The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-01-07
Relationship of Medical
Association to New Law
Interesting Paper Read Before County Medical
Society by DIR. j. r. Young

lne relationship OF the meQfcal AS
sociation to the New Law, was the
subject of an interesting paper by
DR.. j. r. Young read yesterday before
the meeting Of the County Medical AS
sociation, held at the hospital. The
paper Is as follows:
There is something in the air during
Christmas and New Year season that
prompts us to introspection. The days
themselves are in no way different
from those that precede and follow.
They are bounded in the East by sun
rise and In the west by sunset. This
analytical turn of mind or introspec-
| tive mood is due to no alchemy OF
Father Time, but is. born of tradition
and is nurtured in the lives and hearts
of each succeeding generation. 1t finds
expression in the formal resolution
which some are wont to make, and In
the unwritten resolutions which we
| all more or less unconsciously make
that this year will be our best. It was
this mood that actuated our president
when he wrote US that letter of exhor-
tation and ,ianned for this boosting
Injecting. SO It is fitting that we at,this
time pause and study together, some
questions that are of great Importance
to US as coustodians, of the health saf
our community. and no question, we
might choose would be, of greater .in-
portance than the question; af, vital
| statistics. icf.;e go a,t !. 81,
Let us study first the benefits that
will accrue. from the; State wide lob,
the registration. .ef all births and
deaths. N5 ,.,;lf, r
If complete and accurate -informa-
tion as to death OF all human beings,
with date and cause OF death, were OBJ
tainatle, the various national. state
and municipal public health agencies
could observe more intelligently. They
would know what part OF our mortal
| ity is prcyehtable and when and where
such preventable diseases occur. Epi-
dimic diseases could be quickly de-
tected and proper preventative meas
ures adopted. The relative value OF
these preventative measures could be
determined fy noting the results se-
cured. Individual cities and localities
could determine their own death rate,
\ and by comparing with that of other
cities. could determine whether their
lpublie health agencies were; getting
laatisfaetory results from their, work.
mo dg9bt home seekera, and .impi-
tgrants wpnld like to consult accurate
ifecords, Ok health conditions before
ifsettling in any comtmIfntnity: E5om a Lei
jgal ,stan dpoint official records Of death
| would be OF value, ip; matters 2f yinherf=
ftAhGs and the settling up Of estates.
i 9 So the, making of a. death certificate,
,tinstead Of being trivial or unimpoort-
liant affair, may, be. d Very Important
) act TOR the physician to perform. For
1.-THE, death. certificate often gives the
y first Warning OF the presence In a. COM
lmhnity, OF pestilential disease. Death
i regist teatiQn permits health pfficera to
taIGck, epidemlcS in, .theiE insipienes,
land 1T Is only when pfeyentat I've meas.
lures are applied at tile exact time end
ipface OF outbreak that an epidemic
loan be quickly suppressed. When we
tnecail over half the deaths In the
i tUnited States each year are due to ire
iiyentable diseases. and that we already
jpossess the scientific knowledge which
lmakes this prevention possible, the
!Iduty OF the physician in this respect
assumes life and, death proportions.
lDr. Irving Fisher is responsible for
the statement that "by the intelligent
duplication OF our present kn::Wledge
the average span OF human lie may be
Increased full Is years." What this
would mean to the human family In
loutSu IoPpihSSct pAOouStlsCASp6 titiL
deficiency is beyond comprehension
This prolongation OF life however. is
mot an Individual matter. but IS de-
jpendeht largely upon Intelligent pub
Iiic action. s. ,t.',
4 II. involves taa) the application 81 81
lpreFe ntatipe measures, Obi the prayen,
ttion OF infant mortality. fc) the edlca,
tion, or the people that they may the
lniore intelligently protect themselves
q tdl the suppression Of all causes: 81
Illness or accident where these tiiingi
!. are controlIable. Ali this. no dpnhj
}sounds utopian and GRANT that sshe
full accomplishment OF these idea
/ plans are at this time Impossible ? But
twhen our city and every city in tho
country realizes with President VII
I Ison that one of its most important ,duI
ties Is the conservation OF. fhe health
jof its citizens and places ut the head
lof its health department q conipeteni
, land suitably trained health Officer, ar
important step will have been talIer
in the accomplishment OF this ideSi
II fLet IL be understood that these ire.
marks are not intended as criticisn
4 or inc members 81 the board or hea8ff