LENGTHENING THE SPAN LIFE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 28 June 1926, Page 2

LENGTHENING THE SPAN LIFE

■ ‘‘Years are already being added to the life of each, member of the community, and every advance in curative and in preventive medicine implies an enhancement in the general standard of life,” said Sir Arthur Ncwsholme, formerly chief medical officer of England and Yvales, at the conclusion of a tour of inspection of public-yhealth activities in the United States. ‘‘During the past 75 years not less than 15 years have been added to the average duration of life in several countries. During the past 20 years the gain in length of life has been pvhtey than in the previous 50 years. A lar>p part of this improvement is directly due to the increased care of health now becoming more general, both bv personal effort and by the work of health authorities, arid of voluntary agencies. In promoting the welfare and health of the mother and her child in the early years, one can most easily anticipate disease and bring the work of hygiene out of the region of patliorogy ..rid disease into that of positive attainment and enhancement of health. Maternal and child health are especially indicated in the prevention of two great scourges of humanity, tuberculosis and venereal diseases. No work for (lie mother and her child can have more than a fractional result, if it does not constantly aim at minimising and eventually eliminating these two arch-enemies of mankind.” Sir George Newsliolme added : “There are those who contend Hint in a prolonged life we do not really live iomrer, hut are merely longer in dying. To them we throw hack the burden of proof of their assertion and maintain that each advance in the civilised pursuit of health means not only a temporary salvation from death, but an enhancement of (lie general standard of life.’