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Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIOMS. 25<br />

this Institution will accomplish untold g;ood sick, involving the comfort and m<strong>at</strong>erial<br />

throughout the country. prosperity <strong>of</strong> 5,000,000 homes, and 25,000,-<br />

The last Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure appropri<strong>at</strong>ed a suf- 000 people, and th<strong>at</strong> one-third <strong>of</strong> this was<br />

ficient sum to secure the entire services <strong>of</strong> directly preventable. On account <strong>of</strong> inadr<br />

the Secretary to the St<strong>at</strong>e Board <strong>of</strong> Health, equ<strong>at</strong>e authority for medical <strong>of</strong>ficers during<br />

and require th<strong>at</strong> he give his entire time to the Spanish-American war, we lost sixteen<br />

th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice. The St<strong>at</strong>e Board <strong>of</strong> Health has <strong>of</strong> our soldiers from preventable disease to<br />

elected to this position, as you are aware, every one lost in b<strong>at</strong>tle. And 85 out <strong>of</strong><br />

Dr. W. S. Rankin, formerly dean <strong>of</strong> the each 100 <strong>of</strong> them were inm<strong>at</strong>es <strong>of</strong> Hospi-<br />

Medical Department <strong>of</strong> Wake Forest Col- tals during th<strong>at</strong> short struggle from some<br />

lege. In electing Dr. Rankin as Secretary, character <strong>of</strong> disease. During the Russothe<br />

Board has not only honored Dr. Rankin, Japanese war, with medical <strong>of</strong>ficers having<br />

but they have likewise honored themselves, co-equal authority and rank, except on field<br />

and I feel th<strong>at</strong> Dr. Rankin will discharge <strong>of</strong> b<strong>at</strong>tle, Japan lost but one <strong>of</strong> her men<br />

the important duties <strong>of</strong> this <strong>of</strong>fice with from sickness to every four killed in b<strong>at</strong>tle,<br />

fidelity, honor and credit to himself, as well and only fifteen <strong>of</strong> every one hundred <strong>of</strong><br />

as to the St<strong>at</strong>e. them ever saw the inside <strong>of</strong> a Hospital. As<br />

The St<strong>at</strong>e and the Medical Pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>of</strong> an argument for peace, we are told, th<strong>at</strong><br />

<strong>North</strong> <strong>Carolina</strong> owe a lasting debt <strong>of</strong> gr<strong>at</strong>i- two hundred and ten thousand men died as<br />

tude to our honored retiring Secretar\— Dr. the result <strong>of</strong> b<strong>at</strong>tle in both armies during<br />

R. H. Lewis, who filled faithfully thisposi- the Civyl War. As an argument for health<br />

tion for 18 years, and retired <strong>at</strong> his own laws we are told, th<strong>at</strong> seven hundred and<br />

request. We feel gr<strong>at</strong>eful for his work and fifty thousand people died <strong>of</strong> tuberculosis in<br />

know th<strong>at</strong> his most efficient services made the I'niled St<strong>at</strong>es during the last four years,<br />

it possible to secure tlie entire time <strong>of</strong> a and th<strong>at</strong> <strong>at</strong> least three (luarlers <strong>of</strong> a million<br />

Secretar>' to the St<strong>at</strong>e Board <strong>of</strong> Health. are continuously sick <strong>of</strong> it.<br />

This is a very decided advance since it gives For a moment think <strong>of</strong> the money annuan<br />

active member to the Board <strong>of</strong> Health, ally expended by the Department <strong>of</strong> Agrimaking<br />

it possible for him to devote his en- culture, SIO, 000,000 in the last ten years,<br />

tire time to this <strong>of</strong>fice. in investig<strong>at</strong>ion and extermin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> fever<br />

I trust th<strong>at</strong> the time is not far distant in c<strong>at</strong>tle, cholera in hogs, pests in cotton,<br />

when each County in the St<strong>at</strong>e will realize corn, etc., and other pr<strong>of</strong>itable things <strong>of</strong><br />

the importance <strong>of</strong> having their County Su- commercial value; then compare with the<br />

perintendent<strong>of</strong> Health on a salary sufficient assistance we have received from our Legisto<br />

justify him in devoting his entire time to l<strong>at</strong>ure in this our unselfish warfare against<br />

th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice. There is increased work for him pestilence affecting men, women, and chilto<br />

do with the increase in popul<strong>at</strong>ion. He dren. We have been called a Medical<br />

could be kept busy improving the sanitary 'i'rust.—God forgive, and may such as think<br />

condition <strong>of</strong> the towns in his County, look- thus see us as we are—the nol)lest <strong>of</strong> all<br />

ing after the jails, and the schools, and he pr<strong>of</strong>essions, poorest <strong>of</strong> all trades!<br />

could easily be appointed the Medical In God direct and give us men <strong>of</strong> sound<br />

spector <strong>of</strong> Schools in his respective County, minds and healthy bodies who are earnest<br />

The conserv<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> health promotes the and eiilliusiaslic over this gre<strong>at</strong> work. It<br />

conserv<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> wealth, and vice versa, has been said th<strong>at</strong> enthusiasm is the motive<br />

therefore it would pay the County to do this force <strong>of</strong> progress. No really gre<strong>at</strong> deeds<br />

from a commercial standpoint, to sav noth- were ever done in arts or arms, in liter<strong>at</strong>ure<br />

ing <strong>of</strong> the good done in the way <strong>of</strong> prevent- or science, th<strong>at</strong> was not the product <strong>of</strong> ening<br />

disease and saving human life, and thusiasm. It beckoned Columbus across<br />

building upour country wifh strong, healthy the ocean; it struck fire from cold flint; it inmen<br />

and women. vented the alphabet; and it saw in the steam<br />

With our St<strong>at</strong>e organized in this way and wre<strong>at</strong>hs from a tea-kettle a force gre<strong>at</strong>er<br />

the people educ<strong>at</strong>ed, with otherSt<strong>at</strong>es acting than th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong> all the men in the world united;<br />

in accord with us, aconuni<strong>at</strong>ion which will it tunneled the Hudson; it took signals unnecessarily<br />

come, we will soon have "A Xa- der the ocean; it carried messages through<br />

tional Department <strong>of</strong> Public Health," all the air; and it harnessed lightning to carry<br />

joining hand in hand— N<strong>at</strong>ional, St<strong>at</strong>e, and the vehicles <strong>of</strong> man. It discovered the cir-<br />

County. This done we will soon have laws cul<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the blood; invented the lig<strong>at</strong>ure;<br />

to back us, vital st<strong>at</strong>istics accur<strong>at</strong>e, and pre- it introduced vaccin<strong>at</strong>ion and anaesthesia;<br />

ventable diseases placed <strong>at</strong> a minimum, and it laid the gentle hand <strong>of</strong> healing on the<br />

and more lives, more homes, and more wounds <strong>of</strong> humanity through antiseptic surmoney<br />

saved, than by any other general gery.<br />

agency in the whole plan <strong>of</strong> Government. It was with the three noble medical heroes<br />

Think for a moment th<strong>at</strong> during last year who gave their lives to free a large section<br />

ISiiD.ooo persons died and 100,000 were <strong>of</strong> the country from the annual dread <strong>of</strong>

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