The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-08-04

Be clean if you would be healthy.
This is one of the commandments
cf the Gospel of the modern SANTA
rian. 1t is the basic foundation on
which rest all the laws and rules I'M
der which the up-to-date physician
makes his fight for the physical wal
fare of his patients. 1t is the most
often repeated and the most empha-
sized of the orders that he issues to
his clients, for he knows that recov-
cry from disease and from wounds
and the preservation Of normal health
conditions are next to impossible in
the presence of unclenliness.
In the fight against infantile par
aiysis, which is occupying the most
strenuous attention of the medical
profession in the United States, this
law has assumed a new and added
significance. Admittedly the disease
is still very much Of a mystery, in
its origin, its progress and methods
of development and as to the most
effective treatment, but from their
observation, the medical men of the
country agree that its virulcnce is
greater in the midst of unhygienic
surroundings than under those whore
care is taken to create and preserve
the proper conditions of clean living.
In this respect the disease follows
exactly in line Of all Affections that
are known, to be of germ origin, in
deed, of all physical arrangements to
which humans are the legitimate
heirs.
There is no better preventative
against disease than proper hygiene
none more essential, and the temper
aturcs Of summer, whether in the
North or the South, call for extraor-
dinariy precautions in this direction.
The reason is that putrefaction and
decay are more rapid, as is all chemi-
cal reaction, under heat than under
the lower temperatures of the cooler
season. The breeding of flies and
mosquitoes, the carriers of disease
producing germs, is favored by sum-
mcr heat, whether it be in Florida or
in Maine.
1t is only natural that under the
stress of emergency particular atten-
ton should be given to cleaning up
the premises, to the prompt end reg
ular removal Of garbage and refuse,
but here's something to remember.
The influence of unclean physical sur
rOundings, like that Of moral unclean-
ness, IS not Immediately cut off bv
sudden reformation. 1t remains for
a time to produce evil results in
spite of improved surroundings. Our
| bodies, like our souls, must be rid of
the poison Of evil before they can alb
sorb the full value of healthful sur
roundings.
1t follows that we should ALWAYS
be in state of preparedness against
disease OF whatever nature, mainly
by. the preservation of normal hvgi-
enicc conditions, by habit OF roryi
eating, bathing and clothing adaptcd
to the personal occupation, by plen-
ty Of sleep and by Indulgence in no
form of excess. Persons who az.
quire and follow habit of regular nor.
NAL living, unprecedented by even oc.
caSlonal riots of excess. are host
armed against disease, even though
they be surrounded by unhvgieHia
conditions, but even such are subject
to the poison of dirt, and no one i
reasonably safe unless he is armed bv
personal cleanliness and by uncon.
tamin?ted surroundings.
In the conditions that have a possi-
bic menace for Florida durinT 49,
present summer, the matter of mon
er personal hygiene and hygienic cir-
cumstances is one of the utmost ir ~,
Pottance' and by preserving such con-
dltlonS the people of Florida can
most effectively aid the health am am
tnoritles in their fight against irva.
SION by infentile paralysisLStasffo
Board of Health Bulletin. ''a'"