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Public Health Is Purchasable
e

Within natural limitations; any community
can determine its own death rate.

It is an established fact that the investment of a
small portion of the tax dollar in adequate health pro-
tection services, provides for the people benefits that
cannot be measured in dollars. Such an investment
means: fewer cases of contagious disease; less suffering
and crippling among children; fewer deaths and higher
longevity rates; fewer deaths among mothers and in-
fants; less time lost by industrial workers; school ab-
sences reduced and fewer defects found in school chil-
dren.

The thrifty, progressive state does not overlook the
constant losses that are occurring from preventable
illness and deaths. A portion of the tax dollar is
budgeted to provide an adequate health protection
program, under the direction of trained health workers.

Therefore, consideration and active support is re-
quested for proposed health laws, as outlined in this
pamphlet.

F. C. BeetmMan, M.D., Secretary
Kansas State Boarp or HEALTH

PROPOSED HEALTH LEGISLATION,
1945

I. Premarital Examination Law:

Purpose: The outstanding public health problem
we face today in Kansas is the relatively high incidence
of venereal diseases. Syphilis, the killer and crippler
of this group of diseases, not only is a serious menace
to individual health, but to the basic structure of our
civilization—the family. Syphilis destroys and crip-
ples more Kansas’ babies than any other disease. One
way we can prevent the spread of this disease and stop
its inroads into family life is by requiring blood tests
on applicants for marriage certificates.

What the law would do: Under this bill both ap-
plicants for a marriage license would be required to
present examination certificates showing that the ap-

ed