The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-13
FOR BETTER HEALTH
Papers Read Before Closing Ses-
siOns of State Conference.
DR.. Hugh A. COwing, of Muncie, Dis
eusses SmallpOx-ResOlutiOns Rel
alive to Diseased Cows.

The morning session of the second and
closing day of the health conference opened
with discussion on Prevention of Tuber-
culosis." in which a number of the dele
gates participated. 1t was urged that re-
ports be demanded from physicians of all
patients so afflicted. and, where deemed
necessary, that patients should be quaran-
tined. tuberculosis should be treated, II
was thought. far as preventive measures
were concerned, very much as is smallpox
1t being a germ disease.
In his discussion of the proper manage
ment of an outbreak of smallpox, DIR. Hugh
a. Cowing. of AIuncie, spoke strongly, IA
voring the concentration OF the disease in
hospitals urging that il pot only was bet
ter for the patients themselves, but that
such course greatly aided in controlling
the disease and preventing its spread. He
read some interesting statistics on the treat
ment of smallpox and the suppression of
the epidemic in Muncie and showing the
value OF vaccination and isolation as fac
tors in stamping out an epidemic of this
disease. The early removal of the afflicted
person reduced the danger Of infection. The
details of removals, burials, disinfection of
houses and guarantees. and the liberation
of cured patients should all be under the SUI
II
should be discontinued. People should be
warned against entering houses where sick
ness was known TO exist until its character
was defined. Careless persons should be
prosecuted Railroad quarantine should be
required. and should include not only dis
infection of baggage, but a change of all
clothing exposed. To suppress an epidemic
there must be mutual and intimate bond
OF harmony between health officers, physi-
clans and citizens.
preventive Medicine was the subject
OF paper by DR.. Rachel Swain, of this
CITY. The best preventive medicine, she
thought, was the education of the public
on hygiene and sanitation BY this she
meant not only the proper sanitary treat
Inent of mans environments but also of
his person She advocated the establishment
OF local sanitary associations and societies
of hygiene where can be taught health hab-
its and health environments work TO be
begun in the kindergarten and extended to
physicians, nurses. school teachers. law
yers and prominent business men, including
the clergy and newspaper men.
Mrs. Hester NJ. McClung read a paper set
ting forth the work of the WOmans SAM
tary Society. The society, she said, had now
taken more dignified name, and was now
known the Indianapolis Sanitary Soci-
ETY.. Her paper was historical and showed
what the society was accomplishing
The question Of how TO maintain good
sanitary conditions of towns and cities was
discussed at considerable length, several of
the health officers having pronounced views
on the subject and expressing them vigor-
ously. DR.. Probst secretary of the Ohio
the work of the conference and the thor
ough intelligence shown in the handling of
the various topics. He expressed himself
to several members of the Indiana board
yesterday, as believing that this State had
an unusually competent lot OF health Off
GERS.
Resolutions were adopted depIoring the
fact that there was no uniformity In the
salaries OF county health officers request
ing the State board TO use its influence
with the next General Assembly To have
the salaries fixed uniformly according TO
population.
Resolutions were also adopted requesting
the State Board of Health To secure the
passage OF a law requiring the inspection
OF all dairy cows, and that all tuberculous
cows he destroyed. IL being believed this,
through the milk from cows with tubercula
diseases, often spread the disease
Another resolution adopted by the board
requested the State Board OF Health to ap-
point a commission OF five health officers
selected from different parts OF the state
10 advise with IL in formulating a new set
OF rules and regulations for the instruction
and gOyernmert or health officers OF the
State In the discharge of their duties
Still another resolution was adopted de-
ploring the carelessness OF many physicians
in the Use OF fever thermometers and hypo.
derTnic syrinEes by which dangerous maIa.
dies may be communicated, and expressi n {
81 as the sense OF the conference that such
instruments be disinfected with a stronl
kermicide after being used each time.