Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-26
"Shocking Shells by DR.. Leverett D. Bristol

"Shocking Shells" by
Dr. Bristol stated at the beginning Of
his address that the title of his speech
was rather erroneous. that TIE shock
ing shells were really facts or points
TO shock the people int. realization Of
the need for public health work.
The subject Of health does not tend to
draw'a crowd to hear an address a.onE
those lines. 4 speaker on public wei
fare does not as q rule. have q verJ
large audience to hear him as would be
the case if speaker with q ski on
the end of his name should undertake
10 PROFOUND some momentous problem.
bu. nevertheless the question Ut health
is one of paramount importance and is
slowly but surely icing recognized as
such.
1t is the duty Of the State of Maine
TO make health and health work popu-
lar. to start an epidemic Of health in
stead Of an epidemic Of disease. Health
should be made contagious, rot dis
cases. and there seems tofbe a disposi-
tion on the part of the people to do it.
Statistics show that Of the young mel
who presented themselves for physical
examination in the United states forces
during the war one-thirl were found
unfit to fight. practically 90 per cent.
weFe rejected for physical, reasons. On
the basis Of these young men, the
cream of the nations population. u
oh hat 0yn a r.
cent. below par. There IS actually more
inmates ia the insane hos. itals through
out the country than there is in all our
colleges and universities.
All this shows the neej q public
health work. The RESULTS largely due to
well organized public health work and
preventative medicines show the stead
lily decreasing death rates, tie decrease
in infant mortality. a smaller number
Of deaths from tuberculosis and the
practical extinction of SOM diseases.
In the South here have been many dis
eases which struck at the very eco
nomir life of the South itself and sta
,is;ies show that with the belp Of pub
lie health work the South seems to be
gaining the upper hand over these dis
cases. The Panama canal undertaking
proved stupendous with the many dis
eases infesting that region, but the
work OF the United States health Off
Gers actually made it possible ut accom-
plishment
ton of health work, the positive and
the negative. The positive object is
to secure health and physical eff +.
cheney for everyone. The negative
object is to prevent disease and
postpone death. How infrequent it
is nowadays for people to die Of old
age. The object in public health
work is to see that there is no old
age. National efficiency Is more
necessary now than before the war
and if We are to succeed in economy
we must have all the strength there Is
possibly in US.
War is nothing more than the
greatest of diseases and the days Of
reconstruction may be likened unto
4 period of convaiescence. The Pc
Rod Of convalescence is a period of
danger. it must be watched SO that
a re-attack or relapse may not be
forthcoming. So it is with the ma
ton. We must take stock Of our
physical condition as a country, state
or individual.
The anarchy of the Reds is moth
ing but q cancer Of the body based
on the conditions following the war.
w, must watch this period 30 that
this cancer cannot exist. In a hu-
man it must be cut out and the only
way to cut it out Of our body politic
IS to deport it.
As one Of the methods Of prevent
ing these conditions in our physical
life we should have q periodical
physical examination. A business
nan has a periodical inventory of his
business, it shows him his business
disabilities, and we should do it from
\ physical standpoint at least once
1 year. oftener il possible. BY an
Early diagnosis 1t is able to prevent
III diseases.
Framingham. Mass. has for the
past two years been carrying on a
health experiment and one Of the
chief points is q physical e1amina-
Ion OF the people. The results show
ID that n per cent. Of the 1900
people were found to be in need Of
medical advice and assistance. In
wo years tuberculosis and deaths
we're reduced BY one-third and the
general death rate vas reduced BY
me- quarter. This gives the value OF
! physical examination.
Another item OF reconstruction is
HID welfare work. The occupation
i being little child is Z most haz-
'rdeus one. The child has had less
nance for life and health than the
'oys who went into the trenches
n the State Of Maine In 1917 Of all
he deaths 20 per cent. occurred In
he first decade Of life. children
.-0ty, nrG m m x-1arx nf 1~e and