The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-11-13
INDIANA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Health Circular No. 1.

Special Rules covering the SAM
tary Conduct Of Public, Private ant
Parochial Schools in the State o
Indiana. Passed October II, 1896
EXPLANATION.
simultaneously with the annual
Opening Of the public schools, diph-
liberia, measles, mumps, scarle,
fever and many other diseases usu-
ally increase. This is caused by
the congregating of the pupils.
They mass together and contact
spreads infection. Some few pu.
nils may have just recovered from
"A communicable disease, or they
may be from families that have
been smitten, and being infected,
they transmit disease to those who
are susceptible. 1t is reasonable to
assume that the suddenly imposed
confinement in the school after a
period of freedom frets the children
for a few days, causing more or less
nervousness, and SO resistance is
temporarily lowered. In this way
may be increased
and sickness may more readily
follow. To do all that is possible
to prevent the usual school-opening
increase in illness is the object OF
these rules.
at is ordered in the rules that
iesk tops and banisters be washed
with soap and water and afterward
be treated with a disinfectant. This
is required because disease germs
may be planted upon exposed desk
tops and banisters by infected per-
sons, and, being transferred by the
chi.dren's hands TO their mouths,
disease results. The washing and
disinfecting will do much to prevent
infections from this source.
"Open water buckets and large
tin cups are condemned, because the
dipping of water with cups which
are used by many introduces spittle
into the supply; and, besides, open
buckets catch dust and dirt. Diph-
liberia, diarrhoea, sore mouth and
other complaints have been trans
mitted in this way. This source OF
disease may be avoided to consid-
erable degree by supplying a covered
tank with a large free flowing faucet
and small cup. The opening of
A large faucet will furnish a strong
which will suddenly fill the
cup and wash the saliva from the
edge. Ample drainage must be
provided for carrying away the
waste water.
estates are condemned because
If their uncleanliness. Writing and
figures being obliterated as they
frequently are with spittle, and as
the damp states readily collect dust,
the danger of the transmission Of
disease in this way is very great.
Small children generally place pen
ellis and pens in their mouths, and
If these articles are promiscuously|
without being sterilized,
as the rules direct, infection may
result. The collecting of pencils
seems necessary to always insure
,ne to each pupil.
"Spitting is prohibited because
il is possible source Of disease, is
filthy and is unnecessary.
cit may seem shocking and un-
necessary to many to exclude con-
from the schools, butt
when we stop to think that tubercu-
osis causes one in every sevenI
ieaths, killing more people annu-
lily than cholera, smallpox, diph-l
heria, scarlet fever and yellow fever
combined, then it is time to lay
.side that sentiment and pity which
would perpetuate disease and death,
md take on those qualities in that
higher form which makes them
orces for more abundant and better
ife.
"These rules may seem trif1in.
md unnecessary to those who have
not given consideration to modern
,anitation, but the teacher more,
han any other public officer may
secure the physical well-being of the
pupils as well as the intellectual
"It is hoped that all the school
authorities Of the State will prompt
y enforce these rules. f"
DOUGLAS G. RAMSEY, M. d.,
President.
j. N. Hurry, M. d., Secretary.
SPECIAL RULES.
RULE 1. All teachers of public,
private and parochial schools, all
ounty, city and town health ofiicers
md all school authorities, shall re-
use admittance to the schools under
heir iurisdiction of anv person frOml