Ellsworth American., 1919-10-01

worlds Vitality which has been re.
duced by the ravages of war. Every
child should be guarded with health
There Is the knowledge that large
portion of the diseases OF humanity
are preventable diseases. Therefore il
is cur part sc do the things va krow
ought to be done and can Re done tc
relieve the situation.
There was held last spring In
Cannes conference at which were
present representatives, scientists
and physicians Cf TIE FIVE a lied ma
tions. to discuss the problems which
only the Red Cross of the world wa.
fitted to attempt And the opinion Of
these men was absolutely unanimous
even these men who themselves hat
been buried in study of the heaitl
problems of their respective countries
that on the Red Cross must devolv,
the movements for advancing tn,
human life of the world. that ther,
should be a world commission. Fol
what purpose? Not for the purpose
of war. but for the purpose of health,
and for pTese wing The health of the
world and avoiding unnecessary dis
eases; in other words, the rep -esen-
tatives of the nations gathered in Par.
Is saw the possibilities that had been
opened up by that gathering.
A Grave Situation.
When we look at the situation
here in this country what do Y see?
We see a country far from healthy.
1t is situation which is very grave
one. 1t is so common that we have
become accustomed to it, | need not
stand here and discuss with you the
problems that existed in military
countries and the hundreds OF thou
sands Of deaths that are absolutely
needless, nor do | need to go into de-
tails as to that Belgium where a mi'-
lion and half porished of prevent
able diseases. I wish to speak to you
of diseases hat are taking their toll
and undermining the vita ity OF our
people
Now. then. what can the Red
Cross do? Even before the war, tub
erculosis had become n problem In
this country. The health of the peo-
pie Is not the problem for the physi-
cian.-it is not for the hospital nor
the sanitarium. 1t is for the visiting
nurse, the nurse who goes into the
home; in other words it is not the
cure. it is the prevention OF sickness,
and the medical porfession is slowly
realizing It, the people are still more
slowly realizing it,-that it is not the
cure but the prevention OF disease
that is the vital question. and the
Red Cross had already undertaken
this vast and large problem when it
was called upon to expend all its
strength on the war and it has begun
again to take up this problem.
I'm the last 90 years other groups
of citizens have devoted their ener,
gies to the prevention of this dis
ease and there have been various
organizations formed TO improve the
condition of the children in this coun-
try Thus far. 1t has not been taken
up by any one great group although
in many cases different public Off
oals have taken it up. but | want to
emphasize right here that he respon-
sibilitv for the health of the commun-
ity and of the people of the nation is
public responsibility. u rests
squarely upon the shoulders of our
public officials but our public officials
cannot do anything until they have
been authorized by adequate legisla-
lion and have been given adequate
support by the public. This question
Of the health of the nations has be-
come not only national but an in
te-natiGnal prOble~' nd the RI d Cross
Of America, of England, of France, of
Italy, and of every other coun-
where the Red Cross has an organi-
cation, is the agency in all these coun-
tries through which the work should
be carried on.
Reflects Unified Spirit.
We realize that the Red Cross is
the first. last, and all the time the
one great cooperating organization
that reflects the great unified spirit
of the American people. 1t is the
only agency in existence that can rem
der the home service that is neces-
sary to conserve the health of the
nation. and, of course, 1t will continue
in such activities until there is some
other agency that can take it over
and do it better than the Red Cross.
"The Red Cross will not assume to
do the work of other organizations.
or to assume the responsibility of pub
lie officials, but it will work with and
cooperate in the communities with
organizations already in its welfare
work in such a way that there will
be no confusion.
I'VE find that the fight against tu-
berculosis is not a problem by ITSELF