Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-16
SPEED PREVENTION.
OF DISEASE

s IL some Ways We are coming
around to the Chinese method Of
paying tie doctor Tor keeping US well
instead Of Tor curing NJ after We
hess beeems Ill II IL becsuss u, no
nsw revelation, for that bit Of Wis
dom. that IN ounce Of pssssation u
better than . pound Of cure. has
long been known to the world. but
the application Of this wisdom to
everyday Affairs Il rapidly being de-
vsiSpsd into an eAleisncy our fore
fathers might have thought inpos-
sibIs.
The report Of the work Of the local
health nurse Of cases Of diphtheria
and 80 making measures OF proven
tion possible II IN instance ut home.
The ssnseal application Of preven-
ton methods - . e1nspieuous illus
tration Of the trend OF the times.
Back IN 1871 the Maine Public
Health Association was the hrst
State association to advocate and
begin . campaign Of education.
which should lead al people to wish
to undergo annually a physical ex-
animation for their heaith's sake.
Since that date this idea has been
taken Up by such important organic
atoms In medicine and health a. the
American Medical Association. the
National Health Council and others
Of outstanding importance. The pol
icy Of the Maine Public Health As
ISOLATION II not to make such an ex.
animation compulsory. Rather 1t
conesives its mission to be to create
in the minds Of the people them
selves a desire for this. believing
that only through such an educated
desire may the end sought be attain
ed.
The National Industrial Confer.
ence Board estimates the cost OF
sickness insurance to be at least
seven hundred and twenty million
dollars per year: that the loss OF
wages through sickness or accident
Ii over $500 per worker a year. II
IL not alone in thinking 1t may be
possible to save fifty per cent of this
through a coordinated movement In
industry. DR.. Brooks. professor OF
clinical medicine in New York Uni
versity recommends to employers OF
labor the necessity OF using some
method for ascertaining information
respecting the health Of the appli-
cant. such as that employed for Sc
lecting sound men for the army.
4 No such method can be perfect
1t Is Of record that men were admit
ted to the army who had tuberculos-
Is and other diseases while some
who probably might have done yeo-
man service. were rejected. Further
moro IL is not unlikely that such a
policy would not at first meet with
favor from the employees. though in
itself II would serve as protection
for the employe as we'll as for the
employer. Nevertheless. we believe
the policy merits support. Health is
the intimate concern Of us all. Once
the dweller in the castle could in
some degree isolate himself from
the Ills Of those outside the moat
Today society has become so inter.
dependent that none, however high
up in the scale of possession. can at
ford to be Indifferent respecting tht
health OF those who serve him. And
those who serve. In relations with
their fellows. with their families
they also need the projection which
prevention alone may give. The
time should come. and that not ia,
distant. when they should find 1t in
their hearts to insist upon having
such protection.