Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-10
PUBLIC HEALTH
HOW CONSERVED
N. P. H. A. WORK
Summary of Numer-
Gus Activities of This
Es&<ss Association :,
Public Nursing, Health In.
structi0n in Sch00ls-Com-
munity Interest Aroused,
! Lectures, Literature, Elk.
hibits, Team Work, Results

as It possible for any one to be
thoroughly happy without Health?"
and us not Health vital factor in
the prosperous development OF any
business, community or state? ?" These
are two questions strongly emphasiz-
ed in the annual report of the execu-
Health Association to the Board Of
Directors Of the Association, mem
bers and contributors issued We'd
nesday by Walter d. Thurber. the
associations Executive Secretary.
The report gives many details Of
the numerous activities of the as
ISOLATION during the year 1928. The
opening statement of the report
reads as follows:
I'VE would like to give you-in a
single page and in few words-what
is termed a quick summary" of the
work OF the Maine Public Health AS
ISOLATION during 1928. To express in
a few words the many activities Of
our organization and to do it in
such way that with one glance you
would have the whole story. That
Is impossible. The work is too big.
Our activities are too numerous for
any such casual handling.
The arousing of whole commune
ties, the organization OF entire
counties, the enlisting Of thousands
of individuals for constructive health
work, the prevention Of sickness and
suffering in hundreds and hundreds
OF Maine homes, the training of
10000 Maine boys and girls in daily
health habits, the placing of nurses
for the prevention as we'll as the re-
lief OF sickness. the work that we
have done in Names factories and
homes. our schools and colleges, our
cities and towns. our clubs and 9TH
er local organiza tions--this is a
story which cannot be expressed in
five sentences or in five paragraphs.
I'VE firmly believe that no work
for the advancement of a community
or a state Is so important as this
work for better health. We believe
that the business interests OF a COM
munity and a state are handicapped
by sickness and are constructively
developed by hcalth-and this applies
10 the directing heads of the business
and to the hands which run the ma
chimes.
I'VE know that home which is
handicapped by sickness is also
handicapped by unhappiness and
often by problems of family finances.
We know that public health
work definitely diminishes sickness
by prevention and We know that
public health work actually extends
the living days OF the individual.
Within the past ten years the av-
erage life has been extended more
than five years as the direct result
OF public health work.
What does this extension mean?
1t means that more mothers nave
been enabled to bring their children
through the trying days of boyhood
and girlhood to a point where they
can be self sustaining. 1t means
that more fathers have been en-
abled to keep their home fires burn
Ing. 1t means that the workers on
our farms and in our mills and rae
tories have been enabled to produce
more for the world and for them
selves. This increased longevity
means that Maine men and women
are having an extension of their ma
turity for service to mankind ana
to themselves. 1t makes possible an
enrichment of the common welfare
through the activities OF men and
women free from the handicap OF
physical and mental suffering
through preventable sickness. IL
means increased years or usefulness
Tor the average man and woman ana
1t means childhood less burdened
than in former years by fralitles
originated or increased by diseases
now recognized and fought as pre-
ventable handicaps to humanity.
And most important of all. 1t means
that the great army OF successtui
American men and women Will APP
proach the later years. with heaitn
and mental vigor conserved and Win
great store of mature vision drawn
from their experience in life which
can be given to the needs OF their
homo communities and to their ma
tion. Most of the important work
Of the world is accomplished by the
men of mature years. Too otten
Just when the man Of accomplish
ment and success reaches the tune
In life when his personal affairs need
less Of his time-and when he couid
os Of great service to the great prop
lem Of public affairs-his years OF
1ruitfulness and value to his nation
are cut off due to the strain ana
lack Of health conservation during
The earlier years. Health conserva-
non will enrich the annals ana
aChiAyovpon%s 80 fha Nation That's