Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-22
WOULD CONFINE
TUBERCULOSIS
STATE EXPERT SAYS WHITE
PLAGUE SHOULD BE TREATED
BY COMMUNITY.
SCHOOL BOARD PRAISED
Or. A. e. kepford commends Examina-
ton Of Childrsn and Urges Hospi-
talization Of Patients Afflicted
With Disease.

IOWA HOluS QlStluSulSQeQ place
among the leaders in the movement
against tuberculosis, perhaps leading
all other states in this movement by
itS having a department set apart In
the state for the campaign against this
dread disease said DR.. A. E. KepfOrd
! of Des Moines, tuberculosis expert for
the state board of control. DR.. Kepford
was an overnight visitor in Ottumwa.
The action taken by the legislature in
lending the states aid to the fight
against tuberculosis, gives Iowa an
unique position among the states. In
other states the fight is carried on To-
cally as to certain cities, but is not
statewide as in Iowa.
The First Lecturer.
DR.. Kepford is the original lecturer
on the subject of tuberculosis and his
indefatigable efforts in enlightening
the people about the dread destroyer,
won for him the position which for
nearly five years past he has held with
the state board of control. So busy has
his work kept him, that he has been
unable to take vacation Of any
length since accepting charge of the
department under the board of control
and when on leave OF absence last
winter his time was so taken with lee
lures that he failed to get vacation.
He stated that now the fruits of the
labors Of those who have given their
time and talents to the control OF tu-
bercul0s1s was becoming noticeable
He said that at present the good re.
suits are more apparent than at any
time since he began lecturins on the
subject. DR.. Kepford is in the move
ment with his whole heart and soul
and seems in his element when talk
ing of the fight that is being waged on
the disease.
Limit It's Spread.
disqualification Of the disease"
said he, sis a most important factor
in the fight to control it and reduce
the ravages it makes among human
ity.. 1t is essentially social or COM
munity disease and by community
means can it best be fought.
The value Of this mode of
treatment lis easily apparent to
anyone who has given thought to
the matter. It being social disease,
the community should provide place
for its treatment. The reasons for this
are manifold. The patient cannot get
successful treatment at home and
whether cured or not at the hospital.
the danger of infection is limited to
the place In which the patient is con-
fined The disease is not inherited, but
is a vegetable germ that is transmitted
by contact with those infected. When
the state finds that the health of the
people is its greatest asset. we will
have arrived at sound policies OF
Praises School Board.
DR.. Kepford commented on the ac-
ton of the local school board in hav-
ing an inspection of the children in
some of the schools. as was done by
DR.. III. Baker at the instance of the
board. He stated that the Importance
of this could not be overestimated and
that it is essential to the proper care
of the community generally, as we'll
as the children, that such safeguards
be thrown about the schools, because
of the great means such are for the
spread of contagion where not
watched Use of tooth brushes by all,
from the children to the aged, was also
suggested as the properthing, as some
thing that should be practiced by all.
He commented on the valuable aid he
Is given on the board of control by
DR.. M. Barnister Of this city, whom he
said is an inspiration to the work. The
press was commended for the cooper
alton lent to the fight against the white
plague.
DR.. Kepford left this afternoon over
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