Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-01

Telephone editorial or business Of
ficel No. Al.
Address the Courier Printing Co.. OF
tumwa, Iowa.
Entered as second class matter Oc-
tober II, 1908. at the postoffice Otturn
wa, Iowa. under the Act Of Congress OF
March g. 1879.
ORGANIZATION FOR HEALTH.
Too much stress cannot be laid upon
the advice given the public by Acting
City Health Physician L.. ]. Baker, in
the interview published recently in the
Courier in which DR.. Baker proposes
an efficient county organization, COM
posed of series of township organi-
setions, be effected in Wapello county
for the express purpose of preventing
the spread of contagious diseases. DR..
Baker has given much attention to the
subjects connected with a city's health
and is known among the members of
his profession as one of the most stu
dious and able men in Iowa along this
line. His advice is good and the va
rious health boards in Wapello county
will do we'll to act upon it.
The object of the organization pro-
posed by Dr. Baker is to maintain a
system of. communication between the
sever townships so that the health
officers in each may prevent persons
who have been exposed to dangerous
diseases from going from one town
ship to another and thus spreading the
disease and increasing it's danger.
Though it may not be generally known
there are numerous violations of the
rules of the board of health, not only
In Ottumwa but everywhere. Such an
organization as the one proposed
would allow a close watch to be kept
upon all those persons exposed to dis
ease and would reduce the danger Of
an epidemic to minimum. Though
ell the violations of quarantine are not
designedly infractions of the law,
many of them are and careful watch
is necessary to prevent them. One
reason, for the numerous violations is
probably the fact that aglarge portion
Of the people do not understand the
laws and many do not fully under
stand the danger Of contagion.
Advanced study brings out the fact
Nth increasing strength as time goes
on, that too much care to prevent con-
tagion cannot be taken. Precautionary
measures which may seem so elabor-
ate as to be foolish in the estimation
OF one not too well informed too often
prove, instead, not thorough enough.
AFvisit to a room where a patient lies,
suffering from contagious disease,
I not only exposes the visitor to the
ailment but it makes his an agency
through which dozens of others may
be exposed. The danger is very
i great and though precautionary meas
lures may seem unnecessary they are
Railways in place and should be carried
out to the most minute detail. DR..
Baker, in his recent interview, laid
down set of rules for the sick room,
especially where a contagious disease
is concerned. These rules will prove
of value, no doubt. and may be the
means of preventing many a serious
case of sickness if they are followed
out: :1a..,ss.
Keep the room aired, without
draughts. pleasant, and quiet.
Keep out all carpets, drapery, cloth.
ing and furniture not needed.
admit no visitors without permits.
sion Of the physician, if not quaran.
tined
The room. nurse and patient should
be kept perfectly clean.
xiii all flies, mosquitoes and other
insects in the room and put up screens
to keep others out
Never allow bad smell to exist.
''All body or bed clothing, towels
napkins, cloths, bandages or sponges
must be disinfected before taken from
the room.
Dishes which have been in the sick
room must be disinfected before taken
from the room.
Discharges from the sick must be
received in vessel containing disin
fectant
Consider that everything that has
been brought into the sick room has
become infected and needs disinfect
ing before being carried out.
Don't leave the room or eat without
washing your hands with carbolic OF
other antiseptic soap"
Believing that the subject Of the
public health is one Of the most i'm
portant to be considered, especially al
this time the Courier has arranged tc
devote column or more each week
to matters pertaining to this subject
Articles prepared by Ottumwa physi
clans. teachers, professional and bust
ness men relating to sanitary OF
health matters will appear In the col
umn without Signature. All articles
will be subjected to the criticism Of
the health physician and every effort
will be made to have the matter au
thoritative and reliable.
.----------------------
THE PATH TO PEACE.
Despite the reputation critica