The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-12-20
R0TARIANs HAVE
XMAS GIFTS
Public Health and Wei
fare Addresses
DR.. Young and Walter d. Thurber
Speak After Usual Club Lunch
con in Grand Army Hall

The Rotarians enjoyed their weekly
luncheon Tuesday noon in Grand Ar
my Hall with DR.. George E. Young,
president of the County Public Health
Association, and Walter d. Thurber,
executive secretary of the Maine Pub
lie Health Association, as the speak
ers. DR.. S. NJ. Cover led in the Ro-
tary songs and the approaching Yule-
tide was recognized by a grab bag
passed at the tables by l.. H. Gold
smith, the members drawing inexpen-
sive but amusing gifts. President
c. p Merrill presided and John l..
Fish introduced the speakers DR..
Young spoke for q few minutes on
the Schick Test and said in opening
that "Heredity and environment are
the two factors that are most prom
inent in the production of physical
and mental health. Environment
may improve or mar heredity, there
by passing on to the next generation
a weaker or stronger protection
against disease" He mentioned this
because the results of the Schick Test
depend upon heredity and environ
ment summed up in the individual by
the degree of immunity that the in
dividual has against infection from
the Klebs-loeffler bacillus, the bac-
terra of Diptheria. He then ex-
planned that the bacillus already re-
ferred to had been proven as the
cause of diptheria and told of the
ways it might be communicated. The
Schick Test was originated and de-
veloped with the idea of making peo-
| pie immune ito this bacciHlus and
consists of injecting under the skin
a very small amount of diptheria
I toxin. He then described the meth
ods and said that those positive to
the Schick Test are susceptible to Dip
iberia His short address gave the
men present a much better under
standing of what this test might mean
if it might come into use in Skowhe-
gan.
Mr. Thurber gave a business-like
talk as might be expected in address,
ing a group of business men. He
spoke on the matter of health as an
extremely personal thing and person
al because it has everything to do
with the future. He commented
upon its influence over work, busi-
ness and prosperity. He then told
of the Maine Public Health Associa-
tion, what it was doing and why it
was organized. He gave this touch
of local color by calling the attention
of the club to the sheet of last weeks
Reporter, upon which was published
the story of the health organization
in Somerset County, and then called
Atata laA To- n
items on the other side of the sheet
which pertained to illness in various
forms of different Somerset County
people. He referred to the Maine
Anti-tuberculosis Association as be-
ing the first organization of the kind
in the state and of the organization
which he represents as having grown
out of it. Mr.. Thurber gave the
State Department of Health and
Maine Public Health Association and
the Maine Medical Association as the
three major health organizations of
/ the state and then showed how the
1 Maine Public Health Association
/ functioned through different groups
in its keep we'll" program. He re-
/ ferred to the building up from the
/ DOlLOlll pTOceSS WulCH is W lOOh dlISl
the health of the children today and
then told of the modern health cru
! sade for children. Mr. Thurber was
listened to with close attention and
his address was easily followed by
chart demonstrations. A collection
amounting to $685. was taken for the
kiddies Christmas.
The next meeting will occur on
January s, as the next two dates of
the regular meetings fall on Christ
mas Day and New Years day