Evening star., 1915-05-14
Supposed Tropical Disease
Prevalent in New England,
Physicians Are Told.
TRACHOMA ALSO ACROSS
MASON AND DIXON LINE
Secretaries of State and Provincial
Boards of Health Hear Medical
Subjects Discussed.

Secretaries of state and provincial
boards of health. holding their thir-
tieth annual convention at the New
Willard Hotel today, were told that
pellagra. hitherto supposed to be a
disease confined to tropical or sub
tropical regions. prevails throughout
the north. and that it exists in all parts
of New England. The health officers
also learned that trachoma. character
ICED as one of the most dangerous of
human ailments in that it almost in
varia bly, results in total blindness when
untreated or improperly treated. has
crossed the Mason and Dixon line from
the mountain regions of Kentucky and
Tennessee and has invaded the north.
scores OF cases Of the disease having
been found in northern Indiana.
Ignorance on the part of state legis-
lators was denounced by several speak
ers as the greatest handicap under
which public health officers are COM
PEELED to work.
The statements in regard to trachoma
occurred during the discussion of the
report of the committee on conserva-
tion of vision, presented by the chair
man of the committee. DR.. G. T. SwartZ.
In addition to trachoma, characterized
as the worst menace to sight and the
cnle1 cause OF DllnQneSS OF lne present
day, the report dealt with faulty light
ing of schoolrooms and other buildings
used for study, and with other causes
of preventable blindness and impaired
vision.
Differ as to Treatment.
Drs. ]. A. Hayne. Joseph Goldberger
and others discussed pellagra and
methods of treating the disease. sharp
divergence of opinion being shown in
the discussion. 1t was brought out that
in the south only about 10 per cent of
pellagra cases are fatal, the per cent
being even smaller among children. 1t
was the consensus of opinion that the
sufficient, faulty or poorly balanced
diet. with other contributory causes.
such as poor surroundings. poor ventl-
lation. the existence of neurotic condi-
tlons in the family, etc, but that re-
moval of these causes was by no means
certain to result in cure of the disease.
Other topics discussed at the session,
which is scheduled to be concluded to-
night. were: Common carriers. including
railway trains, street cars. etc, in their
relation to the dissemination Of diseases
model state. district and county health
laws. veneral diseases. courses Of study
in sanitation for womans clubs and re-
cent advances in sanitary laws. organiza-
tion and practices.
Address by DR.. Rosenau.
DR.. NJ. J. Rosenau Of Harvard Uni
versity. speaking on courses of in
stEnction in sanitary science. said
@public health work is fast becom-
ing-in fact. has already become sep
arate profession. Public health serv-
Ice as a career must be made an end in
itself. It is distinct from the prac-
tice of medicine.
When a patient consuIts physi-
cian he said he wants to know two
things: First. What is the matter with
meo, second, What can be done to re
lieve me-? The successful doctor then
becomes a specialist in the recognition
of disease and the use of the remedial
measures. His object is to cure rAther
than to prevent. On the other hand the
public health officer is interested more
in the mode, Of spread and methods Of
preventing disease. The two points of
view are quite distinct
Public health education must be for
service and the quality Of thai service is
exacting The education must be prac-
teal. but a practical art based on sound
science. The object Of public health work
is the prevention Of disease The only
satisfactory practical work done IN public
health lines is accomplished by those who
have a secure scientific foundation "
DR. Rosenau then described the school
for health officers Of Harvard University
and the Massa sachueetts Institute Of Tech
nology. which offers certificate in public
health He also gave an account of the
doctorate Of public health degree which is
one Of the higher degrees offered by Har-
ward University
Committee Report.
The report of the committee on We
nereal diseases, Of which DR. John n
Hurty was chairman. concluded as fol-
lows
There is no substitute for righteous
ness To seek cure and depend upon -
is not wise We must begin with the
children TO eradicate the evils Of So
ciety. Secure to every child its inalien-
able right TO he well born: it's tnalien-
able right TO be trained wisely in mind,
body and soul, its inaliena BILE right to
be protected from evil persons from
evil influences and from disease If we
will ceaselessly strive to secure these
rights TO our children diseases and the
number Of delinquent adults will be
greatly reduced. and relief and reform
will not continue to burden us as be-
fore" :
Rules on Degree of Isolation.
Speaking upon "Ih. Degree OF rso-
lation for Measles. Whoop,ng Cough.
Scarlet Fever and Diphthe ria DIR.
Charles V. Chaplin. commissioner of
health Of Providence, r. J.. who opened
the discussion. gave the three follow
ing rules:
81 Keep the patient in one room
and allow no one else to 90 in but
the doctor or nurse.
2 If the attendant is 20 handle the
patient a gown should be worn which
should be taken off and left in the
room. The one thing which is of far
more Importance than all others is for
the attendant to thoroughly cleanse
the hands. or disinfect them il neces-
sary. on leaving the room and before
touching any object.
"3. Nothing in the room which could
have been handled by the patient or
the infected hands of the nurse should
be brought out of the room without
being thoroughly cleanscd and disin-
fected If necessary before it is allowed
TO touch anything else"