Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-14
Public Health

s. The legislative division of the
Maine Public Health Association in a
statement filed with the Budget Com
mittee declares that 119 utterly
feeble minded women are roaming at
large in our cities and towns because
there is no room for them at West
fownal.
Their illegitimate. feeble minded
children are already becoming a debt
to the State that it will take us years
to pay" continues the statement.
eff we segregate these pitiable.
feeble minded at once and through an
examination Of our school children,
discover these feeble minded children
in need of supervision and care, we
can almost control this problem in a
generation. The saving to the State
of Maine would be beyond any cal
culation, we believe. We ask that
the appropriation for the Maine
School for Feeble Minded be granted.
and our committee plans to organize
an educational campaign throughout
the State to arouse the public's inter-
est and support of this appropriation.
I'VE also feel that the appropria-
ton for our State department Of
health and public schools must pass.
Our health department and our edu-
cational department must be the most
efficient departments Of our State.
Maine, il rich. nevertheless, cannot
progress If her citizens are not well
and intelligent. It is not possible.
Maine. industrially busy and strong.
cannot progress if her citizens are
not energetic and sane. 1t is i'm
possible.
"The State department of health
lays emphasis on the need Of a pure
water and milk supply for the State
and investigates dangerous condi-
lions. It's work along these lines will
eliminate much Of our typhoid fever.
The department is establishing
nursing system, which will enable our
school children to be examined for
such defects before 1t is too late for
them to be completely cured. These
nurses will reduce our infant mortal
ity and the deaths from childbirth by
education Of our mothers in pre-
natal care, and in the proper feeding
Of their babies. aN
ut il estimated that the State
laboratory saved the citizens of Maine
in one year $4,000. The health de.
partment must have sufiicient funds
to do real educational work. III
ness brings a terrific economic loss to
the State from a lack of earning
capacity Of its sick citizens, from
days and months Of productive labor
lost, and from the loss Of initiative
and energy of its citizens through
disease. No state can afford to save
money by curtailing its health depart
ment appropriation. at least, when
under such efficient leadership as our
State now has in DR.. Bristol"
The statement Is signed by James
Q. Gulnac Of Bangor, president of the
State Chamber of Commerce and
Agricultural League, Mrs. Herbert J.
Brown, chairmap, Of the Portland Red
Cross Health Committee. Kenneth C.
n. Stills, president Of Bowdoin College,
DR.. e. D. Merrill of Milo. president OF
the Maine Public Health Association,
Mrs. Robert T. Whitehouse Of Port
land, chairman of the home depart
ment directorate of the State Cham
Der Of Commerce and Agricultural
League, w. A. Harris of Augusta,
executive secretary Of the Maine Pub
lie Health Association. Mrs. Howa ri
r. Ives Of Portland. secretary Of the
Maine Public Health Association,
Mrs. William +. Brewster of Dexter.
president of the Maine Federation OF
Women's Clubs. f. T. Clifford of Win
Ihrop, a member of the executive
Of the Maine State Grange,