Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-02


Healthiest State" and it SHALL be
with YOUR help"
Secretary Thurher reviewed the
work Of the Association, its belief
that an "ounce of prevention is bet
fer than q pound Of cure" its per-
sonnet, Maine men md women
banded together for the purpose OF
improving the state Of the public
health Of Maine, working under a
budget system. He referred to us
long and effective service under the
name of The Maine Anti-Tubercu-
losis Association. 4
He told of the adaptations of the
organization to the demands Of the
various needs arising;, described the
plan under which it is working and
which was formed by representatives
of the Associated Industries OF Maine,
The Maine State Grange. the Maine
Federation of Labor, Maine Medical
Association, State Department OF
Health, Maine federation Of Women's
Clubs, Maine Department OF the
American Legion. State Chamber or
Commerce, and State Department OF
Education.
He showed how the plan worked for
the uniflcation Of the health organ
izations throughout the State in sys-
tematic effort, avoiding duplication
and consequent waste. ..
Substantial progress has been
made toward our goaI-'Maine the
Healthiest State.'
"The first year Of the plan pro-
vided for two clinics for Maine ply
sicians. Both have been held. Doc
tors from every county in Maine
have attended.
"The development Of local health
societies and committees has pro-
ceeded until now we have societies
organized or in process of organiza-
ton in every Maine county except
one and this county will be developed
as soon as practicable
Fresh air schools have been estab-
llshed in Portland and Bangor and
steps have been taken leading to the
establishment Of such schools In
other centers Of population.
The campaign against tuberculosis
is being continued and the death rate
from this preventable disease Is
steadily decreasing. The past year
showed the lowest death rate from
tuberculosis in Names history. The
rate for Maine was S1.9 per 100000
population while the rate for the en-
tire United States was OIL. There
was 663 deaths from this disease in
Maine last year as compared with
1913 in 1892.
"The need for public health nurses
is being pointed out and once the
public understands the need it is
ready to meet it. Just one instance
of this might be cited in York county.
A little more than a year ago the
York County Public Health Associ-
alton put on q nurse. Three are now
engaged in the work.
"Thirty-hve thousand boys and
girls are now enrolled in the Modern
Health Crusade. For two years in
succession Maine has been the only
New England state to win honOrs in
this great national health tournament
in which more than G,000,000 school
children take part. In 1920 one
Maine school qualified for national
pcnnant. In 1921 six Maine schools
qualified. This work has appealed so
strongly to the Maine State Depart
ment of Education that the crusade
is now included in the course of study
on physical education. The Maine
Public Health Association however
employs the crusade director who Or
ganizes the work and helps the school
superintendent, teachers and pupils
to carry it on. All the supplies for
the crusade are handled through our
office.
The campaign against cancer is be-
ing pushed with unceasing vigor.
During the past year upwards OF
1000 Maine audiences have been
given the first hand and authentic in
formation on how to Lring this dis
case under control. AS result of
this work it seems now that the
steady progress which cancer has
been making in Maine has been
checked Climbing steadily in its
appalling-and for the most part
needless-toll of lives In Maine until
93S deaths were reported in 1920, the
number for 1921 shows slight re-
duction-914.
1.-THE teaching of the importance
of dental hygiene to both children
and adults has greatly increased in
scope during the past year. Liter
allure, lectures, and moving pictures
have helped spread the message.
The campaign for the conservation
CT vision is going on in the schools,
in the parent teacher associations, in
the factories and in the Maine
Normal schools.
"The year 1921 showed a slight de-
crease in the number of deaths of
infants under one year of age,-1,576
as compared with 1913 during 1920.
Those few figures incomplete as
they are, showing as they do that
Maine is making progress. also show
the great need for continued work.
Thousands of Maine lives are still
being needlessly lost each year
through the failure to observe the
simple rules of good health. What
has been accomplished proves that
we are on the right track. But we
need to stay on the track and the
terminal is long ways ahead.
Business men in Maine and
throughout America are day by day
having a keoner realization that The
Biggest Business before the Business
Man of Today is the Business Of Pub
lie Health"
COLBY COLLEGE