The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-10-26
SIAM SEEKING FACTS
ABOUT HOW TO live
Brother Of King In America
to Learn Hygiene and SAM
tation Measures.


Gloucester, Mass, (by mail).-The
kingdom Of Siam, which through oc-
easional bouts with its neighbors IN
the southeast corner Of Asia, long has
maintained it's right to be known as
The Country of the Tai (the free)
now seeks a new independence-that
founded upon hygienic living. For ald
in freeing itself from the diseases OF
h tropics 1t turns to the new Woria.
This is the mission to the United
States Of Mahildo, prince Of Songkla,
brother Of Vajiravudh. king Of Siam or
the North and South, sovereign OF the
Laos and Malays, who has arrived In
this country and taken temporary resi-
dence at this old fishing port.
The prince has a vision of a new siam
when the public health will be the Sc
rious concern Of the government, the
care OF the body taught in the schools,
sanitary living made compulsory, pre-
ventable diseases prevented, n with
state control Of marriages to make m
possible the union of those not physi-
cally fit.
The prince has begun a course lead,
ing to q certificate in public health n
embracing studies at Harvard univer-
sity and the Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology. The certificate presup-
poses knowledge of anatomy. physiol-
ogy, pathology, biological chemistry,
sanitary biology, preventive medicine
and hygiene, demography, vital statis-
tics and sanitary engineering.
Just now the sixth son Of his late
Majesty C~hulalongkorn Is stopping
with his suite at a cottage at Bass
Rocks, where he talked with youthful
frankness-he Is "a years Of age-but
modestly, of his plans and ambitions. :
The prince Is quite democratic and said
this was in keeping with the spirit OF
Siam. which, while in theory an abso-
lutte autocracy, was in reality more
democratic than some constitutional
monarchtes. Siam has 40 written con-
stitution. The kings word is the law.
II am not likely to reach the throne,
but that does not worry me-" he said
by way Of introduction. my ambition
Is to lead a life Of usefulness. I could
live comfortably and IGNORED al his
majesty's brother. but ! think II Is very
silly that I should be honored simply
because I happen to be who ! am. II
! am to be honored I wish It to be be-
cause I have earned my honors."
During 10 years Of study in England
and Germany the prince pondered on
how he could best serve his country,
and finally decided that the people Of
Siam needed more than anything else
an enlightened application Of the laws
Of hygiene. America, where could be
experienced a wide range Of clims tic
conditions along with its higher insti-
tutions Of learning, afforded him OPP
portunities, he thought, the equal Of
which could be found In no other
country.
II am q lieutenant in the navy, nov
on reserve, but saving life is moro to
my taste than taking It. I believe in
an efficient army and navy, sufficient
only for defensive purposes and be-
yond that I prefer to see the public
would rather build hospitals than war
ships. I have chosen the study OF hy-
giene because l think 1t will give me
the widest opportunity to be useful"
Drainage has been a serious prob
lem in Siam because Of the level char
aoter of the lower districts, where near
the mouth Of the river Menam Chao
PLY stands the beautiful capital Of
Bangkok, with its population OF more
than 500, 900. In lower Siam the rivers
and intersecting canals have been the
chief sewers and flushed by the rise
and fall Of the tides.
The king, who as the crown prince,
visited the United States a few years
ago, before his coronation in 1910, has
worked out q great water supply and
drainage system. The Menan Chao
Phya has been tapped at various points
north Of Bangkok and the water car
ried through canals to pumping sta
lions, where It Is raised to two great
reservoirs from which It has q natural
the water is filtered, thus a%ffording a
pure supply. At the same time the
water supply has made possible an eff
fective sewerage system which Is be-
Ing gradually extended. The killing Of
cattle for food is done under strict SUI
pervision at government abbatoirs and
other safeguards against epidemics
However. In recent years." said the
prince, "the plague has been brought
into Siam by Chinese, while cholera,
beri beri. and other tropical and COM
municable diseases are altogether too
common. The infant mortality IL dis
tressingiy great. I hope to fit myself to
cope with these problems or at least to
lay the foundation for the work. Per-
haps In so years there will be a healthy
Siam"
Tne prince has advanced Ideas on the
subject Of social problems. He Is partic-
ularly interested In the relation OF the
use of alcohol to disease. In Siam the
manufacture and sale OF spirits Is a
state monopoly and h national drink.
86 per n alcohol He would further
restrict the use of intoxicants and in
this reform he would begin among the
noblemen.
'I came here" continued the prince,
both because I believe / can learn most
here and because we need American
sympathy and help. We now have a few
students In this country. but the fact In
hardly known to you. II we did not
lin and Paris. those governments would
b highly We wish Americana