MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 137 



are not being restricted as they should be, if the law made complete provis^ion therefor, 

 were as follows: 



Pneumonia 2,685 



Tuberculosis 2,648 



Typhoid fever 633 



5,966 



A total of nearly six thousand deaths from these three diseases. 



It is not enough that, during that 3'ear by public work, hundreds or 

 even thousands of lives have been saved from preventable diseases, these 

 other thousands were not saved, and they should have been, if there had 

 been some such laAv as for years I have advocated — a laAv to require that 

 local health officials shall be promptly informed of the occurrence of any 

 disease officially declared by the State Board of Health, the highest offi- 

 cial authority in the State, to be dangerous and communicable. 



In every year there die in Michigan thousands of our loved ones from 

 ])reventable diseases not restricted. How long are we to continue to 

 observe this and not arouse ourselves to such a degree as to act our part 

 for reform in governmental affairs? We, the people, elect our represent- 

 atives. Have we not a duty to perform in that regard? Do we not each 

 and every one of us need to ask ourselves the question, "Am I my 

 brother's keeper?" 



Lansing, Michigan. 



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