New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-01-30
WORK FOR NEW ULM MAN.

NC" OAlll "lo always lllclc-lSu Ill CIlS
success of any Of her native sons and ir
what they are doing. One Of these
young men, DR.. Otto G. Wicherski, is
Health Officer OF San Diego County
California and since the establishment
of Military Camps his duties have beer
considerably extended. A recent paper
which he read at the California State
Health Officials Annual Conference has
been published by the California State
Board of Health and copy reached the
Review office. Inasmuch as every one
is interested in health matters as they
concern the so,die's camps, the article
will be of interest to Review readers fol
two reasons and it is reprinted here.
SANITATION ABOUT MILITARY
CAMPS.
The establishment of military camps
in the state of California and at various
points thruout the United States came
quite suddenly upon us, and meant
immediate intensive cooperative work
on the part of military, state, county
and city health officials. Never before
have government officials placed such
grave responsibilities on civilians as
during the past six months or more,
when camps and environments were
being constructed.
Measures to be enforced depend large
ly on the following conditions:
(o) Location of the camp, whether
isolated or close to center OF population.
(b) Stage of the camp, whether under
construction or completed.
(c) The natural and other conditions
surrounding the camp.
My paper will deal principally with
conditions that existed and problems
that arose by virtue of the location of
Camp Kearny, about eighteen miles from
San Diego. Anticipating that local
conditions will vary, I hope that those
problems that are Of special interest in
different localities will be brought out
in the general discussion by health officers
in whose jurisdiction other camps are
located.
Camp Kearny is located in territory
under jurisdiction respectively of the
health departments of the city of San
Diego and of San Diego County. There
fore the two departments had to perform
much cooperative and reciprocal work.
Immediately upon the decision that
a camp be established in certain
locality, the health officer, in whose
jurisdiction such camp and its con-
tiguous territory is located, must make a
detailed sanitary survey of the premises
surrounding the camp, and correct any
unsanitary conditions he may find.
Camp Kearny is located on gently
rolling mesa surrounded by small
number of ranches and diaries. A
sanitary survey was made and the eager
response of the ranchers to accept and
carry out suggestions and recommended
lions was most gratifying. 1t is not
necessary to 60 into details here; the
result of such survey meant a general
cleaning up of barnyards, repair of out
houses and making same fy-proof. 1t
was also recommended to spread manure
daily and not allow the same to accu-
mulate. The measures we're enforced to
reduce the breeding Of flies. Stagnant
pogs of water were oiled and wherever
possible drained to prevent the breeding
Of, mosquitoes.
Apprehending the fact that soldiers
from military camps would stroll into
the surrounding territory in groups of
two and more and frequently partake
Of the water from wells and cisterns
located on the ranches, archaeological ,
examination Of the water supplies should
be made and all polluted supplies be
placarded with the placards issued by
our State Board of Health. It was
indeed surprising to find how many water
supplies are contaminated or polluted.
Diaries were particularly instructed to
comply with the State Dairy Law, as
they frequently supply milk to con-
camps on or near the canton
ment site.
Construction Camps
When actual military camp con-
struction begins, small military camp
is usually erected in which two or more
companies are donaiciled. The general
plan Of such camp, such as it's location,
the placing Of official headquarters,
mems sleeping quarters, kitchens, la.
trines, corrals, sunps and incinerators,
and the sanitary rules and regulations
followed in such camp, will serve as
a good standard and working model for
civil or private construction camps
associated with the erection of the camp.
These camps include road camps, rail-
road construction camps, water, electric
light, gas and power construction camps
and builders. The life of some of these
camps is of short duration; others are
e l.