Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-07
Half of Diseases
Preuentable, Dr..
Mayo Tells Bankers

La Crosse, Wis. July I'VE pride
ourselves on our advancing civiliza-
ton and intellectual superiority; II we
are TO continue to advance the public
health service must be made the first
function of the state declared DR.. w.
J. Mayo OF Rochester MINI. in an ad-
dress on Specialization OF Medicine and
OF Law" before the joint convention
Of Minnesota and Wisconsin lawyers
here today.
1T Is probable that neither prohihi-
tion propaganda nor an appeal to the
conscience OF man has caused the rapid
advance OF the temperance movement
but that pure water has made II posi-
lie. In France and italy the drinking
OF billions of gallons of wine saved the
people from extinction. They could
not have lived had they drank their
polluted water. simultaneously with
Nienna's introduction OF a pure water
supply from the mountains, her per
capita consumption of spurious and
fermCnted liquor was reduced 40 per
cent. The introduction of a pure water
supply in the various states OF our own
country has been followed by. tenn
perancc movement, and finally by pro
hi5ition. The drink habit is one of
the many forms Of individual protec-
ton resorted 10 by nature TO save men
from filth diseases, which cause death.
or that which is worse than death. in
tellectual deterioration.
Triumph Of Medicine Shown by War.
Medicine in the great war was tr!-
umphant. For the first time IN the
history Of wars. the number Of deaths
from casualties was greater than the
number Of deaths from disease. Ty
Phoid the greatest enemy Of both army
and civil HE, has been eliminated by
pure water supply.
Smallpox can be wiped from the
earth: this has been done IN Germany.
The continuation OF this disease in any
country IS a disgrace; 1t IL due to the
ignorance and prejudice OF some and
the indifference and selrshness Of
others
The examination OF school children
and the giving Of instructions with re-
gard to teeth and tonsils is of primary
Importance IN guarding against infec-
ttons. In the last century the aver
age life OF man has been increased Is
years. AS much more could bs added
in the next 20 II the facts now in our
possession were effectively employed.
Public Must Be Educated.
"Of all cooperative enterprises pub
lie health is the most important and
gives the greatest returns. To obtain
necessary legislation We must depend
on the educataion Of the public. and
this. I am glad 70 say. IS rapidly
progressing.
The medical profession Is grouping
itself along scientific lines not for the
profit Of the doctor. but that he may
adequately and satisfactorily perform
his work. Certainly so per cent Of all
disease is preventable, and It is the
duty Of the state 20 guard the health
OF its citizens thru the prevention
Of disease.
Capitailabor Partnership Seen.
The new appeal is for partnership
between capital and labor in industry
and such partnership must come. The
bullheaded employer and the unbal-
anced labor less) agitator must be con-
trolIed 1t has been said that corpora
tons do not have souls, only dividends.
II is no wonder that laborinsnen form
unions for self protection. but unfor-
tunately many labor organizations
when in power demand privileges OF
the same general character that they
had united 10 overthrow. SUCCESSFUL
partnership demands mutual conf
dence and honest striving for the OBJ
ject IN view.
If America is to succeed IN main
tanning her position in international
commerce and to continue TO pay the
laboringnan wages proportionate with
the American scale Of living, It must
be done by rendering the American Ia
boringnan more efficient and longer
lieved. that he may produce more. In
this way only can we compete with
the nations Of the old world"