The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-11-13
COUNTY HEALTH
OFFICERS ADDRESS.
To the Public Schools Of tefiofe
County.

Professors, Teachers and Students Of
Leaore County: ! am glad II the priv
n eye 10 communicate with y"a OF this
occasion. | an proud Of the oFpu'-
tunity Of making a few remarks upon 3
very vital suhiect, u = my very F'sas-
ant duty as health officer Of LA"re
county among other thiugs "a visit ard
inspect the principal pablo scho0ls In
the county ia order that their sAHltsry
and hygenic conditions nay te tmFrnv-
ed. While | an not naturally q pgblic
speaker or writer. the imPssria0oe Of
the subject on this occasion impeis ne
to discuss in a practical way she rela-
tons Of the student IN the public sabpa2.
Though there are many things In ger-
eraI we might touch upon CoDcerning
public health. We hare decided % eon-
fne our remarks to consumption.
II has been very properly said that .
nation greatest asset Is its product q
vigorous men and women. while IN iBdi
gent and inylid population produces =
nations greatest weakness. Health Is
more important to our individual Or
national lie than education or sealth,
therefore. in striving Tor an education
or toiling for wealth, let us not forget
the most important thing oi ali, namely
the preservation of oar health and yigor,
While students in the average school
are taught the rudimeDts Of physiology
and hygiene, ! fear that this teaching Is
too often theoretical giving the stndeni
no practical knowledge whatever where
by he can use 1t for the preservation Of
his health. How many thousands have
we known the purest in character and
the brightest in intellect To graduate
with honurs aud beginning their enyia-
Bile careers Of great promise only 10 fall
Horse'-consumption and how often l.
the disease contracted, in the public
school?
As one seventh Of all people die nf
consumption, it has been called the
Captain Of the Prince Of Death. Con.
sumption IL dcstroSi ing our national
asset, oar national wealth by claiming
prematurely the young manhood and
~womanhood Of onr country.
Consumption is the army Of an invad.
ing enemy that yearly storms the fire.
side OF our American home and takcr
away pr~ematurely its pale victims
Everyone who falls by the scythe OF the
pale reaper relatively weakens our ma
tional strength, leaves sorrow and
anguish in the heart OF loving friends
and kindred. Consumption then is to
be regarded as the greatest enemy to
mankind.
As we have learned it's methods Of
attack We are now we'll in position to
ward of its blows. As we have learned
the weak points in the enemy lines, we
are prepared with our years Of fortihca-
ton to drive the enemy from his strong.
holds1and entircly.irom the hnta,au feid.
We are preparing to fight the enemy,
consumption, under the black flag and
In this battle consumption will be driven
from the face Of the earth.
The international Congress Of Tuber,
cuIosis which met in'washington a few
weeks ago, is looked upon by the scien-
tiic world as the most important con.
gress the world has ever seen. They
formulated plans Of battle. appointed
committees OF strategy and inaugurated
plans that will save the human race,
Let me lay down the following PROPOSE
tiOns;
First Every person who now has
consumption caught it from some other
person who had the disease.
Second No person eyer inherited
consumption,
Tbird-There is no possible way to
contract consumption except by ex
posure to persons having the disease or
to the germs Tubercle bacilIi thrown of
in the sputum or expectoration or other
discharges Of consumption, for instance,
a person with consumption will cough
up sputum and expectorate II upon the
floors or walls Of buildings. This
sputum is literally filled with small
microscopic, rod shaped vegetable germs
Tubercle bacilli which produce the dis
ease. When the sputum dries the par
ticles OF which IL Is composed fly over
the room a. dust TO be inhaled by tho
occupants Of the room. When these
germs are inhaled they find Judgment In
the throat. trachea. bronchi, bronchial
tubes and the air cells of the lungs and
with any lowered vitality Of the parts
the germs begin to multiply and the
persou IN a victim Of consumption.
How is consumption to be prevented
Fir.t-Ai suspicious cases should
have sputup examined for Tuborcle
bschii wnen a ease il known to have
consumption IL should be- excluded from
the public schools.
Second Students should never ex-
pcctorste on the floors and walls, as
there are cases not sufficiently develop
ed to warrant a diagnosis Of consump-