The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-08

prevent disease. 1t includes therefore
the isolation of persons who have con-
tagious or infections diseases and the
employment of measures to prevent
diseases which, strictly speaking, are
not contagious. For instance, we
can prevent malaria by living in
screened houses and by sleeping un-
der nets. The same thing may be
accomplished by taking a small dose
OF quinine daily during mosquito sea-
son. We can guard against typhoid
FEVER by properly disinfecting the
body discharges from the patient, by
screening against flies and by having
pure drinking water
Public education in sanitation and
hygiene is the only way to prevent
disease. Hookworm disease, because
1t lowers the vitality OF it's victims
and makes them succumb to other
diseases, is indirectly responsible for
A cheap privy for each family in
the state would in a few years cause
hookworm disease to disappear. 1t
would also lessen typhoid fever, diar-
rhoea and other intestinal diseases
Why then, do the people not construct
and use sanitary closets? Because no
one has instructed them. And why
has no one instructed them? Because
we have been brought up to believe
that to say "privy" is to be disgracei
1t Is high time for us to let this false
mOdesty and prudery give way before
common sense. These things can,
without violating any Of the laws OF
decency or true modesty be discussed
in the school room and out Of it. In
what other way can the people be
educated about disease prevention?
lcach ofius is his brothers. keeper The
failure to realize this is responsible
for many new graves each year.
Holding. as she does, the esteem and
confidence of the people Of the COM
munity, the teacher working in tho
rural districts is in position to do an
\ she does not preach the gospel Of
health she is failing in that which IS
even more important than teaching
reading, writing and arithmetic.
You may remember the tale Of Paul
md Virginia and it's tragic end. Vir-
ginia, after an exile Of several years
in Europe, where she had been in a
convent, is returning to her beautiful
Isle Of France. The ship is wrecked
upon the rocky shore. Paul sees the
wreck from the shore and attempts to
reach Virginia, but Is restrained. The
wreck drifts nearer, Virginia is ap-
preached by Il huge sailor who has off
his clothes IN order the better to fight
the sea- He holds out his arms to her,
imploring her to jump and assuring her
that he can save her If only she will
trust herself to him. Does Virginia
throw herself into the arms of the
brave tar who is willing to risk his
own life to save her. No, her convent
bred soul is shocked. She has seen
his bare body. She bushes and turns
away She browns, and the next day
her body is washed up on the beach.
Paul succumbs to grief and is buried
by her side. In this matter of san
itation the public Is playing the part
Of Virginia. Paul is the state board
OF health, imploring aid. The strong
sailor, able to buffet the waves on the
sea OF ignorance, Is education. Do
not blush and turn away from the
bare truths of sanitary knowledge
Do your duty. Surely the knowledge
that you have been instrumental in
saving human life is a reward worth
the striving for.
Whenever the teacher suspects scar
lot fever, measles, or other contagi-
Gus disease, the child should at once
be excluded from the school and pny-
sician sent for. There is no excuse
for case Of smallpox in the school, as
the state has prohibited any child who
has not been vaccinated from attend
ing school. If the child does attend
the principal OF the school and each
trustee is liable to fine. Vaccination
is the only safeguard against smallpox
While these contagious diseases re-
auire immediate attention, there are
other conditions which are OF more
Importance. Among these may be