Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-11
HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Fourth Annual Report Of the State
Board.

The fourth annual report of the state
board of health was issued Wednesday
and is being delivered by the secretary
DIR. j. w. Redden. Among other things
this report says:
| There are at the present time eighty
| three organized county health boards:
active, Jealous and progressive in edu-
eating the people in their respective
counties in the principles Of sanitary
measures for the prevention of disease.
| Ten other counties have health organi-
cations that accomplish more or less
work in the same line of sanitary reform,
while the remaining thirteen, mostly
western and border counties, are inter-
! ested, to some extent, at least, in enforc-
ing the plain and important rules which
have for their object the preservation of
health. What benefits have been ac-
complIshed during the year by the state
and county health boards cannot be esti-
mated; but an examination of this an
nual report will convince any anxious
inquirer that no financial estimate can
be made of the number of epidemics
that have been prevented, lives saved,
sickness, suffering aud distress driven
from the quiet homes and cheerful fire
sides.
During the year the state board has
prepared, printed ana distributed
through the country health boards and
county clerks, in the various counties in
the state, 5000 pamphlets on small pox,
scarlet fever, diphtheria and typhoid fe-
yer, their prevention and restriction.
These pamphlets, through the kindness
and public spirit of the editors, have been
published in full in the majority of the
counties of the state, and through these
channels have reached the homes of tens
of thousands of the people, and have thus
proved valuable and important factors
in educating the masses in the simplest
and most effectual methods of prevent
ing these prevalent and fatal, but pre-
ventive, diseases.
AS sanitarians and educators we should
lay more stress and emphasis upon the
importance and value of preventive med
icine. For he who prevents a disease is
surely greater benefactor and human
itarian than he who controls and sup
presses a disease or epidemic after it has
once gained a foothold and made its i'm
press upon family or community.
The reports of the county health of
ficers show that during the year small
pox and varioloid prevailed in fifteen
counties. In Reno, Leavenworth, Sum
ner, Harvey, Saline, Lyon, Kingman,
Pratt, Rice, Shawnee, Prwnee, Clay and
Wabunsee counties they promptly en-
forced the well established and import
ant rules prescribed by the state board of
health with most gratifying results. We
hope the time Is not far distant when
the people in general will be educated to
see the necessity of exercising the same
vigilance and using all possible safe
guards III preventing all other conta-
geous and pestilential diseases as they do
now in the cases of small pox, cholera
and yellow fever
Much progress has been made in spe-
cial sanitary work by the state board, in
personal and careful inspection of all
the state charitable institutions, with
such recommendations and suggestions
to the trustees of said institutions sthe
board were satisfied would materially
improve their sanitary surroundings and
add to the comfort and health of the in
mates.
Impure water is the fruitful source and
cause of many preventable and fatal
diseases. This fact is becoming more
generally recognized, and as conse-
quence more attention is paid and care
given to the selection of pure water sup
plies. 1t is important. therefore. that we
should know what the standard of a pure
water supply is. and not be content I'M
til we have secured it; for. sad expert
ence has shown us that deviations from
certain standards are hazardous. because
in certain states of weather and other
surroundings, or in certain ages or
constitution, there may be and are sari-
Gus results. Sometimes these are of a
general character, as where some slight
disturbance of the digestive act takes
place. and there is a slight fever or
diarrhea, or other functional dis
turbances. In other cases there is some
specific disease, as typhoid fever, or
epidemic dysentery. We have extended
our research and investigation in this
direction, so far as time and
the limited means at the disposal of the
board would warrant, and with bene-
fetal results.
The registration of physicians and
mldwlves IN the state although not COM
plete, has been made as near so as posi- |
BILE under our law. The report shows
that up the present time there have been |
:. az.
The collection and tabulation of vital |
statistics Is slow and tedious process,
but under the limited authority and |
power of the law We have made regular |
and steady { progress. and we hone the |
people viii be educated to see the neces- |
sity and benefits resulting from the ac- |
curate and reliable collection Of vital |
statistics.
The work Of the beard grows in i'm