Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-13

OF health and Of the association cooper
ating 30 ably with 1t, In addressing the
laity In mass meetings and otherwise.
have had to dispel some erroneous ideas
and to do considerable educating; espe-
cially has this been so in the rural dis.
tricts, where there seems to be q false
sense Of security regarding tuberculosis.
The state department Of health. by rea-
son of its governmental character. is Pc
culiarly anxious for the establishment Of
these institutions. because it recognizes
its responsibility to protect the people it
serves from tuberculosis precisely as from
small pox or typhoid or any other infec-
ton. BY the provisions Of the law cited
any sufferer who Is a citizen Of his coun-
ty Is eligible In the order of application;
after admission his finances are ascer-
tanned and If he can pay wholly or In
part he is expected to do so. But we'll
to-do and poor alike must he received
without discrimination. The tuberculous
in all stages may apply, wherefore the
name "sanitorium- hospital has been
suggested for these institutions. AS the
patients home is within the county, his
relatives may at little trouble and ex-
pense visit him from time to time. 80 that
those >devitalizing factors, inconsistencies
and family worries, are largely obviared
Those working for the establishment of
these institutions have ever to meet the
objection, demonstrated over and over
again to be without foundation, that the
sanatoriums would be a danger to the
region in which their establishment is
contemplated; rather than a danger. such
Institutions are almost invariably an ad-
vantage. =
Very costly institutions are not advo-
Gated; all that is insisted on Is that for
tuberculosis hospital one shall not read
'+.lmshouse."
1t is held that the countys sick con-
sumptives should not be expected to ten
ant institutions of the latter nature. The
number of beds would he computed as
two-thirds the average tuberculosis
deaths in the county, the cost of con-
struction about $500 per bed. the main
tenance about sl.25 per day for a patient
The expenditures (Which are to be met
by the taxpayers of the respective coun-
ties) would be Insignificant in comparison
with the sums the public pays for good
roads and the erection and maintenance
of armories, orphan asylums, jails and
prisons. Besides, money put into the
county tuberculosis hospital would help
to close up many an almshouse and many
an orphan asylum: for this disease (the
most deadly in the most productive period
of human existence) IS one Of the great
est causes of pauperism, and probably the
greatest single cause Of orphanage.
My friends, our State motto means Il
lead This cannot refer to affairs of
health, for in that regard we are so far
behind that we think we are in front
very session would pass law
similar to that passed in New York
state three years ago. Such beneficient
legislation, however, was never enact
ed save upon demand by an awakened
public intelligence. Bear in mind the
ubiquitous nature of the tubercle bac-
illus and that you or your child may be
the next victim, and then use your in
fluence to send to our Legislature men
enlightened upon this question. Don't
pursue the ''let George do it" policy.
Evasion of responsibility is not only
cowardly but, in this instance, dan
gerous for you and me. Again, inform
yourselves concerning the import of
the Owen bill which has been before
Congress, whose objects are the form
alton of a National Department Of
Health and provision for all people of
pure food. pure water and knowledge
What could be more worthy of our ac-
tive, intelligent cooperation and sup
port than a measure whose sole pur-
pose is the conservation of the public
health, all statements made by fakirs,
patent medicine vendors, faith healers,
food adulterators, collectively known
as the league for medical freedom"
to the contrary notwithstanding!
"In closing, permit me to repeat a
story written by DR.. J. N. Hurry, sec
rotary of the Indiana State Board of
Health. DR. Hurry, in addition to be-
ing an expert sanatarian, occasionally
writes stories with moral. In a small
town in Indiana where lived at one
time a tuberculous mother with a
small child, and a farmer who raised
hogs. The woman was poor. When told
by her physician that she had tubercu-
losis, she asked. What am 1 to do?"
The reply was. There is nothing to
do, the state makes no provision for
the tuberculosis poor" In time she
died.
One morning the farmer observed on
looking over his hogs that one was Ill,
presumably with hog cholera. He
wired the agricultural department at
Washington Of piggy's plight. An ex-
pert was at once dispatches to Indiana
with serum appropriate for hog
cholera Mr. pig was injected and lived.
The moral is obvious, BE 4 hog"