The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-02
THE HEALTH CONVENTION.

/ IN in session in this city, has stirred
up all matters relating to tho public
health, sanitation, and precautions
against contagion. infection and pre-
ventable disease in way that is alto
| gether refreshing. II is too often the
case that those who plead for the public
health, for sanitation, and for remedial
or precautionary measures against dis
ease are held 10 be enthusiasts, inn
practicable, and unworthy of the seri
Gus consideration which in fact, theii
pleas actually deserve. No well. estab
lished, practical medical man will urge
upon a community anything that he is
not fully convinced from experience
al practical conviction is to tho ad
vantage Of the public which he ad
dresses. There is not the least doubt
about this. No medical man wants to
| forfeit his standing in tho community
| by urging either impracticable or I'M.
proved ideas with regard to sanitation
or precaution against disease. In every
case il can he set down as in fact
assured that when a medical man of
repute, speaking from his professional
knowledge. says that a thing ought to
be done, it is we'll for the community
TO do that thing.
Not especially in connection with this
health convention, but still related to
it, is the tuberculosis cXhitit. which
has also been in progress here for
some time past. 1t was especially
noteworthy and valuable to see in con
nection with this exhibit the presence
of "A number of legislators. and to note
the remarks that they made concerning
the value of the exhibit, of the in,
struction impaired, and Of the need of
moro thorough comprehension and
complete compliance with the health
regulations that science enioins 1t
was good to hear Senator Badger saw
hat he would be in favor of repeating
the law against compulsory vaccination,
II the health experts of the State
should say that it was best; and he
placed his concession in this respect
precisely on the ground above set forth.
that the health officers, the medical
men, the ones who know about these
and their advice should be followed.
As to the vaccination matter referred
10 by Senator Badger, we think that
he Will find unanimity of sentiment
among the medical men in this State in
favor Of repeal of the anti-vaccina-
ton law that is so firm, SO unanimous,
and SO well fortified by facts. that he
may be called upon TO redeem his
promise
The last day Of the health conven-
ton was devoted in considerable de-
gree to the schools. And il was de.
veloped that the health officers are
strongly in favor of inspection in every
department, not only inspection of the
buildings and premises, but inspection
Of the students, and even of the teach
ers. This is the true business: an in
spection that is only in part neccs-
sarlly fails in part. 1t is not enough
to inspect the premises; those who
occupy those premises must also be
IbSD't'NNs lVfN Dt utdliH COI-
ditions enforced all around, and not
only health conditions, but physical de-
fects should be located and remedial
agencies for those defects supplied. A
great many children arc defective in
hearing, in smelling i'll sight, and in
their teeth. The defects may not be
so pronounced as TO be discovered. ex-
cent by competent, professional men.
who will inspect thoroughly and find
out defects that are only partial, or
perhaps incipient. In most cases the
defects can be remcdied on discovery
and that is exactly the object of the
inspection which the health officers
urge. There is no doubt but that a
great deal Of the retardatiou of the
work in the schools come from undis-
covered defects in the children. And
it is of the highest Importance that
the school should be relieved from this
drag, and pupils be restored to the
complete possession of all their senses
This health convention, and. also the
tuberculosis exhibit. have been of the
highest educational value. The public
at large may not appreciate all that
these mean to the community; but
those who are alert, as the doctors and
health officers must necessarily be
alert. to tho conditions that exist, un-
derstand and give full faith and credit
to the high value of the work per-
formed in these conventions and ex-
hibits,