IMAM'S Ih.m FOR SURVIVAL (,.33 



of the diseases and the social stigma connected witli Iheni. Many 

 women, particularly, suff(n- for considerable periods of time before 

 they understand the nature of the affection. These social diseases 

 deserve much more serious consideration than is given them. 



Undoubtedly science will eventually be able to con(}uer all parasitic 

 diseases theoretically because it is worth while to do so, but such 

 diseases can never be entirely eliminated until Mr. Everyman is 

 willing to bear liis share of the responsibility. Not only must he be 

 educated as to methods of control, but he must also be unselfish 

 enough to abide by ciuarantine laws and regulations, enforcing them 

 himself, and seeing that others also keep them. The reasons for 

 quarantine are obvious when one remembers that the incubation 

 period of a disease, especially children's diseases, is the most effective 

 time for passing on the disease to others. Children coming down with 

 serious diseases often apparently have a slight cold in the head, the 

 nose runs, they cough, and perhaps have a little fever. During 

 such a period the germs can most readily be passed to others, hence 

 the reason for protection during this time as well as later on. With- 

 out quarantine the control of infectious diseases is impossible, since a 

 leakage of disease germs through unwillingness to co-operate with 

 authorities means disaster and epidemic. 



There must also be a wider knowledge about diseases and control 

 measures on the part of the average voter and citizen. There is 

 need for Mr. Everyman to know how to spend the money which goes 

 into taxes. Less than 2^ per cent of the total expenditures of 253 

 cities in the United States was used for "conservation of health" in 

 1921. The picture would not be very different today. In 1923-1924, 

 $100,000,000 of the Federal budget was appropriated for rural post 

 roads and $50,000 for rural health work. A survey of American 

 cities made in 1923 showed the average distribution for health work 

 at $0.71 per capita out of a total per capita expenditure of $25.09. 

 Figures today would be slightly higher, but the proportion would not 

 differ greatly. While communicable disease may not be controlled 

 by departments of health or even by a well-trained medical pro- 

 fession, it can be stamped out through the use of these agencies 

 plus intelligent action on the part of taxpayers through individual 

 co-operation and understanding. It should be the place of the col- 

 lege trained men and women who reacl these pages to assume their 

 responsibility in making the world safer from the attacks of com- 

 municable disease. 



