Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1910 — STATE BOARD OF HEALTH [ARTICLE]

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

Wishes to Bring Its Tuberculosis Exhibit to Rensselaer This Winter. Editor Democrat," . Kennselaer. Ind. Dear Sir:—Sometime this winter, the State Board of Health wishes to bring its tuberculosis exhibit to Rensselaer and to have its officer in charge carry on a propoganda of public health work tor one week. The exhibit referred to covers five or six hundred square feet of surface. It consists oB drawn pictures, statistical charts illustrating the diiferent phases of tuberculosis, what it is, where it comes from, how it may be prevented, and how it may be cured. As tuberculosis, a preventable disease, costs the people of Indiana $lO,000,000 annually, it is an economic matter. But far above this is the fact that prevention of tuberculosis is a hunianitarium and civilized matter to be considered. We are certainly foolish to spend $10,000,000 st year just to have a disease which can be prevented for one tenth of that amount. The figure given above has been duly considered and thoroughly confirmed by bankerT and business men. During Health W eek in Rensselaer, we desire the co-operation of all the people, for this is a cause in which every person, young and old, high and low, rich and poor are interested. The State Board of Health desires an opportunity for its representative in charge of the exhibit to speak before the high school students upon the important subject of the health of school children, and to speak before the teachers upon the subject of sfchool hygiene, and public health, and to present the subject of the general public health before the trustees of the township, also before the business men's association if there be one". The object of this whole matter is to call attention of the people to the fact that taxes may be lowered, and that more money may be saved to the people and more happiness gained through the conservation of the public health than by any other means. The people of Indiana are now annually spending fully 820,000,000 jti*t having sickness that can be prevented, and more than this, the prevention would only cost one tenth of this amount. We all subscribe to the old saw," “An ounce of prevention. is worth a pound of cure,” hut when it comes to the practical application. we all hold back and commence to talk high taxes preventing us from doing anything, and this in the face of the fact that prevention would not cost one-tenth the amount it costs to have the sickness. . Very truly yours, J. X. HURTY, Secretary State Board of Health,