214 



habits and poisons are dangerous to good health. Various examples can 

 he pointed out — for instance, late hours, alcohol and tohacco. which ai'C 

 prime factors in precipitating severe cases in many of our young men 

 patients. When they arc set up as examples to the observing public it 

 often astonishes them as something they had not before thought of. I 

 nuist also emphasize that when the society is urging all these teachings it 

 forces many neglii^'cnt physi'ians to realize the necessity of more strict 

 ordei's to their ])atients. 



'I'hird, by teaching economy in caring foi- su<h victims, there)>y reserv- 

 ing forces to be utdized in aggression rather tlian defense. With resultant 

 effect of the facts in the tirst and seiond. there is the beginning of economy, 

 \vhi<-li etfects are tremendous in tlu' end. for every case of prevention is the 

 means of saving thousands of dollars, which if saved for other pursuits of 

 the proiier kind must broaden the field of attainment by a people physically 

 ?nore abl" to do work than those weakened l)y personal or family sickness. 



Fourth, tlnit life may be sustained over the diseasi' which has long 

 been thought to be fatal. There are now hundreds of strong working peo- 

 ple in the State of Indiana who, if thi'\- h,id not bad the intelligent advice 

 and treatment of the societ.v woi'kers. would have been sleeping under sod 

 waiting for other victims of their own infection who w'ere serving their 

 days of invalidism. 



The growth ol the movement liy local organizations has bi-ought about 

 the idea tliat a united effort is necessary to accomplish the foregoing. As 

 a residt, in oui- state we now have statutes giving power to comity com- 

 missioners t() establisii count,\' hospitals for tuberculous (indigent) itatients, 

 or to contract with county organizations for the care of such patients. This 

 enables charitable organizations to conduct more successful I. v the institu- 

 tions the\ are establishing. In fact, if this law had not come into eirect. 

 public cbai'il.N could not suiijiort the crying demands. Such a failure woidd 

 graduall.\ burden the cheeidul donor, and battle tlu> phil.anthropic workers. 

 W'lu'n su<-h cooperation exists. ci\il and charitable foi'ces ai'c .also su])- 

 ported by individuals ;ible to pay small but reason.able sums lor attention, 

 iTistead of gi-eat amounts necessary in seeking distant health resorts, 1 will 

 suggest th.-it cooiierjition in this state, will enable each group of iieoi)le tC' 

 leai'ii the most conser\at i\c methods to be employed in this branch of 

 woi'k. A monthly state Jonrnal should b" published, in which the workt^'rs 

 of this state can embody system and cooperation of elToi'ts. 



