Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-12-21

followed a marked reduction has been
observed in the prevalence of typhoid
fever. hookworm, malaria and other
preventable diseases.
$4,000 School Children Examined.
Attention has also been given to the
health Of the children of the nation
more especially to rural school chill
dren. Over $4,000 children attending
the public schools were examined dur
ing the year in order to determine
their mental status and the cause and
percentage of mental retardation and
deficiency. In addition 1000 physical
examinations were completed for the
determination Of physical defects.
The health of industrial workers
has been safeguarded to greater ex-
tent than at any time in the past. Stud
les have been made Of the occupation.
al hazards of steel workers in many OF
the leading industrial establishments
Of the country and insanitary and
harmful conditions corrected. In the
zinc mines of Missouri methods have
been adopted which should go far to-
ward eradicating tuberculosis from
that district. Investigations of child
labor and Of health insurance have
also been made.
What Is regarded as the largest
and most important single undertake
ing of this nature yet inaugurated,
the investigation of the pollution Of
the Ohio river, is still in progress.
Surveys of the Atlantic Coast and New
England watersheds have, however,
been completed and the extent and
effects of their pollution is now
known; this knowledge demonstrates
that Federal legislation to prevent
the contamination of water sources is
a necessity.
Better provision for the health Of
travellers has been obtained by safe
guarding the water supplies of com
mon carriers and through the promul-
cation of regulations governing the
transportation of persons suffering
from communicable diseases.
Fighting Contagious Diease at Border
Energetic efforts have been made to
prevent the introduction of all COM
municable diseases and to control
those already with us. Typhus fever
has been combated at all points on
the Mexican border and disinfection
plants established where the clothing
and persons of all incoming aliens
have been disinfected. At one station
alone, FL Paso, Texas, $4,000 persons
were inspected and treated in such a
manner as to insure their freedom
from this highly fatal infection.
Plague eradicative measures at New
Orleans have been continued. Over
81, 900 rodents, the carriers Of plague
infection, were either trapped or kill
ed and more than 100000 were care
fully examined. No human case of the
disease has occurred during the year.
Measures for the control of typhoid
fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
malaria and other infections have been
continued as heretofore and the re-
suits obtained have been most graft
flying.
In only a single field, the medical
inspection of immigrants, has the
work of the Public Health Service
shown any diminution during the
year but this has been compensated
for by the more thorough examination
accorded. 4S1,270 aliens were examin-
ed for the purpose of determining
physical and mental defects. OF these,
1927 were certified for deportation,
proportionately a greater number than
has ever been recorded. The percent
age of mental detectives certified is
also steadily increasing.
At the Marine hospitals and relief
stations of the service approximately
$4,000 beneficiaries received medical
or surgical treatment, a number great
a., Nv 1 n mn than for auu x,axyfc.,c,