The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-05-01
SECRETARY OF STATE BOARD OF
HEALTH GIVES OUT INTER
VIEW
HOLDS THAT IT IS DUTY TO
CONSERVE HEALTH
Says That Cause of Disease and Weak
ness Comes From Lack of PrecautiOn
by the People in Regard to Proper
Living.

BOISE-That an essentially feature
of an intelligent conservation campaign
should be the conservation of health
is the statement of DIR. E. T. Brewer,
secretary of the state board of health
in an interview given to the public
this evening. DR.. Brewer holds that
the main cause of bad health is lack
OF proper precautions. He says:
During this period of active en-
deavor along the lines Of preparedness
and conservation of the resources OF
our nation, much has been said ma
tionally as well as locally of the con-
servatlon and production of foodstuffs
of all kinds, of the production and
storage of fuel, of the guarding and
protection OF public and private instl-
buttons. But IN all this laudable ac-
t1vity now little we hear of the safe
guarding OF the most essential factor
TO be considered, namely, the health
of the men who are to go forth and
face the enemy, and VINO must be
made of such material as to enable
them to attain the highest degree OF
efficiency, even though they are COM
PEELED by circumstances to maintain
the glory OF our lag anu uuutl
the very worst of conditions.
Fortunately the men in the fighting
units are certain to be favored by the
maintenance of the best sanitary mea-
sures under the supervision of the
highly trained medical division of our
army and navy; but what of those
VINO will be called on to take their
place in the ranks later-why should
we not insist that they be carefully
considered and so served as to make
them physically fit for the active and
exacting duties they are due to as
sumo
In the very nature of things only
the strongest and fittest are accepted
for service in the first line of de-
tense. The standards in use cause
the rejection of many who are anxious
to serve our country in the army and
navy, purely and simply because they
do not measure up to the physical re-
.quirements.
Now, it must be obvious to the most
casual observer that these many OBJ
jections because of physical lack is
not to be taken at all as a sign OF
national degeneracy-the fault is alb
sOlutely to be found in our careless
indifference to right living. To be
sure some babies are born with an
heritage that makes it impossible for
them to attain perfect manhood or
wOmanhood, but these poor unfortu-
mates, such because of disregard of
right living on the part of their pro-
genitors, rapidly fall by the wayside
on the other hand vastly more are
born with an heritage that fits them
to meet the exactions of this world
properly, if during their years OF
taught the ways of right living and
are surrounded by an environment
which will conserve what nature has
given them.
objectionable the man in tn,
ranks or on the firing line will b,
vastly more efficient, if his mind i;
at ease regarding those near and deal
to him at home, but imagine the men
tai state of a fighter in the ranks wh'
knows that an epidemic of typhoid ha
developed in his home community, ant
? that his folks are apt to fall victims
These are some of the many reason
: why the public should cooperate in
u telligently with the public health au
= thorities in keeping communicate
!, diseases at a minimum or even
T. eradicating them entirely. Prevent
- able disease is a crime; an offens
Il
- sure as we prevent or eradicate pre-
20 ventable disease, do we lengthen hi
I man life and increase the sum tot;
- of human happiness.
Right living is not arduous doe
not entail any hardship nor requiI
the giving up of anw of the norm;
pleasures of life. 1t means only I'll
exercise of a reasonable amount
D care to observe the fundamental law
! of hygiene, both personal and gene
al; to take advantage of the abundaI
l. fresh air and sunshine; to maintai
le personal cleanliness, both physic;
and moral; to be moderate in appea'
ing the appetite; to have a proper II
gard for the rights of your neighbo
4 that he, too, may practice right livin
/ without hindrance on your part, an
1t to delegate to yourself the task of a
" ways striving for the general publ
D good.