Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-16

| ease SO he will not endanger the lives
| of his fellow citizens. All have the
right to insist that their neighbors
shall not menace them. Once this
double responsibility is brought home
| to each individual the public health
question will be near solution. An
awakened and enlightened public
| spirited citizens who have the pub
| lie welfare at heart.
1T is not necessary. nor would it
| be desirable, for the State to assume
responsibility for the medica, treat
ment of the individual, unless some
unusual circumstance warranted this
being done: nor should the State
prescribe the school of medicine
| Through which treatment is to be
given. The rights of the individual
must be protected, while at the same
time he must be held responsible for
his exercise of those rights.
Public Health of Maine
"The State of Maine should be the
hcalthiest of all the As states. Its
unequalled climate, its preponder-
| ance of rural population. it's unlim-
tied supply of pure water, the con-
tour of it's land for proper drainage,
and the intelligence of its people
! should make it easy for Maine to
! lead the nation. This State is a heal
thy state, but even so there is room
| for Improvement, and a wide field
exists for the activities of interested
citizens who seek to aid in improv-
| ing living conditions. The good
points should not be exaggerated nor
should the weaker ones be overlook
| ed. but Maine people at times have
neglected their opportunities IN health
as in certain other important mat
ters.
| 'The function of the State Depart
ment Of Health is to clean up dan
gerous areas where disease is found
or is likely to breed, to protect the
sources of water and milk supplies,
to gather vital statistics, to aid ply
sicians in laboratory analyses, and
in general to set high standards for
the guidance Of citizens and munich
palities. In addition to the Depart
ment of Health the State is fortunate
in having the Public Health Coun-
Gil. which co-operates with and ad-
vises the State Department and rem
ders valuable service to the several
Municipalities. 1t is not more laws
that are needed in Maine, health or
otherwise, but more observance of
and respect for laws.
State Work
Few citizens realize the extent to
which the State is engaged in health
and hospital work. To carry on the
Health Department the last Legisla-
ture appropriated 100000 and in
addition to this $25o,oO0 more will
be spent in cleaning up the milk sup
plies of cities and towns. The Leg
islature appropriated a total of S.
259,031.20 for State Hospitals; ST.
S9,91461 for the Insane and Tuber-
cular, and sG69,05659 for the Feeble
Minded. BY January j, 1928 there
will be 259S beds in these State in
situations and the number Is being
increased yearly.
The last Legislature appropxjat-
ed $346,500 to aid IS private hospi-
tails. which have 1n45 beds and rep
resent an investment of 100000.
In the State there are also 43 Ii
ccnsed maternity hospitals with o25
beds. A new dormitory is about to
be completed ut the Feeble Minded
Home in Pown"l. and it is the fixed
policy of the State to build addition
al dormitories at that institution I'M
,l1 % x3~F1
this class are segregated and under
the care of the State.
mo finer work is done within the
State than that OF its public and pri-
vate hospitals. whose purpose is to
relieve suffering and prolong human
life. The good that is accomplished
cannot be measured. People who
live in cities where hospital facilities
abound often take them as matter
they mean to the community. Even
though some of these hospitals are
not as modern as might he wished
and through improvements are need
ed, splendid work is being done with
the equipment at their command.
II have visited out Of the way
places in this State where hospitals
are unknown. and thus have been
brought face to face with the need
that exists for them. I recall a small
town in Northern Maine where until
a year or two ago there was no hos
pital. Men injured in the rough work
of the woods were taken by team or
sled to the railroad and then carried
in baggage car so or 100 miles to a
hospital in distant town. Today it
is different. for there is small but
GOOD -hosnital in that villa ua and