Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07


ton involving the financial interests
Of every citizen. Many communities
have not yet learned that the best
possible health of every citizen can be
bought very cheaply. To chambers of
commerce an opportunity is presented
for participating in the control Of a
number of diseases which annually
cause numerous deaths throughout
the country.
Trade associations may likewise be
Of service to their members by sug-
costing health programs for the bene.
mt OF employees. with particular refer.
ence to any disease peculiar to the
business in which the members are
engaged. Suggestions may be made
for working out health programs in
industry and commerce and simple
budgets prepared.
Business mems organizations which
are participating In this work have
learned to their advantage that good
health is good business.
Such are the conclusions of bulle.
tin on health and community pros.
perity sponsored by the committee ON
administrative practice of the Amer.
lean Public Health Association as
part of q cooperative health program
for commercial organizations which
Is being developed by that association,
the National Association of Life I'm.
derwriters, the United States Public
Health Service and the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States.
The object Of this movement Is to
minimize sickness throughout the
United States and to reduce the num-
Der of premature deaths. It is hoped
to accomplish it by enlisting the &C
tive participation Of various organi-
cations that should be interested in
community prosperity and by educat-
ing the public to an understanding
OF the importance of individual CO.
operation in community health pro-
grams. That there Is a vast amount
of prejudice. ignorance and bad
habits to be overcome, is recognized.
No Sentiment Involved.
There is no sentiment in the appeal
that is made. Nothing is said about
the joys Of healthful living or the
satisfaction of living to ripe old
age. No reference is made to the
griefs incident to sickness and death.
1t Is simply a hard-boiled statement
to the effect that any decrease in
earning power is reflected in re-
duced purchasing power with the re-
suit that every case Of illness or pre-
mature death involving a loss of
wages has an effect upon the COM
munity.
Then this effect is measured in
dollars and cents in way that can
not fail to impress any one who Is
above a moron in intelligence.
For instance, it is pointed out that
the average workman loses seven
days a year, or about 2 per cent of
his earning capacity, through sick
ness. This amounts in the aggre-
gate to at least $2,000,000,000 a year
for the entire country, to say moth
ing of doctors bills. Premature
deaths account for an even larger
loss, conservatively estimated to be
$4,000, 100000 annually.
when a man dies prematurely
there is says the report, "in addi-
ton to the numerous bills to be paid.
such as hospital expenses, doctors
fees and burial costs, an economic
loss both to his family and the COM
munity. He has been raised and
educated by his parents and the COM
munity has provided schools for him,
as well as sanitation facilities and
police and fire protection. When the
his own right, he owes a duty to his
wife. to his children and, If neces-
sary, to his parents to support them.
A loss naturally results when his
life is cut off prematurely."
For instance, the case Of man
Of 25 who develops pulmonary tuber-
culosis and dies after a period of
from months to years Is cited. II
his income has been $4,000 year.
the loss is figured at $4,000. to say
nothing of the expenses incident to
his illness and burial and the pos
sibility that the community may have
to take care of his dependent fam
lily after his death.
Had the 1900 tuberculosis death
rate prevailed in 1923, it is stated,
So 900 more lives would have been
lost during the latter year, and the
annual capital saving of human life
from decreased tuberculosis is esti.
mated at as much as 100000, 900,
based upon the mortality OF 1900.
Great Saving I'm Earnings.
There also remains the value Of the
earnings of those saved from the dis
ease, says the bulletin, which amounts
to millions of dollars. Besides adding
this tremendous sum to the country
income, there is another saving OF the
extra expenses which would have been
incurred through the illness of these
people. From an economic stand
point a person dying from tuberculosis
Is a greater monetary loss to the COM
munity than person who dies in
stantly-one who Is killed by an auto
mobile. for example.
A startlingly interesting illustration
Of what can be accomplished by health
work is that which was done in Pan
anna under the direction of Gen.
Gorgas during the construction Of the
Panama Canal. It tells conclusively
the monetary value of health con-
servation activities.
During the period from 1881 to 1889
Whila the French COMPANY WAS under.