The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-02-23
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Meeting MOST.
.ENLIGHTENING.
Goodly Crowd Is Present At
Court House Monday
Evening
THREE PHYSICIANS
OF COUNTY SPEAK
Discuss Infantile Paralysis
-Serums Medicine Of
The Future

Despite the inclement weather, a
goodly number of people attended the
public health meeting at the Knox
county court house Monday evening
which was arranged by Drs. Workman,
Blake and Larimore, the Knox County
Medical societies and the Mt. Vernon
chamber of commerce.
DIR. Blake opened the session by an
outline of the purposes of the meeting
which were to help the people of Mt.
Vernon to become more fully acquaint-
ed with the prevention of infectious
diseases and to show them, by the use
of lantern slides. how these diseases
are contracted
In his rather brief address DIR. Blake
praised the chamber of commerce for
the work it had done in connection
with the meeting. The chamber of
commerce, DIR. Blake stated, secured
the privilege of using the Knox county
temple of justice for the purpose of
making the people Of Mt. Vernon ac-
quainted with the diseases that come
in epidemics, particularly infantile par
alysis in Knox county.
AS stated by DR. Workman, a far
worse epidemic of infantile paralysis
swept Knox county in 1915 than in
the year OF 1916 The victims of the
disease were greater in number than
those in New York City in 1916 in pro
portion to the difference in popula-
tiOn.
In 1915, in Knox county, there were
1S cases of infantile paralysis report
ed and more that were not reported to
the health officer. However, no NOR
talities were reported in 1915.
In 1916, four cases we're reported
in this section of Knox county and
two resulted in the death of the vic
tins.
The disease. DIR. Workman stated
travels over the country in waves.
Later, DIR. Larimore stated that the
epidemics were not allayed through
the efforts of the physicians. but the
germs lost their infectious qualities
and quite naturally died out.
The disease is found mainly on the
mostly-traveled highways. taking its
toll here and there among the smaller
children. The theory that the disease
Us contracted through flies was explod-
ed as experiments have shown that
il is carried in the noses and throats
OF those who have come in contact
with those who have it. One to carry
the disease, need not necessarily take
the disease. but may carry it to young
er children.
One surprising fact that was given
out by DR.. Workman was that the dis
ease spreads more rapidly in the rural
districts than in the cities. The cause
Of this is not known as yet.
DIR. Workman concluded his address
with the statement that the American
people should. give more thought to
diseases and their prevention
Or. Larimore then took the floor
and. assisted by Prof. Welsh Of the
Mt Vernon hospital. illustrated his
address with lantern slides prepared
BY himself. These were very interest
ing and instructive
/ In his address. DIR. Larimore made
n emphatic that in the next 30 years
more attention would be given to pub
Nc health lectures and the public
would come more and more TO realize
the fact that these meetings help
more than any thing else to awake
the American people
During the last 100 years. the life
q the average American has beer
Heightened about 20 years. according
to a statement by Dr. Larimore
Twelve of these 20 years have beer
added in the last 80 years. shOwinl
the awakening OF the American people
to unsanitary conditions and the value
OF small personal privatiOns in pre-
venting the spread OF diseases Ont
OF these little personal privations i
; not coughing in other peoples faces
OF course il is rude 10 cough IN tn
faces OF other people. said DR.. Lari
more. but those who thought nothing
OF such a prOceeding are coming 4
realize the danger Of il and have ssoE