Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-03

the best agency that has yet been de-
veloped is the public health nurse who |
goes into the homes and establishes n |
direct personal relationship between |
the government and the citizens Aside |
from her service in promoting health. |
the public health nurse is thus an
agency for the promotion OF democ-
racy for which we are fighting in this |
war.
Practical and Humane. .
From a practical point of view 1t
is necessary TO save the babies be-
cause in the future we shall need
them In industry. In This respect
America must follow the lead of the
other great warning counties in its
attention to child hygiene and welfare,
Nor must its interest stop with the
babies. The children must be cared
for from health point of view, not
only In infancy, but also during the
school life till they reach maturity
and are able to care for themselves.
Tuberculosis must also be viewed
as a war problem, for its prevalence
has been increased by the war. espe
cially in France. Sanitarians who dis
cussed the matter at the conference
were strongly of the opinion that
much more attention must be given
to tuberculosis in children than here
tofore, since 1t is now generally be-
lieved that Infection usually takes
place during childhood. In the solu-
ton Of this problem also. the public
health nurse has come to be an es-
sential factor.
Fatigue Causes Trouble.
1T was brought out at the confer
ence that the war has focused atten-
ton upon the sanitation of industries
and the so-called occupational or in
dustrial diseases. The war demands
for efficiency make il necessary to
secure as high degree of efficiency
in the human machine as may be pos
sjble and this can be done only by
careful attention to the diseases aris-
ing from mans relation to his work.
In this connection there are to be
considered the factors Of Industrial
| poisons dust and fumes, the spread
of communicable diseases at the work
place and last, but not least, fatigue.
In fact, fatigue is coming in for much
attention and hours of labor are now
being fixed upon the basis of the ia
| tigue factor in the human machine
instead of arbitrarily, as heretofore.
II is found by so Going that production
Is actually increased at times by re
|
"Attention was also. directed to GER
tam common diseases not ordinarily
regarded as serious, but which may
have very serious consequences TO an
army in training or In the field. Some
of these diseases, such as measles
mumps and pneumonia, have been
given scan. attention by health Off
Gals, hut now that health officials
.must conserve the health and effl-
/ ,t. 90 h. oil
as the civil population the necessities
of the hour demand greater attention
to these diseases, and thus add to the
responsibility of the health officer. In
his presidential address the president
of the association approved the court
martialing OF a medical officer who
permitted an epidemic Of measles to
develop In his command. 1t must be
| remem bere1, however, that the mill
tary medical officer has his men un-
der military discipline and his men
obey orders. while the civil health Of
ficer must rely upon cooperation to
secure results
Cooperation Plan.
zone of the Things insisted upon at
the conference was that public health
administration in the rural communi-
ties and smaller towns must be i'm
| proved. Under present conditions the
| population of many communities is
too small to support full-time
trained health officer. The practical
suggestion made to meet ms stuaton
was that several communities unite to
employ n health officer on cooper
ative basis This plan has been fol-
lowed with success, both at Wellesley.
Mass, and at LaSalle, Ill.
Publicity Encouraged.
still another point emphasized at
the conference was the Importance of
public health education. Not only is
such education necessary with refer
ence to the communicable diseases
and the prevention of sickness and
death among babies, but health Inen
are appreciating more and more the
importance of education in personal
hygiene. 1t was particularly en-
phasized at the conference that citi-
zens have a right to know what their
health departments are doing, and
that IL they really know Of the ex-
cellent work being done there will be
no question concerning the support
given to public health work. In short
the education of the public in matter
pertaining to health and hygiene is
regarded as fundamental in public
health work.
ut was indeed a privilege to- at
tend such a convention, particularly
at this critical time. Every man there