The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-03

credit Of the success Of, New Hamp-
shire's Health Day Is due largely to
the efforts Of DR.. Ellen A. Wallace,
state superintendent OF health and
heredity Of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union.
From an economic standpoint, the
Keep Well movement is one OF the
most important now before the pub
lie. Sickness<is expensive and any
sickness which can be prevented is a
deplorable waste Of not only money,
but time and bodily strength as we'll.
In recognition of this fact, the life
insurance companies are now SPEND
ing thousands of dollars each year to
promote the health OF their policy
holders, as well as OF the general
public, which Of course includes their
prospective policy holders. Even Q
seemingly trifing ailment weakens
the system and renders the person
more liable to the attack Of a SER
ious disease Most Of the large COM
panies now have regularly organized
keep Well' departments. Through
these, published bulletins Of health
hints are distributed from time to
time and lectures are given by regu-
lar physicians. Trained nurses are
also employed by insurance compan-
les to go into the homes OF policy
holders and demonstrate different
subject calculated to improve the
health Of the family. A material low.
ering Of the death rate and conse-
quent lessening of the premiums to
be paid has been brought about by
these methods.
The insurance companies usually
give the heartiest cooperation also to
any effort set forth by the board OF
health or any similar organization
towards increasing sentiment in fav-
or OF better sanitary conditions, the
enforcement OF existing health laws
and the passage Of news ones In adj
Idition, they give free annual medi-
cine examinations to all policy hold
ers for the purpose Of ascertaining
disease tendencies at the earliest
possible minute. Many o life has been
saved by the warning of an incipient
unsupported disease discovered by a
| life insurance examination.
The control of disease is not wholly
a medicine problem. It is social one
as we'll. Most Of the disease of the
world could be absolutely overcome II
medical knowledge was backed by
sufficient authority and combined
with the active cooperation OF the
laity. A prominent medical authority
says that when the Keep Well move
ment becomes strong enough to es-
tablish competent medical director
in each state, with authority to en-
force regulations, 1t will be possible
to Danish typhoid and malaria from
this country as completely as yellow
fever was banished from the Panama
Canal zone. Diptheria and scarlet
fever can be reduced to point where
they will cause as little concern as
does smallpox in the average Ameri-
can city at present. The education Of
the mass Of the people as to the pos
sibility OF keeping we'll by proper
care Of the body will bring this about
The Keep Well idea Is being en-
phasized especially in the work of the
Boy Scouts, the Camp Fire Girls and
similar organizations. The children
are being taught that most illnesses
are due to carelessness which should
be overcome. Honors are awarded
for freedom from all minor ipdispo-
sitions, such as colds, headaches and
troubles Of digestion due to an ex-
cess of sweets or some other indis-
erection OF diet. The Keep Well work
of these organizations will have a
strong influence upon keeping the
next generation in better general
health than the present, and 1t is yet
in the beginning. Several Keep
Well clubs have been organized in
the public schools. In Alabama and
in Kansas, monthly programs are pro-
vioed, devoted to the health Of the
community. The newly organized
National Society OF Keep Wells will
try to affiliate each Of these clubs and
| to establish many others. as no bet
ter avenue Of the presentation Of the
work can be secured than the public
schools.
w. C. Clark. aged 90, of West