Meade County news., 1916-05-18
TO CONSERVE LIVES
President Hackney Launches a
Nationwide Movement to
Better Mankind.
WOULD ERADICATE DISEASES
Piansto Have Government Establish
Research Citations in Connection
With All Universities.

one OF the most important nationwide
movements for the betterfnent of man.
kind. President E. T. Hackney OF
the board of educational administra-
tion, sent letter to all state univer.
stiles urging cooperation In an effort
to induce the government to establish
a health experiment and research sta.
tion or laboratory in connection with
each university school of medicine
making it cooperative agency of the
United States public health, service
for the eradication of communicable
diseases.
In his letter President Hackney
urges that the conservation of human
life should receive as much considera-
tion at the hands of the government
as does animal and plant life. the
protection of which has been gov
ernment duty for years. The results
of this latter work has been easily
reducible to dollar and cents stand
point while the value of human life
has not been so easily measured.
Sordid as it may seem to consider
human values from financial base
the figures secured by the Kansas
board prove that the subject is one
worthy of the greatest consideration.
1t is estimated, that the. economic loss
annually from deahs in the United
States reaches the startling total of
$1,7OO, 100000. This is based upon an
estimate of $1,7O0 for each life From
this standpoint the economic loss to
the country as result of diseases
which render the victims economic
burdens must reach into the millions.
The boards report shows that 500,-
900 lives are snuffed out yearly in this
country by communicable diseases,
such as typhoid, tuberculosis, >pneu-
monia, scarlet fever whooping cough,
measles and diphtheria, most Of which
are preventive. The government has
succeeded in eradicating yellow fever,
and the plague and 1t is the plea of
the Kansas board that a nationwide
campaign against these diseases would
prove blessing, the value of which
could not be estimated. Through ex-
aminations and investigations at the
state university laboratories and an
extensive education Of the people, the
mitigation and eradication OF commu-
nicable diseases may be accomplished
and Kansas has started the ball roll.
ing In the right direction.
The campaign, If undertaken, would
fill long needed want and the field
covered would be vast one. In a
country where more than 10000 per
sons die annually from diseases of
the kidney, heart and blood vessels,
some strenuous steps are necessary.
Again the subject of venereal diseases
is an alarming one, and like others
would fall under the eye of the coun-
try's eminent specialists, thus bene-
fitting the nation at large. In addi-
tion to the enormous loss of life from
communicable diseases 1t is estimated
by the Kansas board that 5,000,000
people yearly are incapacitated as a
result of infectious diseases. The
movement started in Kansas, If it finds
ready response from state universi-
ties, will be submitted to congress.
X X X
Killed by EngIne-Walter Wirtz, FL
years old, foundry laborer of Leav-
enworth, was struck by Missouri Pa
cafic extra freight engine at Atchison.
He died in an ambulance on the way
to hospital.
Markham Heads Editors-Before
closing its session at Lawrence the
Kansas Editorial Association elected
w. c. Markham, Baldwin, president;
Herb Cavaness, Chanute, vice presi-
dent; o. w. Little, corresponding Sec
retary; J.. Bryon Cain. Belle PLANE.
vice president; Clark Conklin. Lyons.
treasurer. Election to vice president
virtually is equivalent to being elect
ed president next year, as the vice
president annually is promoted. Mrs.
e. d. Aldrich of the Cawker City Her
aid Chronicle was awarded $25 for
writing the best story on III had to
Do 1t Over Again. Would Marry a
Kansas Editor?"
* x X
Former cornoner Dead-Dr. Robert
Lee Tays, 66 years old, practicing
physician many years, is dead at his
home in Herkimer. His wife, two
daughters and son survive. He was
coroner several years.
x 4 X
Gave Shakespeare Plays-A Shake
spearean pageant, one of, the commu-
nifty music and drama programs of
the season, was given by pupils of the
high school at Winfield recently.
X X X
Smallpox Scare at Goddard The
town of Goddard, sixteen miles west
of Wichita, is in the throes of small
pox scare. At the request Of the
mayor. DR.. w. G. Loomis. county ply
sician, went to Goddard, closed one
store, quarantined dozen houses and
fumigated the post office and every
church in town.
Neodesha Pioneer Dies--J. G. Lu-
kens, 80 years old, a resident Of Will