El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-29
WOMEN
IN HEALTH
CAMPAIGN
Development of Vitality and
Fight Against Disease Are
Sought by Federation.
NATIONAL BOARD OF
HEALTH ADVOCATED

. GRAFTON OF women 5 CLUBS was VI Sdl-4Aeo
in 1906 to keep step with the growing
Interest upon this subject, but from the
beginning TIE federation has been IN
1.-THE front among the organizations work
ing for the Improvement of the health
conditions of the nation. The kneyn1te
70 the movement in which the women
Of the Federation are working IS the
development of vitality and their aim Is
to increase the power to live and 10
work, as well as TO help cure or even
TO prevent disease At the beginning
the women of only one state TOOK up
the work outlined by the Health de-
partment, but for four years past every
state federation has had an active
working committee of women making
energetic efforts in the direction OF
elimination of disease. In addition 10
their other work, during the first Two
years of the existence of the health de-
partment the women of the federation
raised and expended over S35,OOO for
health purposes in different parts OF
the country.
no philanthropic work in which the
club women have been engaged that
has been more productive OF Sood re-
suits than the movement IN the inter
est of public health. They have CO.
oDerated in every reform movement
brought out by the health officers OF
the different states. Dr. -Crumblne, the
secretary of the Kansas board OF
health, said recently:
II have every reason to be SrateIC4
for the moral support as well as tnt
active cooperation Of the Kansas ed
Grafton of Club women L have never
made an appeal to the club women OF
any town in this state (and my ap-
peals have been numerous during. the
past three years. but that 1t has been
promptly and. generously responded 10.
The state board of health has travel
ing tuberculosis exhibit In every town
in which we go we first get in touch
with the local Women's clubs We find
without exception that the clubs lend
their influence in getting the people
out to see the exhibit and to listen TO
our lectures We simply could not get
along without the help of the WOmeI,
in this particular. When the state
board Of health abolished the common
drinking cup upon railway trains ana
in the public schools of the state, We
were subjected to considerable abuse
upon the part OF the male travelling
public and the male members Of the
schools, who think no turJher tnan
their own personal convenience But
from the start we had the full support
Of the wOmen's clubs The same tnlnS
is true regarding all of our reform
measures"
Fighting InfantiIe Blindness.
One of the newer matters TO which
the federation is turning its attention
is the Inauguration OF an active cru
SADIE for the conservation of vision
This crusade is waglnS warfare against
infantile blindness and in many cities
the club women are carefully studying
this matter, Investigating its causes,
means of prevention and legislative
measures which might be taken to les
sen its prevalence. This subject ap-
peals especially to mothers and lectures
upon the care of the eyes of young in
fants are becoming a prominent 1ea-
ture Of the social service work lnaugur-
ated by the wOmen's clubs. In addl-
ton to this the campaign for the con-
servation of vision provides for the in
spection of the eyes of public school
children, the free services of ocullsts,
and the supply Of glasses If needed ana
also the proper lighting Of shops and
factories in which the employees are
engaged upan any occupation calling
for continual eye service. Lectures
upon all of these subjects are being
provided under the auspices of the WO-
mems clubs which cooperate with any
other organization working for the
same object
Urges National Health Board.
The General Federation department
of health stands firmly in support Of
te establishment of national board Of
health, believing that only by this
m eans can certain reforms become uni
form Such department could be COM
posed by the union Of several bureaus
already in existence which could be
which they are now located The Ma
yfne Hospital service could be trans
ferred from the treasury department,
the division Of vital statistics could be
transferred from the bureau of census
of the department of commerce and Ia
bor. and the bureau of chemistry could
be transferred from the department Of
agriculture. The club women feel that
the union of these different organiza-
lions into one federal bureau cOmbin-
oil Or no nj n
health. would produce better results
than is possible under the present ar
While most women instinctively
shrink from the consideration and dis
cussion of the subject of sex hygiene,
the time has come in the minds of many
Of the leading physicians Of the coun-
try for them; to take some stringent
action upon this matter and the clubs
are responding nobly TO the need
The chairman of the health department
Is cooperating with the department Of
education in advocating the teaching
Of this subject in the normal training
schools of the country in order that
teachers may be prepared to introduce
it into the public schools. In a letter
suggestive Of what club women might
do to help in this matter, former presi-
dent Sliot OF Harvard, advised the
committee to secure expert
advice upon the books on sex hygiene
which have been issued within the past
five years, with a resume of their con-
tents, and to publish a list Of them.
This advice is being considered and a
oibIiography upon sex hygiene viii
probably be prepared under the auspices
1f the general federation within the
next few months. 1t is generally con-
,eded that advancement in this matter
s greatly hindered by the fact that the
women interested are not always famil- !
ar with reliable literature bearing up
IN it and there are many books pub |
ished which are both harmful and dis (
gushing.
FfghaIng Tuberculosis.
In the fight against tuberculosis, the !
.lub women have well organized forces /
n every state. They have aided in the !
establishment Of tuberculosis camps, /
;anatoria, visiting nurses associations, I
.lfnicS and hospitals. In Montana the 1
.lub women are banded together to Sc /
.ure their state sanatOrium and are /
selling a Montana sanltarium stamp" /
or this purpose. The federation at /
t. Worth last year expended $500 in (
.nti-tu berculosis literature Many OF |
he state federations supplied travel I
ng exhibits upon this subject in ad-
-ance Of the state board of health and
n every instance they have neglected
10 opportunity to aid any organization I