Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-15
HYGIEN|C ASPECTS
OF THE GREAT WAR
1t Has Been Demonstrated That
Alcohol and Fighting are
Incompatible.
BIG BOOM FOR SAFETY FIRST
The Same Spirit Of Reform Crops Out
In the Welfare Movements Amona
Industrial Workers.

New York-The war In Europe has
awakened in the medical profession an
interest in military surgery and by.
giene which nothing short of gigantic
armed struggle could stimulate. Ac.
cordingly, the various professional
publications are devoting good deal
Of space to the consideration of every
hict. The Journal of the American
Medical Association comments on
"The Value of Health In Industry and
War" The editor declares that it has
already been demonstrated that alco-
hol and fighting are incompatible.
There is food for reflection in the
fact that even the preparation for real
or anticipated war may bring about
hygienic reforms which widespread
preaching mad earnest exhortation are
at best slow in promoting. The safe
ty-frst" slogan, the editor states, is
one aspect of a movement to increase
the personal welfare of the individual
by decreasing the liability to injury
through the carelessness of a fellow
man.
The same spirit crops out in the "ten
trade commandments of the worker
which are posted conspicuously here
and there in factories where personal
injuries and loss of life furnish unfor-
tunate and-let it be frankly added
Improbable incidents in the conduct of
manufacturing operations, the writer
states.
The reminder thou shalt not gains
added force, he adds, when its value is
expressed in terms of practice and
daily experience rather tina min the
more vague language of ethical con-
siderations. And, accordingly, there is
telling force in such direct admoni-
tions as the following quoted from
recent compilation for use in fac
tory:
Thou shalt take no unnecessary
risks, nor play practical jokes, for by
thy carelessness thou mayest do injury
which will have effect unto the third
and fourth generations to follow.
Remember thou art not the only one
on the job, and that is sure to attract
notice, cannot fail to promote the mu-
tual and reciprocal interest Of the EN-
ployer and employed. Modern hygiene
| and preventive medicine have recog-
nized long ago that the individual can
no longer claim a liberty in his ac-
tions independent of his neighbor.
"Our provisions for quarantine, vac
cination against smallpox, and divers
other regulations in the interest of the
public health, have, in the past, been
enforced only with the annoyance that
comes from lack Of cooperation and
from personal resentments, together
with the Indifference for restrictive
rules that is bred in community of
free people. Yet, now we see in the
combined enterprise and altruism of
modern employers, protective devices
| put in operation to secure, without fric-
| tion or resentment the same sort OF
welfare results that the Federal Gov
ernment or State or municipality
would find difficult in getting under
| way.
THAT the unexpected situations C. y
ated by war have in the past furnished
| the stimulus for new inventions and
useful processes is too we'll known 10
require detailed comment. 1t would
| appear in the present situation that
| the war against universal peace may
actually be war against intemper-
| ance The armies and navics today
represent the most efficient fighting
| forces that the nations can command.
No device, no agency that will contri-
butte to their power and preparedness
is willingly neglected. Health is a
prime consideration in this respect
"Field Marshall Earl Kitchener is re-
ported to have counseled the English
soldiers to abstain from drinking
while abroad, reminding them that
their duty cannot be done unless
health is preserved. 1t is Of slight
consequence whether or not these
rumors are entirely correct. They rep
resent the current tendencies. which
are undeniable by any one who has
watched the recent decision of Ameri-
can naval authorities in the face OF
not little apparently adverse criti-
cism couched in the usual phrases con-
cerning personal liberty. The truth is
that the relation of alcohol and fight
ing has been squarely met, and the
fact admitted that they not compat'
ible.'
"a recent editorial writer has ex-
pressed this by saying that temper.
ate army was something no tconceived
of in the old theories of war; but u
| drunkard Is today as much out OF place
| In an army as he would be on a battle
ship"
| cIrN pApc hNicN mEnnIMHC