St. Tammany farmer., 1910-04-09
q. ~
$t Tan'tn,aau farmer.
Saturday, April 2, 1910.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

Complaints have been coming in from all
directions that matters which should be un.
oer the control of the Board of Health are
oelng neglected. and the absence of proper
projection from contagious diseases and
unsanltary conditions is causing timid peo-
PIE to become apprehensive that in every
case OF sickness there may lurk the germs
OF serious and spreading disease And not
alone the timid, but all who are duly careful
1eel that they should be safeguarded from
the possibility of danger by the observance
OF those regulations that are commonly en-
forced in all well-governed communities by
health officers clothed with authority for
that purpose.
It should be incumbent upon the board to
inspect all cases of suspicious disease, and
II found dangerous and contagious to pro-
vide for isolation of patients and control of
the disease; and in case of undue alarm to
quiet the fears Of the peouple by state
ment OF fact. The preparation Of vital sta
tlstlcs should also be looked into by the
board, not only as valuable information in
compiling statistics for the State, but in
showing that large proportion Of deaths are
OF visitors from other localities, who come
mere for relief from fatal maladies, and who
IN the absence of precautionary measures
may transmit the disease to others.
1t seems to us, too, that the board should
nave power to abate nuisances in conflict
with healthful conditions; but if has not it
should be supported by ordinance of the
town council to enable it to enforce such
rules as it may deem advisable.
A most important and needed reform that
has been discussed in these columns editori-
ally, and by 'Matronita" on several occa-
sions, is the placing of proper restrictions
upon those afflicted with tuberculosis It is
acknowledged by physicians that where the
sputa of patients is properly disposed Of
there is absolutely no danger of transmitting
the disease. The eminent DR.. Osler says on
this subject: There is no risk in close con-
tact with tuberculosis if the patient is ordi-
narily careful about the sputum. If one is
morbidly afraid Of the disease and desires
a place of safety where one can get away
from it's germs, go to some irst-class sana-
torium for tuberculosis. There are fewer
germs there in the air and on the floor than
in any other place in the country, and there
is very little risk of catching the disease in
the house of tuberculous patient if he
takes good care of the sputum, and sees that
it is properly disinfected. With this knowl-
edge Of how to prevent the spread Of the
disease, does it not seem suicidal to refuse
to adopt measures for protection ? AS our
town grows these matters will have to be
taken up or we will lose our reputation as a
health resort.
With the transportation facilities we now
have it must be expected that we may occa-
sionaly have cases Of diphtheria, scarlet
fever and other contagious diseases brought
here from infected districts, but with our
pure air and water we have nothing to fear
if proper precaution is taken to prevent
breeding places for germs and disinfection
is thorough. 1t is the duty of the Board of
Health to see that we are properly protected
and as we understand an organization of
this board has just taken place, it is to be
hoped that in the future there will be no
necessity for alarm, either through exager-
ated reports or through improperly con-
trolled cases of contagious disease
These remarks are not induced by desire
to criticise, but by desire to prevent criti-
cism from quarters that may not be so
friendly, and also to urge pride in the per-
formance of those duties that are of vital
Importance to the interests Of the town as
health resort for the sick and haven of
security for the we'll. The more metropoli-
ton our town becomes the more subject it |
will be to disease. We cannot become city
and have the freedom of the country. 1t is
remarkable, even with the wonderful health
fulness of our pure air and water, that with
,ut system of sewerage we have maintained
such record for health 1t is time for us
to wake up.
Hon. Jos. B. Lancaster will take his seat
N the legislature in May. Mr. Lancaster
vas elected without opposition His pre-
vious experience as a member Of that body,
IN which he ably represented the interests
# this parish, will make him valuable
representative.