The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-20
DR.. SWARTS GAVE
SOME POINTERS
To MEMS CLUB

The monthly meeting OF the Westmin-
ster Mems club was held last evening al
the Westminster Unitarian church or
Adelaide avenue. President r. w. Jen'
nings called the meeting to order at 81;
o'clock and, after n short address. intro
duced Or. C. T. swarts. secretary OF the
state board OF health.
Or. Swarts said that II was the duty of
the board OF health to ind out what dis
eases exist, 10 discover their causes, and
to remove those causes He stated that
the board kept a record OF the number OF
births and deaths. They then carefully
study the causes OF the deaths. These are
the foundations upon which they work
and are thus enabled to check and reduce
these causes
He then explained the workings OF n
test tube, after which he passed II around
the audience for inspection. He said that
Rhode Island was the first state to use
the test tube I'm examining throat dis
eases. this being In 1894
AS II requires n large sum OF money 10
enable the board to carry on its work, DR..
Swarts has asked the legislature for
yearly appropriations from 1890 to $500.
granted without much objection.
He then spoke OF the various ways in
which diseases are spread. He said that
out OF $50 to $50 cases OF tuberculosis, in
this state. over 50 per cent OF the patients
never had II IN their families before. This
proves that IL is not inherited but Is
spread In some other way. He said that
germs leaving the mouth OF a person
coughing or splitting often enter the
mouth OF some one nearby. He then dis
played a sanitary spit-oox which consists
OF a small glass case with little wooden
box in g. The person. affected with the
disease, spits into this box and each night
throws the wooden box. containing the
spit, into the fire and uses another one
the next day.
The doctor said that II is the custom Of
the local board OF health TO send an in
spector 10 house. where spreading dis
ease is. 10 advise the other people in the
house how 10 be careful. often the people
object 10 having signs put on the house
but the doctor shows them that Il is az
much for their protection as for anyone
eise's. For some person visiting the house
may catch the diseas and will then blame
them for not warning him.
He called attention 10 the fact that flies
spread many germs. They fly from one
house TO another and often get on the
food He said that people ought not 10 ex-
pose any food to them.
DR.. Swarts took up the milk question.
He stated that the milk sold In grocery
stores is unnt 10 drink and often is sour
before the grocer receives IL. He said
that something must be done to stop the
sale OF this milk for many patients ore
fed with II. The doctor thinks that bot
ties. and not cans, should be used for
holding milk.
President Jennings praised the doctors
lecture and asked him n he would be
willing 20 answer some questions for the
members OF the club. Or. Swarts said he
would be delighted and many questions
were asked. He answered them all very
fully.
on motion of Mr.. Barney. vote a,
thanks was extended 10 Dr. swarts for
his kindness in speaking. light lunch
con was then served after which the
meeting adjourned