The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-11-01
Frankness Through News
papers Advocated by
American Association
RECALLS FORMER
LOCAL CONDITIONS
Publicity of Great Benefit During Re-
cent Poliomyelitis Epidemic in New
York - Concealment of Facts Re
suits in Harm.

suits in Harm. a..
When Brattlcboro had n smallpox
scare few years ago some harsh
things were said against certain news
papermen in town because they de-
clined to be muzzled in regard to max
ing public the breaking ont of new
eases and because they declined to
agree to print only what appeared ON
the health officer $ bulletin board. They
believed that it was not for the town 5
best interests to conceal the facts, not
wlthstanding that some Tef the mer-
chants feared that publicity as to the
progress Of the disease would hurt bust
ness.
In the session Of the American Pub
he Health association Just held i'm Gin
clnnati absolute frankness with the
PublIc on all phases Of local health
work, through the newspapers, was
urged by DIR. John F. Anderson, presi-
dent of the association.
The old attitude of concealment is
rapidly giving way before new ap-
probation by health departments of
the value Of frankness in the handling
Of epidemics, said DIR. Anderson.
1.-The progress of the new idea. how
ever, must be greatly accelerated if
we are to avoid the many evil effects
OF the policy of conceament.
80 The recent epidemic of poliomveli-
tis in New York city is a most impress
IVc example of the value of frank
ness. Health COMMISSIONER Emerson is
to be congratulated on his handling of
the situation. The daily statements of
the progress Of the epidemic given So
frankly and freely to the people of the
city. had three very notable results.
First, it resulted in hundreds of
cases being reported that would not
otherwise be brought to the attention
of the department.
Second, it caused parents to exer-
else unusual care of their children
which in turn resulted in their bring
ing to the attention of physicians even
slight symptoms of illness which fire.
qucntl% resulted in early diagnosis Of
paralysis and consequently successful
treatment where delay might have re-
suited otherwise.
Third, the health department so
established itself in the confidence of
the people that any, announcement it
"i'Ht III IeSdFu 10 the epidemic was
accepted as authoritative. Thus, it was
that when the department announced
that the situation was growing better.
people of the city believed it and acted
upon its advice to open the schools.
Children were brought back to town
and permitted TO attend school.
These very striking examples of
taking the public into the confidence
of health department may well be
adopted as guiding example by health
departments who still cling to the no.
ton that concealment of epidemics
benefits the community.
"Epidemics are, in one respect, like
compressed air in tank. You can keen
1t IN the tank up to a certain pressure
| point then the tank will burst. The
| greater the pressure the louder will be
the noise and the greater the DAMAGE.
Damage resulting from sudden expio-
sion Of an epidemic has been the ex-
/ pcrience of every city that has tried
to conceal epidemic facts.'1