The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-01-26


~ shows that in former wars death
from disease was a large factor in
the termination Of war, since death
from disease and death in battle oc-
Cured in a ratio of from 8 to / to as
high as l6 to /. In the Spanish war
We lost in battle 353 soldiers, while
5000 and that many died of disease.
Twenty thousand soldiers we're sick
with typhoid fever at one time, due
to failure to establish proper medical
authority. In the Boer war the Eng
iish lost 5000 of $4,000 soldiers sick
with typhoid. In contrast to this the
recent French report on the Great
War shows that six soldiers died in
battle to one from disease. The nee
esSities Of war finally gave medicine
an opportunity to make this marvel
GUS showing when given authority.
These figures demonstrate the saving
of life that should be possible in time
Of peace. Attention is called to the
lack Of public health care as a ma
tional waste, since we lose 100000
| persons a year from unnecessary dis
ease; 100000 fail to live through the
first year Of life, and l25,000 die
within the first six weeks. Our ma
ternity death rate is the highest OF
any civilized nation, largely from ne
glect or lack Of opportunity to secure
special care in many Of the farm dis.
tricts. In spite Of such adverse con-
ditions it is probable that twelve
years have been added to the average
length of human life by applied
medical science within the last few
decades, largely through the preser-
walton of children.
Look TO AMERICA.
For some years to come the prog
ress of medical science will depend
on America. In England, unfortun.
ately, all research investigation oi
disease has been checked by per.
nicious bill, passed through the in.
huence of anti-vivisectionists, which
prevents animal experimentation, al.
so by the development Of generalizeC
state medicine and the consequent
loss of initiative. 1t may be men.
toned that these same anti-vivisec.
tionists permit the coursing of hares
and wear the furs of trapped animal:
often held suffering for days unit
visited by the trapper. The influence
of such persons is becoming active ir
America and must be combated a,
we combat disease. They wilfulll
ImiSrepresent experimental research
on animals and are unwilling to be
lieve that such experimentation i,
very expensive, requiring buildings
equipment, much labor, and accurate
detailed observations carried out witt
the exact technic under anesthetic
as is used in operating on patients
yet with far greater difficulty. 1t i
only by the clear and honest inter
pretation of such work that the enor
nous economic loss caused by dis
ease in our pets and domestic animal
: to say nothing Of persons, can be pre-
: vented.
We are not naturally law-abidin
people. Civilization is but the stat
of social conscience of the mass. Fo
. instance, prohibition is evaded, es
pecially in such states and cities a
! have a high percentage of foreig
: born inhabitants, who are aided i
, such evasion by the congressman VIII
: represent them. Their efforts to tax
; advantage of the medical professio
and make bartenders of physician:
: and saloons of drug stores, wa
doomed to fail. In the control Of til
use of alcohol Congress should hav
; ascertained the small amount Q
5 liquor released to wholesale and re
r tail druggists for medicinal use pre-
: vious TO passing of the prohibitio
S act. Prohibition is logical in cour
: tries with universally pure drinkin
water like ours, and has reduced re
= markably not only those disease
/ caused by alcohol, but the associate
:. diseases of social and moral lif
: largely dependent on alcohol and il
l sale.
: SOME NATIONAL NEEDS.
a The scope of our national healt
E has become greatly extended over il
d former conception in the education {
= the people. Many, having develope
! to adult life on a foreign soil, resi-
\ progress in this country, necessita
: ing added supervision in the for
: of prenatal, maternity and baby we
+ fare clinics. The physical develop
e ment of the child, and the care ar
/ prevention of diseas during scho'
# life, also require national attention
IT instruction in physical development
6 the establishment of playground
: and living and industrial hygien
$ are, in general way more or lie:
r appreciated by the inhabitants of OF
n cities, with the result that farm Ii
IS has become almost unbearable to OF
d youth. 1t is said that $4,000 farm
y in New England have been abando
J. ed, $4,000 within the last year I
a a less degree this is going on throug
i. ~