The Detroit times., 1913-08-26
Exchange of Handkerchiefs,
M0istened Lead Pencils, etc,
Pointed to as Leading Cause
H.AYGRQUNDS NEED
ATTENTION, SAYS SPEAKER
Health Workers from All Cor
ners of World Assemble
in Buffalo


to Professor Edward c. Jordan, of the
university of Chicago who was the
frst speaker today at the opening
sessions Of the Fourth International
Congress on School Hygiene, which
will continue IN session throughout
the week. President Emeritus Charles
NV. Eliot, OF Harvard, president of the
congress, called the great meeting 10
order today. More than 800 OF the
Imost noted educators and health
fworkers In the world are scheduled
Ito address the delegates, who repre-
sent every state OF the union and the
leading nations OF the world Every
/ well-known educational institution In
the Americas Is represented officially
and hundreds OF cities in Canada and
the United States likewise are repre-
eented by formally accepted dele
gates.
urofessor Jordan's declaration that
"air-borne driplets" are the chief
cause OF dissemination OF tuberculosis
came In his address entitled Disease
Carriers Among School Children" He
pointed out that the gathering to-
gether of children In schools must
dissemination OF diseases and es-
pecially those to which the young are
y subject.
-.As regards specific opportunities
ia infection furnished by the school,
must be admitted that while the
slate, the common drinking cup and
the roller towel are fast passing away,
sufficient facilities for the transfer OF
disease germs still exist In the friend
~ exchange Of the pocket handker.
chief, lipmoistened pencils, chewing
gum and the like" said Prof. Jordan.
zone danger peculiarly difficult TO
guard against is the discharge OF
minute 'driplets - of spray from the
mouth or nose by sneezing, coughing
or speaking. These highly infectious
dripiets' may float in the air for some
minutes and, as shown by expert
ments, can be borne by air-currents TO
distance of several feet In the
opinion of many, these air-borne drip
let's are the principal factors In the
spread of tuberculosis.
The school playground as well as
! the school room must be considered
In considering the question OF school
diseases. And the fight TO extermin-
ate the spread of diseases among chill
dren, OF course means a fight TO pre-
vent disease from spreading to older
persons. Increasing the number OF
associates must necessarily increase
the chances OF infection.
THE abolition OF the common
drinking cup is highly desirable pro.
cedure, but has anyone ever put on
record a measurable diminution in
disease in school after the introduc-
ton OF the bubbling fountains? In
point of fact We do not know to what
extent the various influences summed
up under school attendance are
factors In the dissemination OF infec-
tious diseases. The question Is one
for deep Consideration"
Under the subject. Construction OF
School Houses from an Architects
Standpoint w. X. Kilham, OF Bos-
ton. declared that the present intri-
cate systems OF ventilation are in
adequate and a waste Of money
The enormous cost and installa,
ton OF present school house ventilat.
Ing systems said Kilham, is too
heavy a draft on the taxpayer and the
results obtained are not worth the
cost. More healthful as we'll as
q return to q method OF ventilation by
simply opening windows and supply
ing school rooms with pure air that is
really fresh instead Of cooked"
THE relation OF school hygiene to
industrial hygiene" said DR. Ira s.
VILE, member OF the new York board
OF education, should be very close.
Teaching OF school hygiene should be
hoaAd tho Ia
to be made OF IT, A large portion OF
life ia spent In occupation, therefore
the Importance OF industrial hygiene
cannot be gainssid n the public
schools are to prepare the children
for citizenship, they should aim to
prepare citizens OF the present TO
work toward the same ends. The cost
OF teaching Industrial hygiene is
negligible compared to the amounts
needed for expenses afterwards q"
Today's morning sessions were CIV
en- over TO formal reception OF the
delegates by state, city and county
officials. Tho frat OF the regular ses.
1ions was held this afternoon when
more than fifty speakers discussed
school Buildings and their Equip
ment' Fatigue and Nervousness I'm
School Children" The Exciting and
SContributory Causes OF Disease"
Physical Defects OF School Chill
dren. The Status OF School Hy.
giene." and Methods OF instruction
In City. village and County Schools -
Not the least interesting part OF the
congress is the scientific and CONNER.
cfal exhibit representing the best
that IL being done today toward bet.
tering the health conditions OF school
children and workers In factories.
THE scientific exhibit is under the
direction OF DR.. Fletcher u. Dressiar
Y Of the United tates bureau of educa-
ton.
There Will be a reception given I'm
honor Of the congress this evening at
/. the Twentieth Century club. All dele.
ates have been invited Boy Scouts in
r full regalia are serving as official
3 guides for the visitors. The women =
reception committee Is headed by one
hundred leading society women OF
(. Buffalo.
Thrpa men Ed Oliver and Erod -