The Mankato free press., 1912-09-20
new HEALTH HEAD HAS
HINTS FOR CITY PEOPLE
From Thursdays Daily.

Dr. 4. T.. Pratt, the bacteriOlOgiSt
who has charge of the state labora
tory at the Emmanuel hospital, and
who has been elected by the city
council to succeed DR.. A. E. Sohmer
as health officer of Mankato, said
in an interview yesterday that there
is about twice as much tuberculosis
in Blue Earth county than there
should be. He contended that the
county is amply able financially to
build sanitarium for all classes OF
the tubercular afflicted, and thinks
institution here.
THE trouble with nearly all the
private sanitariums is that they dc
not care to accept tubercular pa
, tients who are in the last stages OF
the disease. This is a wrong prin
ciple because those who are afflict
ed as a rule do not thoroughly un
derstand how to practice the meth
DDS of prevention. In fighting tu
berculosis, it is absolutely essential
for the public to be familiar with
such methods, especially those who
are afflicted, because it is double
palladium for the uneffected por
ton of the population" F5 H.
a Testing City Water. f.. T.,
DR.. Pratt had number of cul
ture tubes filled with city" water
which he was testing The samples
We're. taken from various sections OF
the CITY,, one at West Mankato
another at the pumping station, one
at the court house and another al
the Emmanuel hospital. The doctor
said that this has been a regular
, routine practice for several years
at Mankato and that he finds the
water from time to time, very good
When asked what his opinion was
regarding the manner in which the
city enforced it's sanitation ordinan
ces, he said: 81 am not going to say
that the allies in the city are nice
when they are not. People are toe
careless with garbage and garbage
cans. The cans should be covered
and kept covered at all times, es
pecially during the summer when
flies prevail. There is an ordinance
requiring garbage cans to be GOV.
cred but by walking down some OF
the allies one would not be lead to
believe that such provision ex
listed.
Il am strongly in favor of wrapping
all garbage in paper before placing il
in the recepticle for that purpose
! because it is better precaution
against flies coming in contact with
it. If all garbage could be cared
for in this manner, it would be a
great help to the health department
of the city"
Flies Are An Enemy.
Files are the worst enemy that
the department of health has to con
tend with, and in order to get the
best results the people ought to un
derstand that their cooperation is
of the utmost Importance. There
is nothing under the sun that will
spread disease more rapidly than
the filthy fly. They seek filth, live
on it, and carry it about them where
ever they go, communicating every
thing that, they. touch.'
The doctor told of having recent
ly visited the West Mankato public
school. GAS ], passed through the
hall where the children keep their
clothing l noticed that under every
hook was the name of the pupil to
whom, the hook had been as
signed. There was also a towel
on every hook which the children
were instructed to use. | was ag-
reeabfy surprised commented DIR.
Pratt. 1T is an excellent preventa-
tive against skin and eye infection
and it would be prudent for other
schools to follow this example,
Praised Dr.. Sohmer
In speaking of Dr. Sohmer, who
has been the city health officer for
more than two years, DR.. Pratt said
that as the head of the health de-
partment GT. Schmer has done very
excellent work in preventing the
spread of disease and looking after
the community in general. He men
toned tat there were several cases
of scarlet fever here last spring
that could easily have spread If the
health officer had neglected his
duty.
I'm fact said DR.. Pratt general
spread of the disease at that particu-
lar time was averted by the most en-
ergetic surveillance on the part of DR..
Sohmer."
In conclusion the bacteriologist
said that he wanted to suggest that
the medical inspection of schools
was a strong factor. in preventing
the spread of contagious diseases.
by detecting the early cases and is.
olating them it insures better pro-
lection against. the, disease spread
ing to others" Dr. Pratt will not
taRn his nlana af thu hoad Of tho