The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-21
Recommends Improved s-chooIhouses
ns n Means OF Lessening Con-
tagfous Diseases.
HOME FOR POOR CONSERVATIVES
SHOULD BE BUILT AND MAINTAINED
By THE STATE.
Need for n Laboratory for Tests and
Experiments Tending to Better
Public Sanitation.

Secretary Hurry, Of the State Board Of
Health, has submitted his annual report TO
Governor Durbin. which recommends that
he indOrse the several measures proposed
by the board IN his message 10 the General
Assembly of 1903. Most of the recommends
tions have been offered before. The report
says that at least 80 per cent. OF the school
houses of Indiana are not built in accord
ance with sanitary principles and recon-
mends the passage of an act entitled IAN
act regulating the site and construction Of
schoolhouses, and requiring that principles
of hygiene and sanitary science be taught
in the public schools"
Another important measure recommended
for passage is tina providing for a state
hospital for INDECENT consumptives. The
report says: Consumption is the most de-
structive OF all diseases. 1t is always with
US, Staying each year in Indiana over 1000
citizens. The number of cases of this dis
ease always on hand in the State is not less
than 5000. Vaughn estimates it is 10000.
Consumption is called the white plague,
and it is appalling to think that at any
mentioned time 5000 of Indiana's citizens
are stricken with it. 1t is one of the most
durable diseases If taken in time. but, better
stIl. it can be prevented. A consumptive
hospital would be very necessary both for
prevention and cure. The proposition to
build a hospital for the States INDECENT
c-onsumPtives is not a proposition to make
a new expenditure, but it one to save
money. as plainly appears from the follow
ing considerations
we are already taking care Of this class
but are doing IL in an extravagant and IN
seientihe way. We say extravsgant and
unscientihc because they are not cared for
In any way which viii effect a single cure
and also because the present way brings
an increase of disease and pauperism. In
vestigation shows there is an average of
two TO each OF our ninety
two poorhOuses, making a total of l4 in
these institutions. 1t is further discovered
that there is an average of one consump-
i've being cared for in each OF the lob
townships Of the State. This estimate
gives the total number of INDECENT con-
sumptives as l,l97. Those receiving town
ship aid are in miserable houses, and, be-
cause the aid given is irregular, at times
altogether wanting and again all too mea-
ger, and never having cure and proven
ton in view, it appears that a cure Is
never effected, the burial is at public ex-
pense and the spread of the disease fur
thered. At a special hospital this waste
would not exist. There the care would
be regular and sufficient, cure would be
applied and prevention of spread practiced.
The consequence would be that "A good per-
centage or the patients would be returned
10 their homes TO preach the gospel OF
prevention learned at the hospital. their
funeral expenses would be saved and or
phanage lessened when parents are the
patients. This wise business and wise
scientific method is now practiced in Mass
achusetts and New York and other States
are contemplating establishing them.
Through the generosity of j. PierpOnt Nor
gan, a large hospital for consumptiVes
who can pay at least partly fer their care,
has been erected in New York in the Ad-
irondac mountains. Indiana will, of course,
sometime care for her INDECENT consump-
tives in a practical business way by erect
Ing a special cOnsumptVe hospital. She
will also, in her upward progress, some
time nave a consumptlve hospital where
patients may go who are able to pay the
cost Of care and treatment"
PURE FOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT.
The report. in recommending the estab-
lishment of a State laboratory in the State
house. says: THE people of Indiana are
swindled cut of $4,000 daily by purchasing
adulterated foods, and although our pure
food law is, according to the highest au-
thorities. probably the best yet written,
still nothing is being done to enforce it
and protect the people. And nothing can
be done toward enforcing il without a
laboratory. The loss endured by the people
in a single day would establish and supper
a laboratory for a whole year. There is
only one generally certain way in which
TO discover authorizations in foods and drugs,
and that is by chemical analysis. And only
with the aid of analysis is it possible TO
secure convictions in the courts. IL there
fore plainly appears that If we are To en-
force our pure food and drug law, and by
so doing protect the people against fraud
and injury. a laboratory is absolutely
necessary. And not TO extend this prOtec-
ton is an economic wrong and a sin of
commission in our State government.
I'VE have said the people of Indiana
spend daily at least $4,000 for adulterated
foods, and 10 show hat this estimate is
reasonable we submit the calculations and
considerations from which the $4,000 figure
is drawn:
I'm Ohio and Michigan II has been found
by actual Investigation that at least 80 per
cent. OF all prepared foods on the market
were either short OF standard, injurious TO
health, or adulterated. This was the result
OF thorough investigation and hundreds of
analyses. IL Is assumed that If the adul-
~teratiOn is 81 per cent. in Ohio and Michi-
gan, where there is active enforcement of
the laws, that in Indiana. where enforce
merit is nil. that at least ) per cent. of all
prepared foods are adulterated. We then
accept this figure as a basis for calcula-
ton. Now. there are 2.5O0.O00 people I'm
round numbers in Indiana, and one-ffth.
or $1,000, are wage earners. The average
wage is 80 cents a day, and therefore there
IS earned daily by the Indiana wage earn
ers 500. 0O0. Three-fourths, or 500. 90. is
spent for food. II . per cent. of the food is
adulterated, then 5 per cent. of 100000 is
SIS O0O. the amount thrown away daily in
Indiana. The annual loss To the State on
this basis is S,475.O0o."
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