Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-11-25
PUBLIC HEALTH
BY DR.. H. ". HILL
The Head Of State Association
Talks to Good WiIIn|ar
Audience.

A representative audience of Will
mar people gathered at the CONNER
cial Club rooms last night to hear DR..
H. w. Hill, secretary of the Mime
sofa Public Association, lecture on
Germs and Disease" or as he also
expressed it on "The New Public
HEALTH"
DR.. Hill was introduced by the local
Health Officer, DR.. j. M. Rains, who
stated that the speaker was here on
invitation of the County Public Health
Association of which Mrs. H. G. Han
sen is president.
DR.. Hill spoke nearly an hour in
general way giving the results of the
latest researches regarding disease
germs and their propagation in the hui
man body. Many of his statements
were somewhat startling, and at var
lance with the usually accepted the
ories on the subject.
DR.. Hill first gave a general descrip-
tion Of the disease germs, and used
vey an idea of their minuteness. Next
he dwelt on the fact that the human
body was the most favorable incubat-
or for the propagation of these germs,
it's warmth, moisture and other quail
tiles making it a place where these
!
ply at terrific rate when left un-
checked. The only source Of infec-
| ton is those human beings in which
these disease germs have secured a
! foothold. The germs do not live long
after being elected from the human
body, except in very exceptional con-
ditions, therefore most infection comes
from taking in at the mouth immedi-
ately the saliva and germs from the
bodies of other persons. DR.. Hill cit
ed many instances how these transfers
are made, mainly by means of the
hands, and concluded that the only
manner in which such transfer can be
avoided is to isolate the person af-
fected with dangerous germs. That
is the manner in which Europe eradi-
Gated leprosy which was generally
prevalent a few hundred years ago.
DR.. Hill believed that if every person
afflicted with tuberculosis of the lungs
were properly isolated and taken care
of the disease could be practically
stamped out in fifteen years. People
are very. alarmed about smallpox and
other such contagious diseases, but
the deathrate from smallpox in Min
nesota is only to per year, while
two thousand lives are lost annually
in the state from tuberculosis. The
estimated number of prevalent cases
is two to each thousand, which would
mean about forty cases in Kandiyohi
county. DR.. Hill outlined the provis-
ions of law under which county san
atoria are built and maintained.
After his main address Dr. Hill con.
tinued to speak for some time on ques'
tions asked or suggested. Having
stated that tuberculosis germs requir'
ed oxygen to live and that was the
reason they preferably developed in
tie lungs, the speaker was asked how
fresh air could benefit a patient
The answer was that the idea that
fresh air breathed into the lungs would
kill the germs was a mistaken one
but that such treatment was good fol
the patient generally and especially tc
create appetite for nourishing food
which is one of the essentials in com
batting the disease. The doctor ex
pressed the opinion that open windows
and window tents were not as good fol
this purpose by any means as being
out in the open air.
} In reply to another question as tc
the proper food for tuberculosis pa
tients the speaker said that any nour
ishing food which the patient PREFER
ed which could be digested and assim
Hated would answer. 1t was a mis-
: take to insist on the patient taking
> foods which we're distasteful to them
, In regard to the effect of alcoho
1 on germs DR.. Hill said alcohol was {
positive detriment to anyone SUFFERING
from any germ disease, diminishing
l the resistive powers of the patient
F.. He even exploded the old snake Bit
' theory that whiskey is good for rat
l tie snake bites.
DR.. Hill has the faculty of makin
! this scientific subject very interestin,
: to the lay mind, and all those attend
$ ing were glad that they came out.
: Those present included eight of tn
:, medical fraternity of the city, thre
d county commissioners and many pre-
n fessional and business men and farm
f ers and their wives of Willmar and vii
unity. DR.. Hill was entertained Will
here by Supt. DR.. G.. H. Freeman G
the State Hospital.
; Lut-fisk Supper.
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