Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-16
Health Work in Rural COMMUNITIES
A. G.. Young, NJ. ID.

"A. VI. 1OuL5, NJ IL.
The problems of rural hygiene and
of urban hygiene are similar in that
the human being pays a like penalty
for the transgression of those laws
which relate to his wellbeing, wheth-
er he lives upon a farm or in a city
tenement. Irrespective of the density
or sparsity of population, marked i'm
provements in. the physical and men,
tai health and efficiency of a commu-
nifty must largely be the result of edu-
cation.
Some of the kinds. of worthwhile
work for local health authorities and
either local workers are:
CAD The alienation of the heavy
burden imposed by tuberculosis should
be regarded as a serious though prac-
ticabla work. In infected homes the
well ones Should be shielded, incIpient
cases should be helped to cure il
they need help, and the viciously care
less should be restrained. When one
case of tuberculosis is found In FAM
lily, all other members should be kept
under observation for years and re-
peatedly examined for the first signs OF
tuberculosis. There is no other safe
rule. Children should have especial
care and protection by removal from
infectious environments. through the
help of open-air schools and other
wise.
OBJ Another heavy handicap to rural
communities living under faulty con-
ditions is imposed by typhoid fever
The burden Of it could be cut down
still further than we have cut it, If all
of us, from health officers and physic-
ians to the general public would seri-
ously consider this malady as con-
tagious and infectious disease .requir-
ing mich more careful restrictive and
prophylactic measures than it receives
in many places. The local preventive
work against this, and the other infec-
tious diseases should, to yield the best
returns for money spent, be done by
persons who have had some special
training and experience. To have am
pie laboratory facilities available is a
very essential aid.
(C) The producers of milk and milk
dealers should be under an, up-to-date
system of supervision The absence of
such control is often fateful when
some member of the family or of the
helpers of the milk producer has ty-
phoid fever, diphtheria, or scarlet few
er. Just then prompt advice may help
the dairyman and save disaster at the
terminal points of the milk route. The
work done for the Improvement of the
milk supplies should be largely advis
DRY and educative instead of through
penal processes.
CD Other food supplies should be
under a system of control which real
ly safeguards the public. There should
be q better assurance that the car
cases of diseased animals are not
sold as food, thht slaughter houses are
kept in a decent condition, that baker
les and markets and their products are
cleanly, and-that the service at hotels
and restaurants is clean and reason
ably safe.
(E) Rural households should be
taught so as to have fairly trust
worthy ideas as to whether the loca-
ton Of well or spring, or the grad
ing around it and other presumable
safeguards suffice to insure good and
safe water supply. The impending
danger when lead water pipe is used
should be emphasized.
(F) Safe systems for the disposal of
sewage and other domestic wastes
should be taught and urged.
(G) In many rural schols there arc
deplorable conditions due to faulty
lighting Of schoolroms, their want of
ventilation and unregulated tempera-
lures, want Of cleanliness, and badly
constructed and ill-kept outhouses.
Keeping down the taxes by false econ
omy here is vicious criminality when
seen in the light of its very frequent
results. Great good would come from
a wider appreciation Of play as fac
tor in mental as well as in physical
development. Social and recreation
centers are greatly needed in most
rural places
(H) The case against the fly as a
carrier Of infection from sources of
filth has been made so clear that the