PAPERS OX MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 333 



guards of all description? were utilized to prevent acci- 

 dents. What has been the result of this universal move- 

 ment to establish safety, not only in industry, but upon 

 the public highways? — Eeduction in the number of acci- 

 dents to employes and making our streets safe for pedes- 

 trians. 



The Division of Factory Inspection of the Illinois De- 

 partment of Labor reports that preventive measures are 

 more rigidly and widely used by employers than was the 

 case when factories were merely under police power of 

 the Factory Inspection Department. Furthermore, em- 

 ployes are certain of immediate benefits, employers 

 escape expensive court procedures with large sums for 

 damages in some cases, and the public is benefited by 

 actual reduction in sickness, as health measures are more 

 generally adopted. 



One of the constructive measures adopted by the Illi- 

 nois General Assembly of 1923. upon which employers 

 and employes were able to agree, was placing occupa- 

 tional diseases under the provisions of the "Workman's 

 Compensation Act. In order for science to pi 

 there must be individual cooperation with public erY 

 The making of laws without interest and cooperation of 

 parties prevents current efforts from being effective to 

 any adequate degree. 



We must admit there is much economic waste in indus- 

 try as the result of absence from work, caused largely 

 by avoidable illness and physical disability. Employers 

 realize the necessity of physical examinations of work- 

 men and, where indicated, medical service is a part of 

 the routine equipment of the personnel management of 

 industries. The employer may. however, ask if these 

 remedial measures pay. It is not a mercenary question, 

 but one upon which the future generations depend. If 

 need be, the cost of the article manufactured could be 

 increased sufficiently to cover additional expense, so that 

 the workman and his family might be protected. 



There are approximately - ifully em- 



ployed persons in the United S More than 25,000,- 



000 of this group have defective vision of sufficient de- 

 gree to handicap them in their work. A large number 



