The diamond drill., 1917-11-03

crystal Falls, Michigan.

OF the City OF Crystal Falls. Mich
Gentlemen:
After attendance at the forty-fifth
annual meeting OF the American Pub
lie Health Association. held in Wash
/ ington. ID. c. October 18th to 20th. in
elusive. the following brief summary
will show what the public health men
OF the country are doing TO help win
the war
This meeting was called a war pro-
gram for public health.
The present world war has caused
the people 10 appreciate more than
ever the value OF public health work
and 1t has also made necessary the
carrying out OF more stringent health
measures.
The public health men gathered In
Washington from all over North
America ready 10 respond 10 any de-
mands that may be made upon them.
Among the big health problems that
have become intensified by war con
ditions, were mentioned Industrial,
hygiene, infant mortality, tuberculo-
sis, rural health administration and
public health education.
Some OF the problems OF so-called
social diseases were dealt with quite
comprehensiyely as among the most
important problems arising from the
war, but as these questions are OF such
vast proportions a joint meeting with
American Social Hygiene Association
and the sociological section OF the
American Public Health Association
was held for it's special consideration.
The shortage IN man-power on in-
dustrial work required by the war IL
directing attention to the importance
OF conserving all the forces we now
possess and people are thinking more
and more of another big health prob
lem involved In saving the babies. For
this purpose the best agency that has
yet been developed is the public
health nurse, who goes into the homes
and establishes direct personal rela-
tion between the government and the
citizens. Aside from her service In
promoting health, the public health
nurse is thus an agency for the pro-
motion of Democracy for which we
are fighting in this war
From a practical point OF view II is
necessary to save the babies, because
in the future we shall need them in
industry. In this respect America
must follow the lead OF the other
great warning countries in its atten-
ton 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
pre-schOol period and during their
school life till they reach maturity
and are able to care for themselves.
We have also TO view tuberculosis
az war problem, because its preva-
lence has been increased by the war,
especially in France. Sanitarians who
discussed this problem at the confer
ence, were strongly in the opinion
that much more attention must be
given TO tuberculosis in children than
heretofore. since II Is now generally
believed that infection usually takes
place during childhood. In the solu-
tion OF this matter also the public
health nurse has come to be an es-
sential factor.
II was brought out at these meet
ings that the war has focused atten-
tion upon the sanitation OF industries
and the so-called occupational or in
dustrlal diseases. The war demands
for efficiency make It necessary to Sc
cure as high degree OF efficiency in
the human machine as may be possi-
hle and this can be done only by care
full attention to the diseases arising
from a mans relation 10 his work.
In this connection there are to b.
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 I'm the human machine,
instead OF arbitrarily as heretofore.
It Is found by SO doing that produc-
ton Il actually increased at times BY
reducing the hours Of labor.
Attention was also directed to GER
tain common diseases not ordinarily
i