The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-14
PREVENTABLE DISEASES
Are Not Neglected By Public Health
Service of United States.

Complete refutation of the claim that
the government does not concern Itself
with the loss from preventable disease IS
contained in the annual report OF the
surgeon general of the public health serV-
ice submitted to Congress to-day Ac-
Invites ranging from the prevention and
cure OF blindness, scientific studies OF
pellagra. the protection OF the health OF
industrial workers, the prevention OF the
introduction of typhus fever, investiga-
tions of child labor and health insurance,
the eradication of communicable diseases
and the control of the pollution of navi-
gable streams. are recorded and demon
strate conclusiyely that the national gov
eminent is vitality concerned in the health
OF its citizens.
The most striking achievement OF the
wear relates to pellagra, an atilietion
which in certain states destroys more
lives than tuberculosis. Pellagra is no
longer a disease OF mystery, as the pub
lie health service has clearly shown that
it is caused by a restricted diet and that
it NAV be prevented and cured by means
of a properly balanced ration. The prae-
teal application of this knowledge has
already resulted in material reduction
in the prevalence OF this afliietion N all
parts OF the country and it is confidently
believed that in another year even more
marked improvement will be observed
In the eradication of trachoma, CON
tagious disease of the eyes frequently
terminating in blindness, such marked
success has been obtained that the meth
DDS followed, the converting OF private
residences into small hospitals and the
holding of free open-air clinics, have been
adopted by the Egyptian government
During the year 100 persons were OPP
Grated upon for the relief OF partial or
complete blindness, nearly 1000 received
hospital treatment, while more than 49,
900 were treated at hospital dispensaries
and clinics. When it is realized that
large proportion of these people were
doomed to years of suffering terminating
in at least partial blindness and that
they have been restored to lives of use
fulness. in some instances even being
taken from county poorhouses, where
they had been public charges Tor the
greater portion of their days, the i'm
portance of this most beneficent work
can be imagined. The total cost OF this
undertaking, including the remodeling OF
buildings and every expense in connec-
ton with the feeding and care of pa
tients, was less than 900 for the
year.
Increased interest was shown by the
government in the health of rural dwell
ers and Congress has recognized by max
ing an appropriation for studies in rural
sanitation, that the welfare of the coun-
try resident is not to be neglected. Dur
ing the past three years S0,2T0 homes IN
Is different counties of - states were
visited and complete sanitary surveys
made OF the premises. In every instance
definite recommendations were given to
remedy such evils as existed, as for ex-
ample the pollution of wells, the presence
Of disease bearing insects and the i'm
proper disposal OF excreta. In addition,
% .2S4 homes were revisited. mostly at
the request of the owners, in order that
the government agents could inspect the
improvements instituted. Wherever this
method of bringing the lessons of sani-
tation directly to the rural dweiler has
been followed marked reduction has
been observed in the prevalence OF ty-
phoid fever. hookworm, malaria and 9th
er preventable diseases.
Attention has also been given to the
health of the children of the nation, more
| especially to rural school children. Over
/ 32 600 children attending the public
schools were examined during the year