The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-05
STATE KEALTH'BOARD
WILL TEACH PEOPLE
HOW TO keep WELL


The law commands that the state /
board OF health shall make studies OF
the public health, collect staustics'
and endeavor to lead and direct the
people in the ways of better health and
greater strength with their consequent
increase of wealth and happiness. This
all important work has constantly
been forwarded. for health is the
foundation of all development. better
ment and happiness.
Health first should be our slogan.
Our health is only about SO percent
of what il should be. Ill health, sick
ness and disease with their cost and
inefficiency and their train of social
and political ills, are not visited upon
US. We invite them and they come.
The great Pasteur left US message,
the value of which has not been well
appreciated. He said-"It is within
the power of man to drive all infecti-
Gus diseases from the earth" This
simple truth is now plain to US all,
yet we still suffer greatly from pre-
ventable diseases. This fact does not
speak highly for our intelligence and
our ability to be practical. DR.. Oliver
Holmes writes:
God gave his creatures light and
And waters open to the skies,
Man hides him an awful lair
And wonders why his brother
dies.
Hospitals are in a degree monu-
ments to i'll health. We would not
need them, to so great an extent, II
we would obey the laws OF our we'll
being. The number of cases of sick
ness we have is measure of our dis
regard of health. A sick man is I'M
fortunate in his sickness. but is more
unfortunate in being so impractical to
so live as to become sick.
List of Diseases.
Here Is list of the major prevent.
able diseases which undermine our
strength and character, cost millions,
cause sterility, pauperism. crime and
delinquency; and even threaten the
existence of our race. They are
syphilis, gonorrhea. sclerosis, heart
: diseases, tuberculosis, kidney dis
eases, liver diseases, intestinal dis
eases. These maladies can and must
be fought and reduced. They are
, monsters which weaken and kill.
For this lethargic and unreasonable
state we must arouse ourselves if we
wish to experience health, strength,
wealth and happiness. These great
blessings can not be secured from
drugs and hospitals nor by wishing
for them. They come through right
. living.
We neglect our children. This is
proven by the fact that actual inspec.
tons find that fully 20 percent need
more or less medical attention. They
sicken and die by thousands and the
short coffin industry grows apace. Bad
teeth are almost universal and the
suffering and hinderance to moral, in
tellectual and physical development
due TO bad teeth. is incalculable. Il
is, of course, a sin of omission on the
part of parents and government, II
fail to have and rear healthy, happy
children. Yet we stupidity commi
this sin, for which we will not be hello
guiltless.
so Percent Efficient.
The medical findings among drafted
men during the war were startling
and proved that this great nation i:
only so percent efficient. The saiC
findings made it plain that we are no
nation of 100 900. 900 people but real
ly only 100000. This was becaus'
of sickness, disease and deformit.
most of which was acquired through
wrong living in childhood.
The state board of health present.
the above truths and urges bushes
men, all local authorities, and all cit
zens to consider them and speedil
conclude and act upon the fundamen1
al principle that is expressed in thi
slogan.
The most important business
before the business men to-
day is the business OF the
public health.
The state board of health will here
after print monthly letters to the pei
pie setting forth how we must liv
to realize the wealth and happines
to be found in health. We hope to ST
cure the cooperation of the people i
our efforts to advance the publ
health.
Respectfully,
]. N. HURRY, Secretary,
The Indiana State Board of Health