St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-10-03
DR.. Dowliinq
interviewed
Speaks Of Sanitary Measures
and the Reason Why the
Stiles Closet Some
times Fails.

l. Sunday night, when the Healtl
Exhibit Cars were In town, DR.. bowl
Ing was asked for an expression o
opinion with reference to the loca
health situation. The Doctor wa.
kind enough to discuss at som,
length, in general terms, the need fol
health protective measures. In thu
course Of the conversation, he said
Every town should provide fol
Its own protection pure and whole.
some water, pure and unauthorized
food, and sanitary sewage disposal
These precautions, with other en-
yironments that naturally follow
will insure comfort, happiness and
pleasure for both rich and poor.
| The principal that underlies all
methods Of sewage disposal is to get
rid OF the sewage as speedily as pos
sible. with the latest nuisance to the
smallest number Of people, with the
least damage to health or property,
and at the smallest cost.
I'm all places where the pail or
Stiles closet has been q failure 1t
was due to lack OF supervision and
poor methods. It requires work and
lots of It to keep any type Of closets
In order.
Experience has shown that failure
to remove human excrementitious
matter promptly and properly Is q
menace to the public health. Open
privies and cesspools should not be
tolerated in a closely built up area.
Unless special care is exercised these
give opportunity for the spread Of
disease by insects and animals and
by pollution OF the soil. Statistics
show in reduction OF death rate the
benefit to be derived from proper
sewage disposal. In one community,
In period covering ten years, ty-
phoid fever occurred in 81 per cent
of the houses provided with the open
privy, in O.83 per cent Of the houses
with closets connected with the sew
ers.
by taking precautions against the
spread Of infection through the
agency Of flies, either by preventing
their breeding or preventing them
from obtaining access to fecal matter,
and by closing polluted wells, the
danger from privies and cesspools
may be greatly reduced. Sometimes
it is wiser to do this in small towns
than to go to the expense Of intro
ducing a sewer system, with perhaps
the attendant difficulty and expense
Of purifying the sewage after collec-
ton.
The Board of Health OF Coving-
ton is to be congratulated on their
efforts to provide for the disposal Of
sewage, and they should have the help
and cooperation Of all good citizens
Every local board Of health in
Louisiana is required by law to be
auxiliary to the State Board of
Health. They are urged to cooper
ate and work In harmony with this
Board. The movement inaugurated
by the Covington Board of Health
has the hearty approval and endorse
ment OF the State Board.
.tAct ~ Of 1914 provides that mu-
inequalities may establish, purchase,
control. construct, maintain and OPP
crate garbage plants, waterworks,
sewerage, power and lighting sys-
TENS. They may issue bonds, GER
tificates, or other forms Of indebted
ness, to procure such public utilities.
1T the citizens Of Covington do
not approve the plan Of the City
Board Of Health, they should in
stall a sewerage system. Let the
citizens approve, or else call an cleo
ton as soon as necessary prelimi-
naries can be executed. Stand by
your Board of Health, or encourage
them In undertaking the substitution
Of sewer system for the pail closet.
by cleaning up Havana the aver
age life has been prolonged more
than four years, then why not help !
the doctors put themselves out Of
business by reducing the sickness
and prolonging the lives Of resi-
dents? Show your faith by your |
words and deeds.
'Covington has made SO much
she cannot afford to take |
i backward step. On this trip I
have been asking that the citizens
who are interested in health work |
land those who are not) reflect on |
.hree familiar sayings:
Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
I'm union there is strength.
THE Lord helps those who help
themselves.
Read the interesting "Slidell School
Notes" on the last page.