But it takes money to carry on a great educational movement, and it takes money to conduct the public health service.
The war against preventable disease and death is therefore in the final analysis, a struggle between the dollar and the death rate.
So far the dollar is ahead. The body politic seems still to prefer a high death rate to a slight and temporary increase in the tax rate.
“How much,” says the American taxpayer, “will it cost to reduce this annoying death rate to the lowest possible limit?”
“About $1.50 per capita at first, much less later on,” answers the health officer, “and you will gain immeasurably by the increase in the wealth and happiness of the community.”
“Very well,” says the taxpayer, “here is 25 cents; we will save two bits’ worth of these lives. The rest will have to die. We have much more important places for our money; we must improve the streets and roads, beautify our cities with much needed parks and public structures. We must improve our harbors and rivers, build canals, and encourage commerce generally. Besides, we are absolutely obliged to use about two and a half billion dollars this year for automobiles, jewelry, candy, alcoholic drinks, tobacco, diamonds and other similar urgent needs of life. What is the loss of a few hundred thousand lives compared to these vital necessities?”
And so the health officer plods along with his two-bit appropriation and naturally runs a two-bit health service. His own fitness and efficiency may be 100 per cent., but the effectiveness of his department only 15 per cent. because of the 25-cent limit.
TRIFLING WITH A SOLEMN DUTY.
National Government.—Of all the money provided by the people for the expenses of the National Government only about 1.3 per cent. is used for the conservation of health and life.
Our national health corps has an international reputation for efficiency and achievement. Although the service is under-manned and its personnel underpaid, the patriotism and high sense of duty of these able and energetic men have spurred them to the performance of the very highest service to their country and to humanity. They have not only jeopardized their lives, but numbers of them have sacrificed health and life in the performance of duty.