The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-01-23
SAFEGUARDING The
PUBLIC HEALTH
WOm0n's Town Improvement
Committee Hears Lecture.

is the medical school inspector of
Orange, and who has been response
BILE for the health of four thousand
children for over two years. Her
subject was "Epidemics, and Safe
guarding the Public HEALTH She
said:-
There is part of medical science
which is still undetermined, but there
are some things very definitely
known. For example, we know very
positively that certain diseases are
due to bacteria, and we also know
exactly how these diseases spread.
The public conscience is at last wax
ing UP to the fact that everyone is
responsible, more or less, for cpl
denies. This is a hopeful sign.
''Of course there are laws concern
ing public health in every city, town
and village, but it is not always real
lied that the. enforcement of the laws
depends upon the efficiency of the
board of health, plus the cooperation
of the citizens. Everyone who cares
at all for his own health and for
that of his community, should know
these health laws and then should
do his part to see that they are en-
forced Very much, however, depends
truly and properly efficient it needs
not only a good man at its head, it
needs trained man, properly
equipped health officer.
"Given an efficient board of health,
good agent, and good laws, there
are three factors directly connected
with public health-the disposal of
sewage, and of garbage, and the
cleanliness of the streets. Dust does
carry germs, we all believe it, but
few of us realize for how much it is
responsible. 1t is really of very great
Importance to us all that the streets
be kept clean and watered, or oiled
Why should they be put in the care
of aged and enfeebled men who find
it difficult or impossible to keep them
as they should be kept? It needs
many good strong young men with
energy and enthusiasm. to WELD the
broom well. The dust and dirt must
not be pushed from one corner to
another, it must be removed
"Quite as important is the watering
or oiling of the roads which should
be done frequently before and dur
ing dry or windy SPELL They should
be well-watered in the very early
spring, just after the SHOWS have
melted, when the surface is Uttered
with the accumulation of the winter,
and before the March winds begin.
another thing which figures in the
! spread of disease is expectoration on
the streets. This is not only disgust
ing, but positively and definitely
dangerous to public health. In Orange
they put up signs stating that it was
! forbidden, but the most effective way
to control this menace was by impos-
ing a fine and after due warning, to
collect the two dollars"
DR.. Porter thinks it might even be
reduced to one dollar, the main thing
being, to collect it. This, of course,
depends upon an efficient police force
of men honest and alive to their re-
sponsibilities and duties. Montclair
hands circulars to men with this bad
habit. The circulars are headed,
How to Save Two Dollars and
quote the law.
ITO safeguard the public health,
gatherings of various kinds must be
watched and inspected. OF course
the ones occurring most often and of
vital interest and import, are the pub
lie schools. These need the most
careful and slxillful inspection procur-
able. Each child, in Orange, is in
spected at least once week and fire.
quently more often.1
DR.. Porter makes this inspection
herself, and has two nurses-one
quite recently acquired, to help her
The nurse makes a general inspeo-
tion, seeing each child in every room,
and going from one school to another
Any child with cough. or a rash, or
any other symptom, is withdrawn
from the others and put in another
room TO await Or. Porter's inspection.
Il there is anything at all the mat
ter. or il the doctor is even in doubt.
the child is sent home at once, with
notice that it needs care. Sometimes
The nurse takes the child home. The
nurse must follow up the cases, and
she is absolutely indispensable. If
child has contagious disease, of
course the board of health is notified,
and takes it up at once The house
is quarantined and if the family has
40 regular physician to attend it, the
health board looks after it. Those
who take part in this work are very
anxious. to send the children with
contagious diseases to an isolation
hospital. The ignorance and fear of
The parents often prevents this, but
he nurses are trying very hard and
constantly to educate the people to
understand that the hospitals are to
help tho child and safeguard the fam