Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-21
physical development and with or
ganic diseases of the heart.


ganic diseases of the heart.
Gentlemen, want to repeat these
three statements and then l want to
add to this discouraging record
these facts: Only two states had more
reflections for curvature of the spine
than Maine; only three states had
more for defective vision; only four
states had more reflections for defect
i've teeth; only seven states had more
reflections for epilepsy; only five
states had more reflections for pull
monary and suspected tuberculosis:
and only nine states had more tuber-
culosis of all kinds. The only encour-
aging figures that we had are that %
states were worse off in regard to fat
feet and that IL states had more
venereal disease"
There is no use to be detected
about this state of affairs. The thing
for us all to do is to act and to get
back of our State Department of
Health. 1 urge a backing of
DR.. Bristol and his department at the
coming Legislature. He must have
financial backing to carry on his
Work.
I'VE have at present 400. persons
pronounced feeble minded by our
most competent physicians. who are
bringing illegitimate and, nine times
out Of 10, feeble minded children into
the world today. Due to the in
difference of Names citizens. there
has not been enough money appro-
priated by our State to house and
segregate these poor. helpless, pitiable
people, visited by the sin of their
fathers unto the third and the fourth
generations. Money must be appro-
priated to house and care for these
pathetic detectives at the coming
Legislature. / appeal to you again to
arouse public opinion all over Maine
that this appropriation for the School
for Feeble Minded be procured
I'VE must also have psychopathic
clinics in all parts of Maine where
the proper physical examination of
all suspected, cases of mental defec-
tives can be made and the diseases
properly diagnosed.
1--WE must demand also enforce
ment of the law which prohibits the
marriage of mental detectives.
81 do not hesitate to say that / be-
lieve that any citizen in Maine who
fails to report case of venereal dis
ease. so that during it's infectious
stage. it can be properly quarantined.
is committing a crime. Due to his
neglect, the contagion may spread to
innocent lives. and the price for that
neglect be paid, perhaps. by a hope
lessly diseased or blind baby.
/ "Of course there are two programs
of health before us now. One, a pro-
gram for the proper care and cure of
people already diseased; the other, a
program of health for the children
of our State. In this latter program
lies the hope of not only our State,
but of the nation and of the world.
1T has been proven in all places
where child welfare work is efficient
ly conducted that there is a marked
decrease in infant mortality. In the
city of Portland in 1916 there were
1873 deaths of children under one year
of age. In 1917. we began an or
ganized child welfare work. In 1919
there were 80 deaths Of children I'M
der one year OF age. a saving. of "a
babies lives over 1916. According to
life insurance valuation, and / am
now presenting to you the fact that
child welfare work is a business,
dividend paying proposition, every
baby's life is worth at least $1,000.
The sum of $40,800 was saved the city
of Portland. whose total budget for a
year in its health department, had
been $4,000.
1T must be made possible for the
State through a sufficient number Of
health centers in charge Of competent
physicians and public health nurses
to educate along the following lines:
First, the right of the child to healthy
parentage; second. prenatal care;
, third. proper care and feeding of in