Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-05-26
FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.
General Awakening Throughout
Iowa to the Possibility of Pre-
venting and Graduating
Disease.

There is a general amusement
| throughout the whole state of Iowa
| in the combat against tuberculosis.
| The observer who travels through
out the state will find that in almost
every community the people are al
ert to the imminent perils of tu-
| berculosis and the measures which
are necessary in its restriction. A
great many cities and towns have
| passed anti-spitting ordinances and
| placards are being placed which
constantly call attention TO the peo-
pie that it is dangerous to the pub
| lie health to spit on the sidewalks,
IN shops, factories, department
stores, halls, or public places of re-
sort. The people know that the
| matter coughed up from the lungs
of consumptives and expectorated in
public places, dries, becomes desica
ted and blown about by currents of
air.
Furthermore, that tuberculosis in
cattle is readily transmitted to the
human being is fact we'll establish
ed in the mind of the general public
throughout the state. Danger from
milk infected with tuberculosis has
aroused number of cities and COM
munities to take steps which re-
quire the tuberculin test for dairy
COWS and the clean milk supply as
well. Boards of education are in
stalling sanitary drinking fountains
and removing the public drinking
cups from the schools. Communi-
ties are beginning to care for un-
fortunate persons who may be affec-
ted with tuberculosis. establishing
intelligent measures not only for the
comfort of the patient but TO pre-
vent the spread of his disease.
Institutions of higher learning are
giving the most intimate co-opera-
ton to the work. The State Uni
versity, the State College of Agri-
culture and the Mechanic Arts, the
State Teachers College are all Civ
ing much attention to this particu-
lar social disease with the result
that the students leaving their halls
are well equipped to fight the battle
against a preventable disease.
The state department of health is
just now insisting on the railroads
abandoning the public drinking cup
and the proper ventilation of their
cars in transit within the state. The
desire of the department of health is
to bring these changes about with
the least possible inconvenience to
either the railroads or the travel
ing public. Time of course is re-
quired to effectuate a change which
is so general. The movement, how
ever, is of such vital Importance in
the prevention not only of tubercu-
lnciC httt NJ inf
that it will meet the universal COM
mendation of the people of the state.
The state veterinary department
with its usual zeal and efficiency is
busily engaged with the health of
the animals of the state, giving par
ticular attention to the eradication
of tuberculosis among the cattle and
there appears to be a general de-
mand upon this department for the
tuberculin test and many herds are
being cleaned up.
Many cities are also moving in the
direction of the control and relief of
tuberculosis. Dubuque, Waterloo,
Mason City, Charles City, Fort
Dodge. Muscatine, Fort Madison, and
number of others have been doing
some work along this line. Sioux
City has committee now at work
in general movement for a public
bospital. Davenport and Scott coun-
ty exceed any other community per-
haps, in the state in the intelligent
direction of their movement for the
control and relief of tuberculosis.
The city of Davenport, though it
may be known generally, has large
number of eleomosynary and indus
trial Institutions, while the county
supervisors have founded a public
hospital for the treatment of medi-
cal and surgical diseases. Just at
present the city of Davenport and
the board of supervisors of the coun-
ty are planning for the establish
ment of retreat for the treatment
and care of the tuberculosis popula-
| ton of the county.
Other evidences of the general
| arousement of the people might be
| brought to view but these will suf-
| flee to show the great work which is
now being done throughout the state
on the repression of the great white
plague.