Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Fighting
Diseases.

not the government eXpend
Fighting an equal amount of money
n;..., or more. for the eradica-
ton of typhoid fever and
malaria, two diseases which are causing
a far more serious economic loss to the
American people than is the dangerous
ailment which affects the pork supply OF
the country"
This question occurred to Senator ]. f.
Ransdell of Louisiana few days ago, and
the introduction of a bill providing for
the appropriation of $500, 900 for the en-
couragement of rural sanitation, with
special reference to the eradication OF
malaria and typhoid, is the result of the
southern members inquiry When the
Introduction of the bill was announced
briefly many persons wondered how the
government would spend a half million
dollars in work to eradicate typhoid and
malaria. Senator Ransdells bill provides
for the work to be done under the author
ty of the United States public health serv.
ice because, through this bureau the gov
eminent is already carrying on restricted
Investigations having the same object as
the legislation which is now proposed
The work is now being pushed as fast as
funds will allow. in a few states: the new
legislation will permit it to be intensified
and extended into every state where the
diseases are prevalent.
FOR several years the federal govern
inent has been represented in malarial
Investigations by DR.. r. H. Won Ezdorf
who has been detailed by Surgeon Gen
eral rupert Blue to work in a number OF
southern states in cooperation with mu-
nicipal and state health authorities. Head
quarters for the work were established
in Mobile. and Investigations have beer
carried on III various sections of Ala
bama. Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina
at 10
vey Is being made in North Carolina
The public health service has also car.
ried on various typhoid studies, and it is
planned to continue these investigations
so long as the amount of money avail.
able will permit the work to go on The
governments health authorities are par.
ticularly anxious to lend cid and coop.
crate with staff and municipal heaItl,
authorities in all parts of the country in
the work of graduating both malaria and
typhoid. Although these two diseases are
caused by two entirely different germs
and have no relation, the work for Their
eradication is similar and makes for the
Improvement of public health conditions
generally.
To guard against malaria it is necessary
to drain swamps and clean up other
places where Misunderstanding mosquitoes
breed, and to prevent typhoid 1t is neces.
sary to purify water. milk and food sup.
plies In which the typhoid bacillus may
be carried. and to improved system OF
sewage disposal. The screening of houses
is advised in the work to prevent both
diseases. keeping out mosquitoes to guard
against malaria and the germ-carryine
house fly to prevent the spread of ty.
phoid. According to health authorities
il every community in the country die
, everything possible to guard its people
against the two diseases, malaria ano
typhoid, the United States would have ar
almost perfect system of sanitations and
greatly improved condition of the pub.
lie health
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.