The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-12-01
PRACTICAL
SANITATION

cation, including Territorial supefin-
tendent Rabbit. were present The
evening was given up 10 a paper pre-.
pared by Dr r. r Day on School
sanitation, which was AZ follows
The idea Of making education practi-
cal appeals TO me very Etrongly-bf
irving the pupil something that he can
take home with him and apply 10 his
benefit or profit.
This. take II, In the trend OF modern
pedagogy. II Is the principle under
lying. the manual training school, the
kindergarten and the technical school
But even the academic schools may be
excused II now and then they branch
out into practical lines. particularly
here where 20 many races and nation
Alities converge. where problems arise
by reason OF this diversity OF popula-
tion that are not apt TO be met in other
Anglo-Saxon communities.
When Professor Scott suggested that
l address yon on the subject OF "Prac-
teal Sanitation" the thought occurred
10 me how much better 1t would be for
individuals and the community II all
the students in our higher schools were
taught this rather than a smattering
Of anatomy and physiology such as 1
recall I'm my student days. How much
better 1t would be II, instead OF learn
ing that there are 200 bones In the
human body they were 10 absorb the
fact that disease often turks in Inn
pure water How much more valuable
il would be for them to know, that
promiscuous eXpectoration is not only
disgusting but dangerous to health,
than that the heart is a four-section
pump
How little of the didactic teaching
Of physiology one remembers or applies
in after life! How little OF 1t is capable
of application
II is knowledge that has a value.
TO be sure, and am not deriding II as
altogether useless, but rather wish to
emphasize the point that a practical
knowledge OF hygiene and sanitation is
still more valuable.
! approach the subject with diff
dence. but my heart is in 1t, and though
at first inclined to refuse Professor
Scott's invitation, finally decided TO
accept Il and to do what little can do
popularize the subject.
II the teachers of the higher grades
hour week to teaching the principles
of sanitation and hygiene, or. better
still, II a special instructor could handle
the subject in the different schools.
much good would be done the individual
pupils and eventually the community.
The teaching should be of such an
extremely practical character that the
young folks can grasp 1t, take It home
10 their parents and put 1t into actual
practice.
Sanitation Is another name for clean
Illness. The individual who is clean is
sanitary, the habitation that is clean
Is sanitary and the city that is clean
is sanitary.
The aim of sanitation Is the preser-
walton of health by the prevention of
disease, especially the so-called zymotic
diseases. This great group can not
thrive where cleanliness prevails. 1t
needs filth for a indus.
Ignorance, poverty and filth is the
three-legged stool upon which death
from germ disease sits,We shall never
be able to abolish poverty, but we can
enlighten the ignorant and thereby be
rid of the filth-for poverty and filth
are not Siamese twins. They can be
separated. The poor can keep clean
IL they know how and choose to exer-
else their knowledge. Is 1t not our duty
10 teach them how? Would It not be
wise to enlighten them on the methods
Of preserving health by applying tn,
doctrine of cleanliness to their homes
and their persons? Cleanliness is
next to Goliness," and as Goodness is
guarantee against evil so cleanliness
is a guarantee against germ diseases.
believe IL has been ruled that Godli-
ness may not be taught in the public
schools for fear of treading on the
favorite corns Of some equity ecclesi-
astic, though I can not for the life OF
me see why the broad ethical principles
underlying the decalogue should not be
the corner stone OF all education, but
there has been no such ruling against
cleanliness and therefore / urge that II
be included in every curriculum.
Take the subject OF ventilation for in.
stance. Physiology teaches that we in
'hale mixture of Oxygen, nitrogen and
carbon dioXide gases, and eXhale then
in different proportions plus moistur,
and waste organic substances. Santa
ton teaches that our habitations mus
be properly and sufficiently ventilated
Physicians often enter the homes o
the poor where the air is so foul tina
II is almost suffocating. where the ig
norant mother has an unholy fear q
fresh air. Many a time have found
poor infant suffering from pneumonia
or bronchitis I'm a room so tight,
closed that cubic inch of fresh al
could scarcely find its way in, the littl
creature swathed in wraps like al
Esquimo. painting and struggling 70
bit OF oxygen, but only able to breath
over and over again the vitiated at
mosphere of the sitting room. Som
mothers particularly amongst the ig
norant Portuguese aud Chinese seen
10 consider fresh air poisonous, and 1
is with the utmost difficulty that the!
can he persuaded to open the window
and doors. In this land OF even tenn
perature and perennial sunshine ther
should be no lack of fresh air in on
homes. Most OF us are so accustome
to II that 1t is actual misery to be 4
CLOSED room, but as I say amongs
tho ignorant classes this fa NOT tr,,