The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-05-14
WOMEN CAN ASSIST
PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD
From Saturdays Daily.

Club women have a great oppor-
tunity to work I'm the field of public
health at the present time said DR..
w. II. Hin. secretary of the Mime
sofa Public Health association. in an
address on "The Club woman's OPP
portunity," delivered before the clos
ing session OF the Second District
Federation of Womens' clubs last
evening. This great opportunity has
been given to them by the neglect
Of the legislature in this regard. The
neglect OF the legislature Is the club
women's chance. Public health work
in the legislature has practically come
to a stop, and the state board of
health work has been cut down. In
the matter Of tuberculosis, which Is
the big thing to combat ut the present
time, the work has been practically
confined to those already started. The
rest of the state Is forbidden to take
any action for the next two years at
least. The way for the club women
to proceed Is comprised of three
things. Begin with investigation in
order to know where you are at In
this health movement Get the facts
first, and do not proceed otherwise.
The next step Is discrimination. which
Is an exceedingly important matter
when taking mp thg work OF public
health II they progress. Third, Is ac-
ton based on investigation and dis
elimination. Public health work Is
a thing that cannot he carried on by
the Individual.
Can improve Private Health.
Ina
health. that OF their families and
neighbnrs. but public health In big
sense they cannot do. This work must
be done by corporation on big scale
and principally through government
agency. Apply the same thing to the
Legislature that you would TO your
own household. Investigate. discrim-
mate. act, to the end of securing pub
lie health In this state i'm the future.
Put Minnesota where II belongs as a
big leader in public health. There
are over 300 clubs I'm the state. and
about 10000 women. and would like
TO see them all work for public health.
The Minnesota Public Health asso-
citation at the present time. In spite
OF the action Of the legislature. Is
stronger. more independent. and has
more money In sight than a year ago
II is the only body free to speak it's
mind in the matter of public health.
The association Is like lone voice
crying I'm the wilderness. and as far
as | am concerned II will cry like
siren for the next two years and
want the club women to help. The
Iteration of Women's clubs should
of in
Answered Number OF Questions.
Following his address. DR.. Hill ans
wered a number of questions asked
by the club women. I'm regard to
quarantine laws in the case of small
rox he stated that anyone who was
yaccinated could go and come to
Mace where there was a small pox
patient as much as they pleased. but
that those persons not vaccinated
must remain there II they were once
exposed. according to the state law.
He stated that II was almost unheard
of for a third party to carry the di-
sease as IL was generally contracted
bv direct exposure. directly to the
disease itself. However, every local
ity. although II cannot do less that
the state law. can make as stringent
rules as are wanted. When asked
about closing schools after a case OF
contagious disease had developed. DIR.
Hill said that he would not close the
school. The children should be ef-
amined and the infected ones sent
home. The school thereafter would
be the safest place i'm town. as all
contagion would have been eliminat-
cd. In regard to tuberculosis there
was a law. but no funds. A child or
teacher In a school with an open case
nf tuberculosis, could be eliminated
by the state law. In early stages the
germs were not actively escaping, and
there was not danger of infection.
Mrs. Conant extended the thanks of
the club women TO DIR. Hill for his
address and presence at the meeting.
School For Housewife.
Mrs. Rudolph Geiser of Cannon
Falls, state chairman of the home
economics committee, in her address
last evening, strongly recommended
school for the housewife. "The
average American home justifies the
need OF such a school," said Mrs.
Geiser. Cooking and sewing are but
a very small part of household eco
Monies. When the study of the home
is given a place of its own i'm the
schools along with French. and trig-
onometry. and physics, the daughter
or the household becomes more in
terested in the real things that make
a home. We have too long looked
upon good housekeeping as a trait
that runs in the family, like blue eyes
or raven hair. and even the census
taker reports that the housewife IL a
woman OF no occupation Mrs.
ieiser continued to show that a school
for housewives would be OF great ad-
vantage. and strongly advocated the
fact that women county agents are
needed to teach home making i'm the
rural communities. Z
During the program last evening
the Girls Glee club of the normal
school gave a group OF two chorus
numbers. "A Spring Song" by Neid-
finger and Summer Lullaby" by
Root. the numbers proving very pleas
ing. Pilgrims Chorus from Tam
hauser. by Wagner. was rendered by
Miss Mamie Skuse upon the pipe or
gan with inspiring effect and Miss
Eunice Hughes sang Happy Song
by Del Riego. She has sweet and
melodious soprano voice and was en-
Enthusiastically applauded. Miss Cornelia
Mansfield also sang a solo entitled
summer by Chaminade. and was re-
fpfrpd with rnrch a,..1o,,..