Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-16
$3,098, 600 More Spent to
Prevent Disease in Animals
Than in Man.
SENATOR RANSDELL GIVES
FIGURES FOR YEAR 1915
At Same Time Se7s, 100000 Was
Appropriated for Army and Navy
for Destruction of Life.

Appropriations by Congress for the
and prevention of diseases of man as
compared with appropriations for the
investigation and prevention Of dis
eases of animal and vegetable life:
Diseases Diseases ana development Of animal ~
and plant Life ......-.......... o'oao,l7o
Proposed expenditures for possible
destruction Of life in the preparedness
measures adopted. in comparison with
the small sum appropriated for safe
guarding the health of men:
Coast fortiacations bin ....... 100000
ss7s. ooo. 900
els this to be taken as an indication
of the relative value which we place on
human life and the lives of domestic
animals and plants?" asks Senator
Ransden of Louisiana, who Is RESPONSE
BILE for the above statistics. Senator
Ransdell presented them in the course
of an extended consideration Of public
health problems given In the Senate.
Pleads for Rural Sanitation.
He pleaded for the enactment into
law of his bill appropriating 100000
for the investigation by the public
health service and for encouragement
Of improved methods of rural santa
ton. The measure is directed especial
ly to determine ways and means to
abolish malaria and typhoid fever.
THE Congress Of the United States,
he declared. has been slow in realizing
the necessity for active and intensive
operations for the prevention OF disease
and the consequent increase of health
fitness and longevity"
Regarding the preparedness measures
passed or pending in Congress. he said:
II am in favor of these great meas
eures. I believe them to be dictated by
wise, farseeing craftsmanship. But they
are all framed for the destruction OF
human life should it become necessary.
And while we are about to expend such
colossal sums to prepare for killing
men by wholesale, like our brethren of
the old world have been doing for the
past two years. 1t is high time to pay
some attention to the preservation of
life by Graduating preventable diseases,
which sap our national vitality and de-
stroy every year hundreds Of thousands
OF American citizens.
Must Care for Peoples Health.
TT we are to reap full measure of
success in our program of prepared
ness it is necessary to begin at the |
fountainhead and look well to the |
ueditn anu physical COnQlllOn OIL our
people. No matter how numerous and !
strong are our ships and Notifications, |
nor how many soldiers we have, they |
will be Of little avail unless the men |
behind the guns are healthy, vigorous |
and capable of great exertion."
Senator Ransde1 pointed out the |
dangers from disease under war condi- |
tons. He cited the instances of the |
great epidemics that have swept the |
nation in the past The accomplish
ments Of the public health services in
dealing with national hygiene and san
ttation were extolled. and he cited their |
researches and conquest of many health |
problems.
Sufice 1t to say" he added, that in
proportion to the numbers of its COM
missioned personnel the public health
service has lost as many officers in the
combat against disease as have the
strictly military arms Of our govern
ment in fighting the battles Of our
country against human foes"