Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-06-06

amount of loss sustained, through
sickness, effective registration WI
help materially to reduce It and vii
thus yield a big return to the com
munities on the relatively small in
vestment required.
Permit me to show In some de
tail how an efficient system of re
porting disease will affect the publ,
welfare:
System Outlined.
First 1t will make possible thu
immediate and effective treatment o
certain infectious diseases. In case:
of tuberculosis, for example, an earl,
report to the Department of Health
puts at. the disposal of the patient
the entire battery of the hygienic re
sources of the community.
Let us take another instance, thai
Of diphtheria, where success in the
treatment depends so largely on an
early and correct diagnosis. The
registration Of a suspected case en-
ables the health authorities to make
a culture which settles the diagnosis
In, positive cases, the information
placed at the disposal of the physi.
clan IN charge helps to make a cure
almost certain.
Second. The registration Of the
communicable diseases will enable
health officers to discover foci of in.
lection in time to prevent the furth.
er spread Of such diseases. The
early and complete reporting of cases
Of typhoid fever at once puts the eff.
cient health officer on the track OF
the infection. It may be the sewer.
age system, or the water or milk
supply which is at the bottom OF the
trouble. In any event, the location
and the, sequence of the cases settles
the question and the epidemic may,
in. this way, be quickly prevented
from spreading to other sections,
Such was the case recently in New
York City where an infected milk
supply gave rise to some three humid
red cases of typhoid fever. In this
instance, if the Department of Health
had waited until the first death had
ben reported, the epidemic would in
probability have spread to innum-
cradle other homes and the death
losses increased may fold.
Similarly, in the city of Buffalo,
during 1912, an epidemic of iniantile
paralysis was checked without SER
ious fatalities, as the result OF early
reporting.
Report oecupationaI Diseases.
Third. The reporting of occupa-
tional diseases enables departments
of health to supplement the efforts Of
bureaus of labor in following up cases
to their sources. Thus, the compul-
sorry reporting of a case OF lead pois-
oning puts the authorities at once On
the trail of carelessly kept factories
where other workmen may me sim
ilarly exposed to possible poisoning.
Fourth. The thorough registra-
ton of certain diseases, such as pella-
gra and cancer, will thow much light
upon the origin OF these obscure NAL
aides. We have much to learn with
regard to the frequency with which
these diseases cen in the various
social groups. There is already suf-
ficient evidence at hand that their in
cidence varies considerably with race,
sex, age, occupation, personal habits,
and other conditions not as yet differ
entiated. Thus, a recent study OF
considerable merit, of cancer in Nor
way. showed the very surprising fact
that country cancer is more prevail
ent among men than among women,
and that the commonesi form of the
disease is the affection OF the stom-
ach. In n large series of cases, s5
per cent of the total were cancers OF
the stomach, a condition not pre-
noted in any other country.
If these figures be verified, a careful
research may lead to the discovery
and elimination of the conditions
which are, responsible for the pre-
valence Of this form of the disease.
In like manner, there is evidence that
cancer may result from certain occu-
p~ations which involve the continuous
irritation of the skin or other expos
ed parts OF the body. Thus, there
are the peculiar cancers of chimney
sweeps, Of N-ray workers, and of
those engaged in the manufacture of
arsenical products. The application
IF preventive measures to those
should have a beneficial effect.
advance in the control Of cancer,
therefore, depends in large measure
upon the cooperation of the physi-
clan. the registrar and the vital sta
tistician.
Fifth. The registration of the
.preventable diseases, is furthermore,
the chief test at our disposal for
measuring the efficiency OF communi-
~ control over them. Millions OF dol
lars are being expended annually in
our campaigns to check their roc
ress. There is, however, a consider
difference Of opinion, even
among experts, as to the best meth
to pursue, and the several com.
Enunities are applying their appro~
orlations in different ways.
Insurance Company Take Step.
IT is particularly appropriate that
he life Insurance companies should
among the first to take a forward
step IN the solution Of the problem
*or controlling the preventable d.
seases. They are most seriously af-
tected through the occurrence of ILL.,
ness among their policy-holders. Not
only are the diseases, to which we
nave referred, the cause of a large
part OF the mortality for which claims
are paid, but perhaps equally import
they are the prime factors in
bringing about those econmic distlr-