Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-29
Gov. PercivaI p. Baxter


tn" State of Maine. welcomed the dele
gates to the New England Conference
on Tuberculosis in the hall of the
House of Representa- tives at 10 o'clock
Thursday morning.
the meeting was opened with invo-
cation by Rev. Andrew r. McWhorter
pastor OF the South Parish Congrega-
tional church of Augusta. DIR. B. l..
Bryant. Bangor, acted a. chairman pro
tenn until the arrival of r V. Spencer.
Boston. pre- sident Of the New England
Conference.
when ] come cfore an audience
Like this Of men and women associated
for no selfish purpose, l think that the
world is better" said Gov. Baxter.
Il was planning to go away early
today but did not want to leave until
I assured YOU that 1 took an interest
| in Your work" continued Gov. Baxter
Il like to think of the State House
as center from which good move
ments like this radiate. We want YOU
TO feel that We extend a very warm
greeting to YOU.
he Maine State department of health
has increased $50 per cent. If there is
any activity in the State which should
grow it is the public health depart
ment.
The state canveke hold nd con
troll the health Of every individual, but
the State can lead and point the way
The Stofe ra, n nd
if the people won't comply with proper
rules the State must interfere.
"Our record in Maine as to the death
ste from tuberculosis is a good ore.
. IN 1S9. there were 1915 deaths from
tuberculosis, or zoe to every 100 900 OF
population. In 1901 the number OF
deaths was 1901. or las to 100000 of
the population; in 1911 there were 1854
| deaths. or lie to 100, 900 of the popu-
! lation: while in 1921 there We're Cos
deaths, or 81 to 100, 900 OF population
, This shows that work has been done
! in this State that counts.
The general average of deaths from
tuberculosis in tho whole country the
/ past year was ia per loo. 0oo of popu-
lation. in 20 years we expect to get
the number of deaths from tuberculo-
sis down to 200 per cent.
I'VE are going to make Maine the
heaithiest State in the Union, and
challenge any other state to beat II.
Il extend to you the official welcome
Of the State of Maine as we'll as my
personal greetings
N "a I1rfs
brief words of welcome were extended
to the visitors by DR.. {. f. Kendall Of
Augusta. State commissioner of health
DIR. Langdon Snipe of Bath president
of the Maine Medical Association; and
Ralph Jewell of Fairfield chairman Of
the board of trustees, Maine State Tu-
berculosis Sanitoria.
r. v. Spencer
Following the addresses Of welcome
f. " Spencer of Boston. president of
| the New England Conference on tn
berculosis. responded for the visitors
President Spencer spoke in part as
follows:
We who are here have left our
work, which is always pressing us
for every moment of our time and
for all the resourcefulness, skill and
energy which we possess, in order
to talk over together our common
problems and to gather new ideas
and inspiration for the accomplish
ment of the gigantic tasks facing
every one of us. if we are really to
fulfill our mission. Altho each one
of us always has more than is hui
manly possible to carry out. if the
Conference Yields the help which it
should. it will have been well worth
| while for all of us.
I'VE. who are engaged in the
greatest fight ever organized against
diesease, will have a stupendous task
before us. In spite Of the fact that
the death rate has been cut in half
since the national association was
organized Il years ago, it is beyond
reason to expect the the present
encouraging country wide decline in
| mortality from tuberculosis will
continue indefinitely. We expect the
decline to continue, but our eXpec-
tation can only be realized if we
who are concerned with he work
become constantly more skllful.
more professional, and then only if
we shall be able more thoroly to
organize. The fight against tuhercu-
losis is still decidedly amateurish in
most communities. 1t lacks ade-
| quatc conception of the program
| necessary to success; it laks thoro-
ly competent direction it lacks
equipment and highly skilled pro-
| fessional service.
THE idea generally prevails
among the people that it is time
enough TO be examined by a ply
sician when one is not feeling well.
and that school lunches of milk or
cocoa administered once a day to
these children whose parents will
pay for it, is nutrition work; that
| the school physicians only functions
are to detect diseased tonsls, ade-
noids and carious teeth. and that it
il the duty of boards of health to
concern themselves only with COM
municable diseases after they have
been reported.
| I'VE are met here. not to listen to
startling disclosures of new ideas.
but rather to perfect our notions of
old ideas. and to improve our plans
for giving the people Of New Eng
land all possible benefit of present
knowledge. No voluntary or Off
cial public health agency exists to