The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-10-20
PREVENTABLE DISEASES.


+ !. i. !. {. = i. 4. i. i. + :, i, 80 :, !, =
Recently completed compilations
show that 32 per cent-almost one.
third of the deaths in Jacksonville
during 1915 were from prevcntable
diseases. And it's likely that the per-
centage is smaller than held good in
other Florida cities, with one or two
exceptions, for few, very few, of
these cities, have taken meausrres
successfully to reduce the ravages of
typhoid fever to extremely limited
prevalence. Probably it is 4 lower
percentage than prevailed through the
United States, whether in city or ru-
raj communities.
Think of it-one death in every
three might have been prevented, but
it wasn't, because it came as TIE re-
suit Of disease that the victims did
not have to have. 1t might have
been avoided by following instructions
that are within the reach of every
person who can read or even under
stand any of the dozens of languages
of dialects that are spoken in the
United States. And the worst of it
is that the same ratio Of unnneces-
sary disease and death continues year
after year, with small variations.
Medical scientists and sanitarans
made their greatest advance when
they concluded that it is wiser, safer
and more economical to prevent dis
ease than to permit it to come and try
to cure it afterward, with some rath-
er substantial chances that they
couldn't cure it anyway.
Among the serious maladies that
menace Floridians are tuberculosis,
typhoid fever, and malaria. High
medical authority has declared tnat
the majority of persons have the
germs of tuberculosis in their systems
at some time in the length of an av-
erage life. Many persons are strong
enough in their resisting power to
throw it off. Unconscious of their
danger they recover through high re-
and good luck. 1t is a rys-
terious malady and generally fastens
on its victim long before he is aware
Of it, but it is discoverable and cura-
ole when taken IN time.
1t has been demonstrated beyond |
he reach of argument that typhoid |
IS preventable and mighty dangerous
when it is not prevented. Splendid |
progress has been made in actually |
eradicating the disease from sorle ci-
lies by preventing the spread of the
Uphold germ. 1t has ceased to be 4 |
problem in the army and navy of this
country through the compulsory use
If the antityphoid vaccine, and not a
single death and but rare cases lave
oeen reported in the federal army in
service at the Mexican border.
Malaria is likewise prevcntable. The
mosquito, infected with the disease
parasite by biting some person who
las it in his blood, carries it to new
'ictims. This mosquito works during
he warmer months of the year and
'nly in the late afternoon hours and
t night. The remedy is the screen.
'ver the windows. the outside doors,
he porce and the bed But it must
e a real screen, and no mere imita-
ion.
Similarly other diseases are pre-
entahle by proper and reasonable
It is cheaoer to prevent
hem than to cure; it's less risky. and
ickness is a menace to the neighbors
nd a damage to the community.
When man first comes into the
'orld he has a rather hard time
taying in it, and one Of every five of
i'm doesn't last out the first year.
mother of him is gone before the end
f the fifth year and only two out of
lree of him reach legal voting age.
he escapes the dangers of birth,
le menace of teething, enteritis. mea-
es and a lot of other troubles are
aiting for him. If he outlasts what
re known as childrens' diseases. he
ms into a lot of other physical dan
ers and risks; and he who has lasted ,,
trough five or six decades usually
ears the scars of a good many en-
'unters and narrow escapes.
But by the discoveries of medical
ience translated for the benefit of
e layman and administered through 4
telligent common sense. the chances +
reaching healthful middle or old {
re are improving. Life expectancy I
bles show a substantial increase in ,
e average length of life within the
st twenty years. After all, the
'erage man is his own greatest enc ,
V physically. If he would, he d
ight protect himself against many G.
the diseases that threaten at every
age of this game of life. Wilful-
norance and stubborn disregard of
tablished facts keep up the sick and s
ath rate from preventable diseases. 7
telligent cooperation with medical +,
thorities might reduce the sick and -
ath rates from preventable disease y
that degree that he who died from >,
III cause might almost be regarded u
the victim of unpreventable acci- j
State Board of Health Bulletin. II