PAPERS ON MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 335 



of our children and adults results in a series of disabili- 

 ties which is without doubt cutting short the lives of 

 many people. 



"What has been accomplished in Illinois to reduce 

 tuberculosis, can be done with respect to cancer, heart 

 disease, eye strain, kidney disease, and many of the pre- 

 ventive disturbances. 



During the days of. epidemic and pestilence it was con- 

 sidered good evidence of normal health to avoid death. 

 People would expose themselves and their children to 

 mild cases in the hope that they might contract a mild 

 form of the disease. It never occurred to those people 

 that they might entirely avoid pestilence. Their only 

 thought was not to die of it. There was a great improve- 

 ment during the first part of this century in the avoid- 

 ance of certain infections, those infections especially re- 

 ferring to infancy. 



Our struggle in this age is not only to prevent infec- 

 tions and contagious diseases, but toward perfecting 

 health. A healthy body can be made a positive asset. 

 It is one of the necessary foundation stones, not only to 

 prevent disease, but also for development. 



A statistician published figures showing that in 1921 

 there was expended in the United States an average per 

 capita of $10.00 for candy, $9.00 for education, 50 cents 

 for chewing gum, and 29 cents for health. 



We must not forget that the power of our nation and 

 the happiness of our people depend upon the health of 

 individuals. 



