The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-07-02
Health Service In
The Philippines

Sanitation IN the fniipPinos may
be divided into two epochs. fighting
and constructive. says J. H. Linson in
the Philippine Review. The fighting
epoch began with the landing Of the
first contingent Of American troops
at Manila; the Constructive some !,
time later. There h on sharp line Of /
demarcation between the two; In fact
the firts epoch Is not yet ended.
The first epocn Is characterized BY
the campaigns 1aged against cpl
denies Of infectious diseases and the
measures employed to meet emergen-
Giles a. they arose. The second epoch
II concerned with TIT more varied
problems Of public health and pre-
ventive medicine proper. The sani-
tary Commissions are the outgrowth
Of the Constructive epoch OF santa
ton. The first sanitary commission
went to work in July, 1915. in the
town Of Paslg. Risal.
The task set for the sanitary COM
missions II to search out and elimin-
ate the causes rather than to be con-
tent with fighting diseases already
existing, and to raise the standard Of
living fthe eople by pointing out
ways and means whereby they may
improve their economic. social and
physical state. The plan Of work Of
the commissions 10 essentially con-
structive rather than reparative in
nature. 60
Upon entering a town one Of the
first acts Of the commission is to op-
en- q free dispensary. This dispsp.
sary 10 q valuable asset in the work
of the commission. Its usefulness Il
not confined to treating the sick Blu,
1t serves as an invaluable source o.
information concerning the prevail
ence Of the disease and ~ . sort O
lyceum for instructing the people II
hygiene. sanitation and dietetics. Tn
dispensary work helps to secure tn
cooperation Of the people. who. al
though somewhat slow to avail them
selves Of the opportunity Of securinl
Sratutious medical and surgical -
lief. eventually grasp it, signifieanc
when they observe number Of thei
neighbors relieved Of the infirmitie
when they throng the dispensary 4
increasing crowds. BY the time tn
commission has finished Its survey
and announce its intention to depar
it is often overwhelmed with request
to remain and continue the disper
sary. Here the medical ofacer gets Q
first hand. . vast amount Of valuabl
information regarding the prevalence
and distribution Of disease. The II
formation thus secured IL CAREFUL
compared with the morbidity an
mortality statistics Of previous year
IA the same time the study Of loo,
conditions. drainage. water suppl!
waste disposal, personal habits, Dol
ular customs and economic develop
ment ID carried forward by the othe
members ofthe commission.
A very popular accessory Of ii
dispensary is the diet kitchen. Hell
the dietitian instructs the women. 9
pecially the mothers, in the prepar
ton Of balanced diets for themselv'
and families from the materials l,
cally available. In order to encou
age and aid the people to supplemel
their ordinary diet Of rice and iii
with vegetables, the Health Servi'
has planned q model garden Of We
etables carefully selected for the
value In furnishing the substanc
needed to balance the ordinary FIJI
pino diet. Because Of the general
poor nutrition Of the Filipino poop
and the scarcity Of food the wor
over, this feature Of the work is pa
ticularly important at the prese
time.
The mothers are taught how
care for themselves and infants du
lns nre1nancv and the puerDeriu