East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-03-29
DOCTORS START WAR
ON WASH BASINS
OTHER SUBJECTS RELATIVE
To HEALTH ARE DISCUSSED
Much Time Given to Consideration OF
Sanitation I'm schools and Other
Matters of Importance to Younger
Generation.


Portland, Ore, March 29.-war on
the public wash basin, foe to health
and sanitation that has hitherto es-
capped almost unnoticed in the fur
ry of crusades against the drinking
cup, the roller towel, the family tooth
brush and other immodest breeding
places and distributors of germs, was
declared by oregon state, county and
municipal health officers. who are
holding their annual session to con-
fer on problems of the public health
in the Medical building.
DR.. l.. p. Geary, Multnomah coun-
ty health officer, was the one who
unmasked the dangers of the wash
bowel Especially as it exists in the
schools and public buildings it is a
very grave peril, all the more so be-
cause not commonly regarded as
such, declared DR.. Geary
THE filthy condition of the ordi-
nary wash basin has escaped our no
tice," he said. I'VE are so used to
it that we never think of it. Yet 1000
persons will use it in succession and
in that time it is never cleaned out
or even scalded. 1t is more danger
GUS tnan the rollef lONel.
Danger Poiutcd Out.
Some of our mechanical geniuses
| ought to be able to devise wash ba-
sin that would make it possible to
wash in running water. 1t would be
a matter of economy and most GER
tainly of safety. The danger from
skin diseases through public wash
basins is very great"
DIR. Geary's remarks were made in
the course of a discussion of a paper
by Professor L. r. Alderman, state
superintendent of public instruction,
on Cooperation Between Schools and
Boards of Health" How the schools
of the state have been cooperating in
the past year with the health officers
and problems of health and SANTA
ton they are still called on to face,
were told by Professor Alderman.
Hundreds of wells in country dis
tricts that had not been inspected in
90 years have been cleaned up or their
use prosibited through efforts of the
school teachers, he said. Another
! achievement on the side of better
health for the school youngsters has
been better methods of ventilation and
the adjustment of windows so as to
prevent cross lights which injure the
eyes of the pupils.
Eating Too Fast.
| One thing that worried Professor
| Alderman was how to keep the chill
dren from eating so fast. After he
had told of one class of boys who
bolted their lunch in two and one
quarter minues so they could play
ball, DR.. b. T. McCallom of Polk coun'
ty, came to his rescue with the sug'
gestion that 10 or Is minutes be- SCI
aside for lunch and that no one be-
allowed to play in that time.
"The teachers are doing the bes
they can, but the toilets in some ot
the oregon schools are a disgrace t.
civilization" said Professor Alder
man.
After announcing that plans wer,
complete for new six months
course on Health" in the higl
schools, Professor Alderman asked
the doctors to give him suggestion
and promised to cooperate with then
in every way. They evoked warn
praise from DR.. +, A. Pierce.
I'm his readiness to cooperate wit
US, Professor Alderman has show
splendid spirit he said. IL
means the greatest step forward j
sanitation since l have been in ore
gon."
DR.. c. II. Wheeler declared that tn
ventilating systems of nearly all tn
portland schools We're faulty.
Nearly all the intakes are With
two to four feet of the ground, an
as a result get the ground atmos
phere' that is loaded with carboni
acid gas" he said. II have fougf
against this but without avail Fc
/ the health of the children intake
| should be at least To 10 feet aboy
| ground"