Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-04
Statement Issued From Office
of Maine Public Health AS
ISOLATION Plans Credit For
States Leadership With Citi-
zens and Civic and Profess
sional Groups

Credit for the splendid showing
which Maine Is making in COMPARE
sop-with other states east of the
mississippi and south of the Great
Lakes in the matter of health. was
unhesitatingly given yesterday to a
large group of Maine organizations
and individuals in a statement isued
from the office of the Maine Public
Health Association.
I'VE are naturally encouraged at
the outcome of a study of national
and state statistics which show sub
stantial progress in Names fight to
become the healthiest state" the an
ncuncement reads.
These figures which show that
the average length of life-or, in
other words, the average age at
death-for the year 1923 is 52.5 years
in Maine as compared with 449
years Tor the United States are graf
flying. So are the figures which
show that only five states exceeded
Maine last year in the Improvement
in infantile mortality in rural dis
tricts. And every Maine citizen
must be proud of the fact that no
state east of the Mississippi river
and south of the Great Lakes shows
as low death rate from tuberculo-
sis as Maine.
These comparative. figures show
progress. They prove that Maine is
following sound principles in its work
against preventable sickness. Credit
for Names successful effort belongs
without question to the splendid men
and women and to the Maine groups
which are working so tremendously
together in this great fight for health.
Officers and members Of the
Maine Medical Association have
made a wonderful contribution in
personal service, in money and in
other ways to bring about this great
advance for Maine. In no state in
the country does the medical profess
sion take such constructive interest
in and give such practical support
to this work as we have in Maine
through the organized medical pro-
feSSion.
1.-THE State Department of Health
especially through it's child well
fare and maternity nurses and it's
district health officers together with
local health officials-has been res
ponsible in large measure for the no.
table reduction in our mortality
rates. Names tuberculosis sanato-
ria have greatly helped in the tuber-
culosis death rate reduction.
THE State Department of Agricul-
ture-especially in it's Pure Food and
Drugs Division and in its work for
the eradication of tuberculosis in
cattle-has accomplished more than
can be estimated in the protection
of the health of our people.
1.-THE State and local school au-
thorities with their school nurses,
school physicians and school dem
lists have been vital factor in the
reduction of our death rate from
preventable causes.
THE splendid work which is be-
ing done by the Social Hygiene divi-
sion of the State Health Department
has been of invaluable assistance in
bringing this result.
The public spirited men and
women, including number of
Maine manufacturers who have
made such liberal contributions for
Statewide and local health work
as we'll as those in such appropriate
ing bodies as the Legislature, the
town meeting and city councils
which have supplied the modest
fund with which this great work
has been accomplishments them
must go unstinted praise for max
ing possible this work for Maine.
The Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions
Clubs, the Parent-Teacher Associa-
ton, the dental societies, the wom-
ems clubs, the commercial organiza-
lions, all of which have given such
splendid service in many local and
State wide health activities have ac-
complished more for Maine than
ever can be measured.
"And last but not least In that
wonderful group of men and women
who constitute the local health COM
mittees in scores and scores of cities
and towns throughout the length
and breadth of Maine,-the value or
their united endeavors never can re
fully estimated nor appreciated.
'It is this work, this work
ing shoulder to shoulder for better
health in Maine. which is achieving
the bif result-more health for
Maine. Every forward looking man
and woman in Maine joins with us
we believe-in this public expression
of gratitude to all those who have
had a part in bringing about this
wonderful improvement during the
past few years.
L. trff