The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-08-04
Health Officer 4. F. Sehmiif In
Talk to the Council
ADVICE TO Be Needed
Not One Case of Infantile Paral.
,;ysis in Mankato; Measures
To Prevent
From Mondays Daily.


From Mondays Daily
How to guard the people of Man
kato against infantile paralysis was
subject discussed at some length al
the meeting of the city council TINS
morning. The subject was INTRODUCED II
a report by the city health officer, DR.
A. F.. Schmitt.
DR.. Schmitt reported that there was
in the city just one case OF scarle'
fever under quarantine. There was
also one case of smallpox, this pa
tient having come from Montana to
visit her sick father. These were now
the only cases of contagious diseases
in the city, with the exception OF
few cases of measles. DE-, -e
d. DIR. Schmitt remarked that he
wished to call the attention OF the
council to the matter of infantile pa
ralysis. There was an epidemic at Ro-
chester, there being fifteen to twenty
cases. No public gatherings or picnics
of the children were being allowed
there. DIR. Schmitt said it had been
suggested to him to prevent the Man
kato children from attending the
circus, as a precautionary measure
against this disease. There seemed to
be no authority to make such a city
regulation. Howver, the argument
had been strongly presented that
this circus, travelling over such a
large amount of country, might bring
with it some germs of infantile pa
ralysis.
The doctor remarked that as yet
there was not a single case of infan-
tile paralysis in Mankato, though
there were cases in other parts OF
the state, notably WinOna, Ro-
chester, ST. Cloud, Minneapolis and
st. Paul.
Streets Pretty Dusty.
Dr. Schmitt stated that many of the
streets were pretty dusty, and as
there was a shortage of oil, it would
be we'll to have these streets springled
with water until the supply OF oil
could be replenished. Dust and pollen
from weeds were agents that carried
disease germs. He spoke particularly
of the condition of streets in West
Mankato lying between the watering
trough and the Blue Earth river
bridge and Councilman Eichstaedt in
terposed the remark that that was
"the worst place in town."
DIR. Schmitt said he had received a
communication from the board of
health of Washington, D. c., explain
ing much about infantile paralysis and
what could be done to prevent it. He
hn fu RI 1ich
these instructions in full and dis
tribute the information among the
people.
The health officer said that all barn
owners had been notified that they
must use manure boxes that are fly
proof, in order that flies might not
carry disease germs. These regulations
should be strictly enforced. Some of
the offenders must be brought into
court, or there would be no satisfac-
tory results from the order.
Infection Through Nose.
Returning to the subject of in
fantile paralysis, the health officer
stated that victims obtained the in
lection through the nose, the throat
and the digestive tract. 1t often came
with the food. Children should not eat
fruits that have not been washed.
DR.. Schmitt said one way to fight off
the danger of infantile paralysis was
to wash the nose and throat of a child
with solution of boracic acid three
times a day, morning, afternoon and
evening, just before retiring.
The recommendation of the health
commissioner were approved.
The report of the health commits
sioner for the months of May and
June showed the births exceeding the
deaths considerably. In the month of
May there were twenty eight births,
seventeen males and eleven females,
and sixteen deaths, five males and
eleven females. In the month of June
there were twenty-one births, nine
males and twelve females, and seven
teen deaths, eleven males and six
females.
Spot-Lights On Autos.
Councilman Lack brought up the
matter of many autoists carrying
spot-lights, which they could throw
into the eyes of other people, es-
pecially other autoists, binding them
and making the situation very dang
erous.
Chief of Police Klugherz thought
only doctors ought to be allowed to
use spot lights,
Councilman Eichstaedt thought spot
lights or other bright lights were
necessary. He spoke of the failure of
the DINNER ordinance in Minneapolis.
At length it was decided to turn the
matter over to the chief of police, to
impose regulations that would elimi-
nate the nuisance of spot lights be-
ing used as they were.
Donald d. Preus, the bridge engi-
neer of Lincoln, Neb., who drew the
plans for the new bridge at Main
street called before the council SEES
sion adjourned. He is in the city to
look over the work on the new bridge.
Councilman Eichstaedt asked the
chief OF police if some /. w. WIS had
come to town. The chief answered
that he had been informed that there
were lot of tramps in town, and the
officers had secured up seven, who
did not seem to be particularly bad
fellows.
Extended Time Opening Bids.
This Woc tho roorp;no g. IL