Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-11-15

General Statement of Sickness
1t is not known exactly what is the
extent of sickness from other causes
than those reported as communicable
diseases, but estimates have been
made by authorities and as result
of actual surveys in various parts OF
the country, from which it would ap-
pear that from 125,000 to 100000 of
Ohio's people are sick at all times.
The Commission aims to report de
pendable statistics as to the extent of
sickness in Ohio among workers, and
also among the general population.
1t is tabulating the statistics Of the
benefit societies, of which there are
more than 100, in the larger industrial
plants, to determine what is the loss
to workers in days lost from employ
ment on account of sickness.
The Commission considers its duty
to be to determine the causes and eX-
tent of sickness, and how far prevent
able, and then to determine whether
it is advisable to provide a system of
insurance which will distribute the
cost of sickness among all the people.
Health of Children
Practically every country of the
civilized world has provided for health
supervision of children in school.
Some countries, notably England,
France, Germany and Japan have
done much to upbuild the physical
status of future generations of their
people by adequate care of school
children.
Statistics discloses that not over
one-half the cities of this State are
doing anything along this line. A
negligible amount of health super
vision was reported from the rural
districts of Ohio. The medical sta
tistics of the first draft show that a
large part of the physical defects for
which men were rejected, could have
been easily prevented if attended to
in childhood.
Prenatal and Pre-SchOOl Care
This Commission is not unmindful
of the need of giving more attention
to the health of babies and children
who are not yet in school. During the
first five years, the physical status of
the child for life is often fixed. 1t
may be too late to correct defects and
put the child right when he enters
school. Moreover, the death rate of
children under five years, and also
under one year is excessive.
Although children under five con-
stitute only 10 per cent of the total
population, they contribute from 20
10 % per cent of the deaths, and chill
dren under one, constituting per cent
of the population, contribute from Is
to 16 per cent of the deaths.
Health Insurance
The total population of Ohio was,
in 1910, 4,767,121, and the estimated
population July 1st, 1918, is 5,285,O0O.
The total number of persons engaged
in gainful occupations in 1910, was
1,919,055, or 43 per cent of the total
population. This includes all persons
whether employers or employees who
are engaged in gainful occupations,
but does not include housewives. If
the same percentage of those engaged
in gainful occupations prevailed in
1918, there are at present 2,272,456
persons engaged in gainful occupa-
tions.
The total amount of salaries and
wages paid in 1914, according to the
census report, was 1924, 88,649.OO,
and of this the wage -earners got
$317, ,923,813.00 or an average of
slightly over 5000 each for full
year, not counting any lost time.
The health of the people of Ohio is
taken care of by about 5000 physi-
clans, or one physician to every $50
of the manhattan
There are in Ohio approximately
$50 hospitals, public and private, with
a capacity of $4,000 beds outside of
state institutions and county infrma-
ries. The census of 1910 showed that
there were 1872 nurses. The number
registered in 1913 was 5,S02. Four