Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-06

boards Of health to perform their du-
ties or else to wipe the law from our
statute books9 Think of 1t, more
tnan one-half of the local boards in
our state failing in a simple and com.
paratively easy clerical duty, ID there
reasonable probability that they will
peIiorm the more onerous duties dew
volVlng upon them. any better? The
unconcern of the masses has acted as
lullaby to these local boards of
health until they unconsciously are
drifting far out upon the enchanted
sea OF ease and negligence. while the
tornado Of epidemic disease is gath.
ering strength and velocity from each
careless act. and before long It will
burst upon the people with such
force and severity that It will
sweep away the few feeble. barriers
.ney may have provided, despoiling
MONIES leaving here fresh mounds Of
earth and bitter grief. and there pow.
erty and weakness, and upon the
homes, towns and townships burden
Of debt. Indeed 1T would seem that
these boards Of health look upon the
violation of public health laws and reg.
ulatlons as conventional and not as a
crime. But it is a crime and we be-
llieve that the time is not very remote
Wnen the masses Of this great state
VIII hold that it Is a most grievous
crime and one very intimately related
With treason, the treason Of public
health, by far more dangerous to the
public veal than the treason of coun-
try. Then will the distant thunder of
outraged sentiment of the people
cause them to tremble and. boodler
like. fee for safety as they will then
realize that they can no longer escape
upon technicalities, or by hook or
crook. as they have for violations of
health laws in the past. ~
Who Is to Blame?
Who Is to blame for this apathy
among the local boards of health and
the people? The answer is easily
found and It Is with pain and sorrow
mat we have to admit that 1t is the
medical profession, the originators of
public health laws and regulations and
the very persons who should teach by
precept and practice We alone are
responsible and we alone can furnish
the remedy. We must go to the wage
worker, the farmer and the public
schools and teach them that sanitation
Is the foundation of health, mental and
physical development and wealth. Here
is the place and now is the time to
remove forever the bushel covering the
dre Of public health and to add the fuel
OF facts to 1t until it burns brightly
and Its light shining through every
county paper and public school shall
illuminate the home of every wage
worker, politician. professional man
and capitalist in our. state. AS
the clergyman points out and
opens the gates of morality
to the people so the physician teaches
all to avoid diseases and opens wide
the door of health and happiness to
the masses. In truth, the true ply
stefan, above all others is the greatest
OF teachers as his instructions often
combine morality and health, and, as
he has the enLree to all classes, all
faiths, and no faiths, to whom by pre-
cept and example he teaches cleanli.
ness which the Book of books informs
us is next to godliness. The chasm
which divides the wage-workers and
the poverty stricken from the church
and which for years the current Of
greed and graft has been slowly wild:
ening and deepening can only be
abridged and filled through the union.
lied and harmonized influence of the
medical profession. It's inexhaustible
reservoirs of the pure rich cream of
human kindness enables it to enter the
homes of all and instruct them "how
to live and how to die" To it the
whole human race is but one large
family with individual characteristics
distinguishing them from each other
yet bound by an indissoluble tie to
live each for the other and for all.
And wherever its unionized and har.
montzed light shines brightly, all hui
mantty Is brought into closer touch
and, greed, graft, jealousies, and bick.
erings diminish and morbidfty, NOR.
tally. and taxation decrease. If the
members OF this society would each
day when visiting the homes of the
sick or injured devote few minutes
to instructing those who might be pre-
sent in the general principles of pub
lie and private hygiene it would soon
produce a healthy sentiment among
the masses. The minds of those in
homes where there is sickness are in
the best possible receptive condition
and a few words well spoken Via be
seed sown in prepared soil End will
bring forth fruit from ten to a hun
dred fold while the indiscrimina talk
icg on the corners and in the clubs
will soon be choked by the thorns of
gossip and politics. Outside of our
public schools the most effective
teaching is done in the sick room or
the PHYSICIANS private office. Every
physician should be profoundly i'm
pressed with une fact that he is the
apostle of public and private hygiene
to his clientele and that If he fails to
perfectly discharge his duty he opens
the door for quacks and their rene
dies. There is no profession, when
united and working in harmony, that
can WELD as much influence for the
besterment of humanity. Let us there
fore adopt and carry out some meas.
ure that will demonstrate to ~ peo-
pie OF our state that her physicians
are IN sentiment and in action
unit upon the thorough dis.
semination Of correct information