Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-27

Unreliable, although they will give
some idea Of the condition Of things.
Doctors are not infallible and make
mistakes such as other human be-
ings make. although we want them
to tell us Just exactly what is the
trouble with us, feeling that they
have some special vision which will
enable them to tell the exact trouble
when 1t may be one Of many things.
However, in this State we have yery
fine records and they are probably
as accurate as any in other places.
Another essential in this work Of
constructive boosting Is to look into
tile matter Of sanitation, good water
and milk supplies, proper disposal
or refuse and sewage, and things of
that nature. The size of a town
has much to do with this work. de-
pending much upon whether the wa
ter supply is common to all Of the
inhabitants or whether each has a
private supply, whether there is a
sewage system and things of that
nature.
The control of contagious dis
eases Is another important thing in
this work. Much more is known
about this work than formerly and
through improved methods of pro-
lection many diseases. have been
practically wiped out, such as ty-
phoid fever and others. Vaccina-
ton and incubation are responsible
for much of this. benefit
But through the unintelligence OF
the people, who think that what is
happening to others will not happen
to them, this work does not accom-
piisf the result that it should. In
the case of a person who is afflicted
with some disease which is usually
quarantined, he often asks the doc
tor to reconsider his case as he does
not desire his liberty to be taken
away. People must have a sense of
loyalty which will put the public
GOOD AHEAD of personal vexations.
Il Medical inspection of school chill
dren is also one of the means Of
Improving the community health, as
many incipient diseases could be
discovered and cured in this way.
At present, DR.. Vincent said that
this work had only gotten to the
stage where the student is exam
ined, all of his defects are we'll cata-
logued and next year the card is
used to identify the pupil through
the advancement of these defects.
With regard to- the cry that Maine
rural communities are not provided
with doctors as they should be, he
said that they had made an inspec-
ton of this and had found that
practically every community in the
State had reasonable access to a
physician.
Country Watching Maine
DR.. Vincent impressed upon the
women that tAey must remember
that the officials are fundamentally
In charge of the work and that the
private organizations should not do
that which the government is sup
posed to do. In this regard he said
that Maine with it's 20 full time
public health officials, including the
State officials. nine inspectors in va
rious cities and towns, and one in
each of the districts in which the
State is divided, together with Ver-
mont which has a similar system,
is being watched closely by the
other states to see what the result
will be. He said that he felt that
this work was being carried on in
a most satisfactory manner.
There are. of course, two differ
ent views in medicinal work pro-
tective and curative. But these two
are becoming more and more close
ly allied and the speaker stated
with a few exceptions, the great adj
vance in the program of protective
medicine is due to high minded men
of the medical profession. The
. time is coming when we will take
as good care of our bodies as we
now do of our motor cars, and when
this time comes doctors will be
| called upon to look us over and
keep us free from disease. instead
; of to cure US, as they, now are.
In closing he said that the func.
, tioning of the. voluntary agencie:
should be in the line of demonstra.
, tions. such as paying for a public
/ | health nurse, where one can be pro.
, cured in no other way. and after
j.. it has been proved that a public
, health nurse is needed, then turn
ing the expense over to the public
: They may also work as agitators
, TO agitate public opinion along the
, line of worthy causes and to teach
public health. as it must be remem-
. ! bered that 10 percent of the deaths
, are due to diseases which cannot be
: controlled by the authorities. but
= only by the people themselves.
, Clubs Report
For short time before the speech
, by Or. Vincent and directly fellow.
, ! ing the speech, the reports of the
dllIerent clubs of the session were
given. These reports show that there
are many different forms OF cbm.
munity work being done by these
! organizations and that they are re.
sponsible for much good in theil
! several communities.
At the close of the reports the
committee on resolutions presented
three resolutions, as follows:
That the membership of the Fed.
, Grated Clubs should've raised to 10,
, COO members and that to this enc
) the clubs now formed which do moi
belong to the Federation should be
+ invited to join and new clubs should
be formed. This resolution was
, passed by the meeting.
, That the club endorse adequate
pensions for the teachers of the pub
lie schools when retired. This was
tabled until the next meeting.
That the integrity of the forestry
department must be maintained and
that it be given adequate financial
support also that the various clubs
invite speakers to tell them how they
can help the work of the depart
ment, both in their vicinity and as a
whole. This resolution was passed
The courtesy committee. intro
duced resolution of thanks to Gov
ernor Baxter. Forest Commissioner