Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-07-14
see1lEss STATE.


The New Orleans Picayune of January
10Th, 1912, contained the following men,
ton Of DR.. Oscar Bowling and his Cam |
paign for Cleanliness. WHAT was worthy
of publication in 1912 is deserving of re-
production in 1916. Read it:
'The Cleanser, Being a Workday Re- |
cord OF DR.. Oscar Bowling, which enables
Louisiana to advertise itself as Spotless
Commonwealth, by Richard Washburn
Child, in an interesting article which ex-
tends considerable over two pages, with
interesting photographs, in the issue of
Golfers of September %. This article Is
one glowing tribute to the president of
the State Board of Health and his corps
of efficient assistants. "Dowling became
known very quickly. His methods were
not sensational first and effective after
ward, but they are effective enough to be
sensational. They have drawn attention
not only of Louisiana, but of the author
tiles of other States as we'll" is the gene
ing a State by the vigorous writer.
"Dowling was the sort of man," the
article continues, who, being unable to
reach certain small places by health train
OF by automobile trips, would find a
hand car or track inspectors tricycle.,
and would go pumping his way up
some side track to isolated communities
just to be sure that the field was being
covered He was the sort of man who
WAS professional enough to tell the
people everywhere that they must insist
on better doctors. Newspapers began
to find news interest in the campaign
and in the smiling determined personality
behind 1.-THE man with his sleeves
rolled up"
The more we people OF this town
think about DIR. ,Dowling's report on this
town the madden We GET said one local
paper. when we can't stand it any
longer we will have to take it ont in
cleaning mp Said another, with some
spleen: We would like to ask Bowling,
who says that dog sleeping on a cows
feed will contamnate the milk, whether
the same feed, eaten by chicken, would
. contaminate the eggs of hen? And if a
dogs hair is contaminated, isn't it dan
=, gerous custom for dairymen to permit COW
TO lick their calves, unless fumigated by
:. some health officer? A third daily, sug.
b gested that Bowling would make every
:, commercial traveller in the State, an in
~ formal sanitary inspector That was q
. good suggestionn commented the doctor
As One of the many other papers which be
gan to talk of Louisiana having its face
Washed said: There is great excitemen
in the State. Some town has boastet
that Bowling found it all right. The!
probably misunderstood him.
81. "At first many of the communities O
individuals, Inundated by the inspector
report, were inclined to he pugnacious
and local authorities caught delinquen
in their trust of guarding the publl
health wished to sneer at the work of tn
health train and its crew. But Dowlin
and the health train and the sanitary cod
and the facts-were a combination
hard to discredit or defy; the inspecte'
towns fell into line Some not ,onl
cleaned themselves. also appointed loca
boards OF health to keep in the future al
eye on diaries, slaughter-housee, schoo
sanitation, sewer system and the clean
illness of public places; several appropri
ated money for new public buildings t
replace those pronounced unsafe or in
- sanitary.
"The vigor OF this campaign was dl
rected against public danger. 1t did nc
an take the average citizen, rich or poor
&c. cultured or ignorant, long to'fnd it oui
of At Amite City the housewives formed
he union to boycott unclean merchants an
ne impure food. That was only an exampl
OF the way the people went over to Dow
he ing's side; when they once started ther
nit came q Statewide avalanche OF publ
tor sentiment.
lev "With this new public sentiment til
ell approach Of Bowling and his 'microh
he cars was viewed differently. Towns bt
in gan to get ready for the Inspector
The There were great bustlings; the swish {
The the broom and the swash Of the mop wei
heard on all sides. The train was CON
|. ing! In several towns the rubbish We
collected in mule carts, and places whic
had never known dump boasted of the
first mountains of trash out yonder
las the woods The train will be here Il
SITS morrow! Will he say our town is clear
ie- "Such was the new spirit. And it W,
1T, none the less serious because it too
a amusing forms. One hotel-keeper, wit
nd hazy ideas of what the health campaiR
ne, included or excluded, posted his room
pre- the day before the train arrived with Il
following notice printed at local shoI
is No cussing allowed. You must be cleal
OF You must not lay in bed with your cloth
The on or spit on the walls
nd "After all, however, the winning
r III the preaent fivht (epends unon education