The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-21
THE SANITARY HOME

have been advanced as to the cause
of this disease. Each has had its
day of enthusiastic support, and its
each period of decline and final re
lection. The latest theory is that
advanced by DR.. Goldberger of the
p. II. S. and the corps of investi-
gators associated with him in the
work. They have concluded: l..
That pellagra is not a communica bic
Cneither infectious nor contagiorsl
disease, but is essentially dietary in
origin; 2. That it is dependent on
some yet undetermined fault in a
diet in which the animal or legumin-
Gus protein component is dispropor-
tionately small and the nonlegumin-
Gus vegetable component dispropor-
tionately large, and 3rd, that no
pellagra develops in those who con
sumo a mixed, well balanced. and
varied diet, such. for example, as that
furnished by the government to the
men of the army, navy and
marine corps.
In short then the disease is caused
by the wron! kind of feeding and is
prevented by the right kind of fecd
ing. The weight of the evidence
which has been accumulated seems
to point to the correctness of the
theory. Pellagra is both treated and
prevented by the correction of any
fault which exists in the diet. Too
much starchy food is forbidden az
cornbread, grits, molasses, bacon,
etc, and in their place is substituted
a better balanced diet. Such as milk.
not less than pint and half to two
pints in "a hours Eggs should nc
freely and not less than four
of them consumed in day, they may
be prepared in such manner as
suits the individual tastes. Fresh
lean meat should be used to at least
a half pound a day. Beans and peas.
fresh or dried and not canned should
be used in generous quantities ana
used freely It is preferred that the
corn products be excluded To the
a bove may be added in restricted
amounts oatmeal, rice and barley as
cereals, potatoes and onions as fresh
and wheat or rye bread
DR.. Goldbereer states that "to have
a good. rich, mixed, well-balanced,
and varied diet on the family table
is one thing, to eat it is another. The
former is perhaps greatly to be le-
sired. but the latter alone, we be-
lieve, will prevent pellagra,"
AS other matters pertaining to my
subject, such as disinfection, isola-
ton, lighting, and ventilation arc
more or less understood, want 10
enumerate some of the things which
the State Board of Health is doing
for the betterment of home santa
ton
1. The state has been divided in
to a number of districts and cOmpet-
ent officials placed in them as near
transportation centers as possible,
whose duty it is when instructed by
the State Health Officer at the re-
quest of any citizen, to visit and
diagnose cases of suspicious or con-
ia : GUS Illness; and render such as
sistance as the occasions demand; 20
inspect nuisances and other condi-
tions which affect the public health
and give such advice as he deems
called upon these gentlemen are
pleased to advise upon any matter
affecting the sanitation of the home.
A corps of public health nurses
has been organized and assigned tn
duty in the different sections. While
their instructions are primarily to
visit the tuburculous patient in the
home, with the approval of the at
tending physician, and instruct them
in regime which will not only tend
to conserve their physical forces, bus
which will also help to prevent the
spread of the infection to others: it
is the desire of the hoard that after
having discharged these duties that
she turn her attention in a tactful
way to other defects, which she has
doubtless already observed. As her
mission carries her at once to the
vantage ground-the interior of the
home, these women are destined to
i5come potential factors in the bet
terment of social conditions.
3. An extensive publicity cam
paiqn is being conducted press
bulletin written in popular st\la
upon some interesting phase of the
health problem is issued once a week
and offered TO all the papers in the
State A health monthly is printed
containing a wealth of helpful in
formation on sanitation and hygiene
and sent to every one who will feau
it. Special monographs have been
prepared on all the more important
communicable diseases and questions
affecting the public health and given
wide circulation. The Executive