Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-28
TO SCHOOL BOARDS AND OTHERS

The Deseret News has spoken very
plainly several times on the subject
Of contagious disorders and their pre-
yentlon. and has emphasized the In
structIons sent out from the State
board OF Health by It's secretary Dr.
Beatty There Is one point Of import
aucc to which we now desire to draw
attention, particularly that OF the
boards OF education in the cities, and
the trustees in the country districts
where books and school utensils are
provided by those authorities,
School books when used by different
individuals, particularly when covered
with any kind Of cloth material, are
liable to carry germs Of Infection If
handled by a person In the inciplent or
advanced stage Of contagious disease.
They should be kept for the use Of the
pupil who receives them until the end
Of the term II would be better to COW
er the books with stiff paper than with
any sort OF cloth. They should be In
any event fumlgated and thoroughly
disinfected at the end of the term, and
before allowing any other person to
handle them.
One Of the dangerous practices In
times Of contaglon is that Of permitting
children to use pencils that have been
handled BY other children. The pencil
Is frequently held in the mouth when
not employed In writing, and II the
child so using 1t is In any stage OF a
contagious disease, the germs, which
are lmperceptlble to the senses, may
become fastened upon the pencil from
the breath, and when used In the same
way by another child may lmpart the
disorder in malignant form, Some
diseases become more virulent by
transmission. II would be better to
stop supplying pens and pencils to the
schools altogether than to have them
used Unfortunately as at present. Let
each child use Its own pen, and pencil,
and books, without being passed to
others, or else let the parents supply
these articles and reserve them to in
divIdual use.
kissing the lips Of child suffering
from a contagious disease is often
the means Of communicating It to 9TH
crs' 1t Is a foolish and needless Gus.
tom II Is better honored In the breach
than IN the observance IL sick per-
son must be kissed, let the salute be on
the brow or anywhere rather than the
lips There Is too much kissing OF sick
persons, anyhow, for the general
health II should be stopped altogether.
II the idea can once be clearly i'm
pressed upon the minds Of our people
that disease may be carried from one
person to another. by means Of infected
clothing and by waste matter from
SICK persons that has not been disin-
fected. also that filth OF all kinds forms
a suitable breeding place for disease
germs, and there will be reason TO hope
for the stamping out of those com.
plants, that afilct so many Of our
children and spread suffering and death
among people Of all ages.
II Is necessary to harp on this one
string until its vibrations reach not
only the ears but the hearts and minds
OF the public, ana until they are In.
duced to use proper precautions ana
al unite in striving to prevent the
spread Of Infection Every Individual
should be interested In this important
subject, and boards OF education and
school trustees, who have the care and
oversight Of school children, ought 10
De Seenly alive to the momentous cues.
tlon Of the preservation Of Juvenile and
general health.