The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-25
Lever Takes Step
For Rural Health
Introduces Bill Providing Fed
eral Aid for Health Exten-
sion Plan as in Ag-
agriculture.

Washington, Dec. 21.-As the result
of careful study Of rural health con-
Iditions, Representative Lever has come
to the conclusion that rural health
work should be conducted on the
same basis as the Lever extension
plan of promoting agricultural de-
yelopment He has therefore intdo-
duced a bill embodying the principle
of federal aid. and advocates the
prompt passage Of this as vital
measure of national reconstruction.
Representative Lever calls atten-
ton to a bulletin just published by
the United States public health ser
vice embodying the results of q sani-
tary survey recently made. This, he
said, gives a striking picture not only
of the insanitary conditions prevail
ing in the rural districts, but also
shows what can be accomplished by
| intelligent and well directed effort.
In this survey over 5000 farm
houses were visited in IS different
counties Of these less than per
cent. were equipped for the sanitary
disposal of human eXcreta. Over two
thirds (6S per cent?, used water sup
ply which was obviously exposed to
potentially dangerous contamination
from privy contents or from pronls-
cuous deposits of human eXcreta- In
the majority Of these the water was
also exposed to pollution from stable
yards and pig-styes. Only one-third
CT the dwellings were effectively
screened during the summer season,
TO prevent fies-having free access
to nearby deposits Of human and 9TH
er filth-from entering dining rooms
and kitchens and communicating the
foods for human consumption expos
ed therein.
Mr.. Lever also cited the lesson
taught by the medical examination Of
! the men drafted for military service
These examinations showed clearly
that the percentage Of reflections was
considerably higher among men from
rural districts than among those from
our cities and towns. Considering the
/! inherent healthfulnesS OF rural life,
Mr.. Lever believes that tnis admits Of
I only one Interpretation, namely, that
our rural communities continue to
maintain insanitary conditions which
lead to physical impairment. That
these conditions can readily be cor
rected admits of no doubt.
Taking the prevalence Of typhoid
fever as the most reliable single meas
ure of effectiveness of proper health
measures, the bulletin referred to
shows that wherever a sanitary sur
very and health demonstration was
carried on the number of cases OF ty-
phoid fever promptly fell to one GUAR
ter or even less Of what they had been
during previous years. That this was
the logical outcome of we'll planned
health activities is clearly shown by
the fact that practically the same re-
suit was obtained in all the demon
strations. although these demonstra-
! tons were conducted in widely scat
! tered St"tes--Maryland, Virginia.
North Carolina, South Carolina. Ken
tucky. Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Iowa. Missouri. Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Texas and Washington.
According to Representative Lever,
it has become more and moie clear
that health conditions throughout the
country are largely dependent on
health conditions in the rural districts
Health officers throughout the United
States have time and again shown
that the prevalence of typhoid fever,
scarlet fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis
and other communicable diseases can
not be successfully controlled without
dealing effectively with insanitary
conditions in the rural districts. to
which, in many instances, these dis
eases are directly traceable. Under
these circumstances it is reasonable
and proper that any plan for improve
inc rural sanitary conditions enlist
the cooperation of federal, State and
local health authorities.
/ 1t is conservatively estimated that
there have been as an annual average
in the last decade in the United
States, 100000 cases Of hookworn1,
$50 600 cases (and 30,000) deaths
from typhoid fever, 100000 cases
(and 5000 deaths) from malaria
These diseases result largely from in
sanitary conditions in our rural dis
tricts. They are prevcntable diseases
The economic loss to the nation each
has been estimated at $500, 900.
The prevention of typhoid fever, hook
worm disease and malaria has a pro-
found influence in the prevention OF
many other diseases, including tuber-
cu,osis. Experience has shown that
bv carving out sanitary measures
which effect a reduction in typhoid
fever, there is a prevention OF about
three deaths from other causes for
each death from typhoid fever pre-
vented.
The bill as introduced provides an
appropriation OF $250.O0o for the first
fiscal year. to be allotted on the hail
and half plan to the several States,
and an appropriation Of an addition
al s25O,000 each fiscal year thereafter
until a continual anrnal appropriation