The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-09
PLEA FOR HEALTH
Death Rate From Tuberculosis
Is Large In Topeka.
Doctors Tell Rotary Club of
Conditions Here.

Topeka doctors told the Rotary club
today some very unpleasant truths
about the conditions of health in the
city. the state and the nation. This is
health week on the Rotary calendar.
and DR.. Karl A Menninger was in
charge of the Rotary program for the
day. He introduced several Topeka
five minutes on some phase of the
public health.
Death Rate Is Big.
The death rate in Topeka from tu-
berculosis is twice the death rate in
the state at large, DIR. S. j. Crumbine,
secretary of the state board of health,
told the Rotarians. tuberculosis and
its spread constitute q burning prob
lem. Dr. Crumbine said. Every case
Is menace to others. He Endorsed in
the strongest terms the sale of the
anti-tuberculosis associations Christi
mas seals and urged the Rotarians to
buy the seals and to back their sale.
Should Be Examined.
1t should be the duty of every Ro-
tartan to go to his physician for a
physical examination before the end
of this week, DR.. Crumbine declared.
Every dollar spent for health, he said,
is an investment and not an expense
Topeka, spends about 40 cents per
capita on health. DR.. Charles Van
Horn pointed OUT in comparison to
much larger sums which are spent for
figures prove that human life and
good health are the greatest economic
wealth IF the country, regardless of
the bumanita rian side of the question.
Should Care for Teeth.
Ir. G. n, Mertz, dentist character
izen the lack of precaution in the care
Of children's teeth and mouths as one
n n cra fnc nf inf
diseases. Heart disease and diseases
of the circulatory system come from
neglect of children's. mouths, and
there are not enough dentists in the
city to inspect and care for the teeth
of the children as it really should be
do1.e. Doctor Mertz said.
The most vital issue of the public
health today is the prevalence of So
cial disease, DR.. John O'Connell de-
ciared. He pointed out the fact that
cry ten in the state has it in some
form.
5000 Cases Here.
There are probably 5000 cases of
social disease in the city of Topeka
today, Doctor 0'Connell said, and
many of the victims themselves do not
know they have the disease. The best
remedy for the condition of affairs is
sexual education, Doctor O'Connell de-
clared, citing the pitiful examples of
the spread of disease because young
men and women do not know how to
meet the dangers which confront them.
Much Mental Deficiency.
Mental health was the topic of Doc
tor Menninger's closing talk. There
are 100000 causes of mental deficiency
in the state, he declared, and the pub
lie is paying taxes for the education
of thousands of young people who are
mentally ill., and not able to learn.
The public is coming to realization
of the necessity of making physical
examinatiens OF the puphs IN tne
schools, but there is no one who is
making examinations or who seems
interested in the mental health OF the
pupils of the schools.
The employer of labor is neglecting
one of the main factors in his labor
turnover, which is one of the greatest
expenses which he has to meet, when
he fails to pay attention to the mental
health of his employees. Most dis
contented, unsatisfactory, inefficient
employees are suffering from mental
i'll health. Doctor Menninger declared,
and this condition can be remedied by
mental examinations and treatment.
There arc nine specialists in mental
diseases in the city, Doctor Menninger
said, and there is but one Judge in To-
peka who recognizes that many or the
cases which come before him are due
to the fact that the delinquent is not
normal mentally, and sends them to
the specialist for examination or treat
ment.
Should Establish Clinic.
There should be clinic for the
treatment of mental cases in Topeka,
Doctor Menninger declared, just the
same as there are clinics for the treat
ment of other diseases.
The Rotarians were serious crowd
as they broke up after the meeting.
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