Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-20
Public Health

PUBLIC Health
The Portland Argus which raves at
"sumptuary" laws that interfere with
personal liberty, has the following
editorial:
"A campaign for sanitary refrom
was successfully conducted at Harris
burg, Penn, not long since which mad
some of the features of Portland's fight
for pure milk. The special source of
trouble in the Pennsylvania city was
ice cream, the product being so infected
by disease germs as to be the cause of
typhoid epidemic. Investigation dis
closed the fact that some Of the ice
cream exposed for sale contained ten
million bacteria, while the coli poison
was too dense to count.
THE matter was placed before the
city government with recommends
tons, and an ordinance was adopted
fixing the limit Of endurance and pro-
viding heavy punishment for offenders
against the public health While en-
gagged in general inquiry it was found
by the health officials that there were
typhoid cases on thirty dairy farms
from which milk was sent to Harris
burg. So serious did the epidemic
develop that lat cases of typhoid were
reported in about week.
The Argus has been sent a copy of
the Harrisburg Patriot which contains
an editorial on the situation that is we'll
worth reprinting in any community.
Here it u.s."
The drastic action taken by the CITY
ana state health authorities to check
.ne spread of typhoid fever meets the
1DDrOVQl 10 y,f,1,1
tionabiy has been frettng under the
continued prevalence of the disease.
The people have a right to be Jealous
OF their health and to insist that every
precaution humanity possible be taken
to safeguard 1t.
AS AGAINST the public health proper
" is nothing business is nothing SEN
sitive feelings are nothing. An innn-
cent exposure OF the public to disease
IS deserving of mercy but not of exon
noa,,rs n, ,s a ar; careless or negligent ex-
1shed. There cannot be honest differ
ences OF opinion on this point. The
pubic health is paramount. for with
III the health onicials find cases war;
ranting drastic action of arrest and
SnfH ;t they ~ can So forward to
the public approves.
1.-THE innocent exposure Of the public
to disease is deserving Of mercy but
NOT OF exonerati0n!"
Let us turn this declaration of our
exchange to read: THE wilful expos.
.ure Of the innocent public to wors.
than disease is deserving of'-what?
Why do we suffer innocent babes and
helpless mother to be robbed Of luxur-
les. Of comforts, of the necessities OF
life, exposed to the vagaries Of a mind
made insane by an article Of commerce
that is promoted and handled only b,
the most depraved and cheapest speci.
mans of manhood known to civiliza
ton? Why do We permit the con.
scienceless dregs Of humanity to spreas
their disease among innocents?
Is insanity less to be feared than few.
err? Should the diabolical purpose t,
expose innocents to it to be condoned
while the careless or negligent" ex.
posture to any other disease is classet
as criminal and laws drastically en-
forced?
Why the difference in methods O.
handling?
Our nsighbor says there cannot b,
honest differences Of opinion concern
Ing the effective protection Of the pub
lie health. 1t says: THE public healtl
is paramount for without it all i
worthless
We only ask. can there be homes
difference of opinion concerning the
"woFsniessnexs" Of the present and fu.
ture Of homes. ono stricken, by typhoid
and the other stricken by drunkard
But there is no money in spreading
typhoid for manufacturers. sellers, ten
ennent owning members Of the church,
and the great army Of OTHER thugs
liars. buns and hypocrites that carry
on tho buainess Of spreading insanity.
Nth. disease. suffering. death and dam
nation, ~ booze. go careless and neg
lsent spreading Of fever ana its kin,