Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 299, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1916 — The Future of the Republic. [ARTICLE]

The Future of the Republic.

By Victor C. Vaughan.

Preparation against war consists in part in military and naval, preparedness, but a bigger problem lies in the physical, mental and moral health of our citizens. ‘ No nation can be strong without health. During the past thirty-five years there has been a great reduction in mortality in this country. During the past twenty-five years the average life has been increased more than ten years. During the past o 5 years the deaths from tuberculosis have been reduced more than fifty per cent. Until within '’the last ten years, no one dared to talk in public about social diseases. It is impossible to tell just-what effect the educational efforts made during the past ten years have had, but it is safe to say that these efforts have met with a degree of success fully comparable with that attained in dealing with tuberculosis. No man can carry about with him an infectious disease without endangering others. Personal liberty should stop when the health of others is endangered. If our nation ;s to continue strong and vigorous, ic must eradicate unnecessary disease. This work must extend through every grade of society. The nation as a <>whole can, not be healthy so long as a part of it is diseased. Diphtheria, typhoid fever and other infectious diseases in the slums are a menace to those who live on the avenues. . Through the light of knowledge of infectious diseases, it can truthfully be said that no man lives to himself alone. The eradication of disease is not a doctor’s problem alone. The physician, knowing how disease originates and how it spreads, should point out the way. Beyond this, it is no more his duty to bear the burden of eradicating disease than it is of any. member of the community. The state must use every means within its power for the extension of the beneficial effects of preventative medicine. The state educates all, but the education is of little service so long as the people are diseased. Preventative medicine is the keystone of the triumphal arch of modem civilization. Remove it, and the plagues of the middle ages would soon reappear and sweep us into relative barbarism. If the health service of any great city should lapse for a few short weeks, the whole country would suffer thereby.