Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-12-28
RURAL sANITATIoN--THE NEED.
Necessary for Education of People in
Respect to Health.

The paper below by Dr.. A. NJ.
Brailsford, Of Mullins, was read at a
meeting Of the Pee Dee Medical AS
!, sociation in Florence. 1t deserves to
be read everywhere in South Caro-
lima
TO any audience, save medical men
and those who have given some study
to sanitary conditions, the state
ment that cities are cleaner than the
country, would come as a very great
surprise and would be received with
degree Of skepticism bordering dan
gerously upon positive disbelief.
Notwithstanding the crowding to-
gether, dust and smoke and the eX-
element and hurry attending an ur-
ban existence, the cities are healthier.
On the other hand, in spite Of the
space, the blessed sunshine and lazy.
indolent life Of the rural districts,
the country is more sickly. The rea-
son for this anomalous condition is
summed up in one word-sanitation
Great progress has been made in
recent years along the line OF mu-
nicipal sanitation. Boards Of health
have been organized and are vested
with unlimited power in all Ques-
ticns pertaining to the health Of the
citizens, such as the regulation and
control Of contagious diseases, medi-
cal inspection of schools, appointing
civic nurses, establishing tuberculo-
sis dispensaries, supervision Of the
water and milk supplies and the pro-
per disposal Of sewage. No similar
organization safeguarding the health
OF the inhabitants Of the country dis
tricts exists. The average farmer
would scarcely listen were such a
measure suggested as necessity.
lie would probably regard it as an
invasion OF his personal liberties.
His farm Is his kingdom-there he is
king-a law unto himself. While in
the city the communal idea prevails
no man lives unto himself--a citi-
zen is hcdEed in upon all sides by
government, the man in the country
comes in contact with government
only to limited degree; there the
individualistic idea OF life surN yes
ference from the outside.
So effective has been the work of
health departments in cities, and so
deplorable is the situation in the
cnIiNtrv Inn n n 1oply nf to-,
and education, that the rural districts
are becoming positive menace to
the health Of cities. There is a
.rlose and intimate relation between
cities and the country from both COM
Wercial and social interests. The
country furnishes practically all of
the foodstuffs Of the cities. Vegeta-
bles gathered from polluted soil-es-
pecially those eaten raw-tomatoes,
cucumbers, celery, etc.---are liable to
convey disease. Fearful outbreaks
OF typhoid fever In cities have been
traced TO single case on dairy
farm. Contagious and infectious dis
eases, such as smallpox, diphtheria,
scarlet fever, are not properly quar-
antined In the country and are fire.
quently brought into the cities from
rural districts by persons who, per-
haps, are themselves cured, but for
want OF proper sanitation and inspec-
ton, are still carriers of disease.
These remarks are not intended as a
plea for the cities against the coun-
try, though the bearing Of rural sani-
tation on the health of cities is of
great moment, but simply state
ment OF facts to bring to the atten-
ton of those who live in small towns
and rural districts the great con-
trast between cities and country dis
trlcts in the matter Of sanitation, and
10 attempt to press this truth home.
The country no less than the citv
needs health education, and that a
general attack in both the city and
country Is necessary to stamp out
disease"
IN the terse and classical Ian
guage OF Grover Cleveland, at is not
a theory, but a condition we arc fac
ihs The problem is in the hands
OF the medical profession, but can
not be solved without intelligent CO.
operation upon the part of the laity.
Legislation can accomplish much in
providing funds to carry tbn . the
work, such as distributing literature
ana employing rural district inspec-
tors. There is such a movement now
In q few Stat nY nai a ILL. Ninei, -