the poWer and duties of the public
health authorities.
The crudity Of method and ap-
paratus of bygone days was only
equaled by the administrative inef-
t1ciency Of that time. To cite concrete
examples, the battles Of Cressy and
AginCourt were won through the eff
forts of individual commanders sup
ported by free companies having but
a faint relation to the army as d whole.
The greatest battle of modern times
fought between the Japanese and Rus
slams at Mukden, was, on the contrary.
carried by the victors only through
the concerted and migrating efforts
of a vast lighting machine, the various
arms of which occupied miles of ter
rltory, yet operated with a deadly ac-
curacy in which each and every part
of the army discharged it's duties with
out endeavoring for individual brilli-
ancy and with the single aim Of inter-
locking efficiency without loss of power
or time.
The sanitary machine of this coun-
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from the White house to the humblest
cottage in the United States. The day
has passed when by Individual brilli-
ancy q battle against disease foes may
be won without regard to the engage
ments which are going on all about
US. We live in an 6 in which efiici-
ency is the slogan. We have learned,
from oft-repeated failure and sore dis
appointment that in sanitary work, as
in all the other efforts Of the human
race, the greatest good can be accom-
pliShed in the shortest space Of time
and with a minimum expenditure of
funds and labor by a concentrated CO.
operative effort.
The most needed reform in the
administration of all of the various
parts of the public health arm of the
nation Is an active and generous CO.
operation one with the other. The
public health service cannot succeed in
the fullest extend if it is not assisted
by the state and local health authori-
ties. The state departments of health
cannot discharge their duties with
greatest profit without the help of the
county and municipal boards of
health. and all Of them to succeed in
the broadcast way must cooperate one
with the other and all as a whole.
THE form which this cooperation
should take Is capable of endless
variation n untold multiplicity, but
the first and one Of the most import
ant single factors is in the collection
of vital statistics, The registration
area for deaths at present occupies
only about two-thirds of our coun-
try. An endeavor is being made to
establish a registration area for NOR
bidity, and this is a most needed re-
form in public health administration.
1T is the great glory of the period,
in which we live that we have recog-
nized our responsibility as our broth
ers's keeper. That public official who
brings physical salvation to his fellow
man has gone a4long way toward the
promotion of the moral welfare and
general happiness Of the community.
The worker in the field of sanitation
does more for the moral uplift Of the
lation than any other official agency.
Most of the states and many of the
municipalities grant adequate public;
health authority to their officials.
Practically all are willing to do SO if
the matter is placed before them III,
its true light. The great difficulty
however, lies in the securing of ap-
preparations. II must be said that the
education of the general public with,
regard to matters sanitary has not vet
brought about a full realization Of the,
interehangeability OF public health
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