Evening star., 1923-05-18

Between 5000. 900 and 1000, 900 per-
sons have died OF typhus in Russia
since 1918. according to DR.. Ludwig
tion Of the league Of nations.
Five years will be added TO the
average human life within the next
twenty years, and it will be possible
to save 5000 lives in New York state
alone. says DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs,
health commissioner Of New York
state.
These, with predictions by DR.. Liv-
ingston Ferrand. president Of Cornell
University. regarding the physical
and mental improvement of the hu-
man race in relation to economic con-
ditions through social service. were
the high lights at the first general
night meeting Of the golden jubilee
session Of the National Conference of
Social Work, in Memorial Continental
Hall last night.
Plague of Malaria.
DIR. Rajchman told the big gather
ing that while typhuS is waning with
improvement in the economic Situa-
tion. new epidemic of dangerous
Mine million cases of malaria have
occurred" he said, "and in some
localities the disease has been of such
a viruIent type that 40 out of 100
The problem of preventing the
| westward spread Of Russia's epi-
denies. Dr. Rajehman DECLARED I.,. has as
6ena aEsy dha sg
program, agreed upon by the PUBLIC
health departments of Russia and
neighboring nations in an effort TO
check the spreading Of disease would
1 afp live q.
he said. defeated and victorious
states are joining in the common task
OF protecting the public health: and
the typhus epidemics are no longer
effects will be felt for many years.
| Predicts Progress.
| Reciting the history of disease pre-
vention and health promotion DIR. Far
| rand commented on the marked social
ization of disease prevention and health
promotion" and the increased import
ance of health in social and economic
programs as chiefly characterizing the
work in the last ten or fifteen years.
He predicted that the ultimate sig
nificance of social and economic condi-
tions to the physical and mental vel
fare of the race" would be realized with
| development Of health and disease con-
troll. (which will utilize to the full the
significant relationship which economic
conditions and general family welfare
\ bear to health"
THE past ten or fifteen years have
| been characterized by two movements
developing along parallel lines" said
Dr. Farrand. The first has been a
marked specialization of disease pre-
vention and health promotion: the
| second is the increased Importance OF
| health in social and economic pro-
grams. The history of disease pre-
vention and health promotion has
gone through several distinct phases
I in the last generation or two.
Growth OF saAitatton.
g" The phase Of general santa
| tion. characterized by specific engi-
f; neering projects. the establishment of
! sewage disposal, pure water supply
etc-a phase more or less devoid of
modern social significance. except that
in a general sense 1t involves COM
munity organizations and action
go The period in which the at
tack upon specific communicable dis
ease was featured, the period of the
policeman health officer with his
h,qua rantine and isolation machinery
NHIere creeps in, Of course, a social ele.
Finent and a factor of community re.
sponsibility. depending for its effec-
tiveness upon individual and group
| knowledge and participation.
"3. The period of personal hygiene
ef personal health promotion. the CO.
[ temporary period in the health move.
nient, in which social education is
vital. in which the significance of so.
ci al responsibility is emphasized, anG
in (which success of the health move.
m eiit is dependent upon the discovery
of effective group devices for educa-
tibn in health knowledge and health
habits and for the creation of a grouI
'wiu to be healthy
a., The period which we have antici.
pate ID for long time, but which still
larg ely lies in the future. the phase
of h ealth and disease control which
relat lonship which economic condi
tions and general family welfare beal
to he: ,lth. This phase will bring tc
the fu al light of day the ultimate sig.
nifcan zee OF social and economic con.
ditionsi to the physical and menta
welfar Z of the race"
Perio dical medical examination o,
all indi viduals was urged by the state