The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-18
Business Men VIII Help Ere
vent Future Epidemics.
Industrial Nursing Is To BE In
stituted in Topeka.
PLANS ARE BEING WORKED OUT
Much Trouble Expected From
Flu for Some Time.
Each Business House To Have
Health Department.

When the plans now under way, d.
rected by Commissioner w. l.. Porter
for the institution of a health CAM
paign along metropolitan lines, to be
known as Industrial nursing. fully ma
terialize, Topeka will step up into the
ranks of the large cities of the United
States as another progressive city to
come to a realization of the impor-
lance of big business taking an active
interest in the health of its employees
and in the health of the community in
general.
So far as the plans have. been de-
v.sed, according to Commissioner Por-
ter, they embrace the installation In
all stores business offices. manufac-
turing plants and all business houses
where any -considerabl number OF en-
ployes are engaged in work, OF
health department within their own
organization. This organization will
work under the supervision of the in
dustrial nursing organization. which
will be composed of the members of
the public health association and
whatever new members are necessary
to comr1ete an efficient organization,
and the whole system thus devised
will be under the supervision, of the
public health department, OF which
Commissioner w. l.. Porter is now in
charge, with the assistance of Dr. H.
+. l.. Loveland. assistant health off,
GER
All To Give Aid.
According to Commissioner Porter
the proposition has been placed be-
fore the business men of the city and
b has been accepted by them with con-
siderable enthusiasm. Owing to the
two closing orders due to the epi-
denies of influenza which have swept
the city tying up industry and re-
sulting in an exceedingly high death
rate they have come to a realization
that the health of the community is a
matter of the gravest Importance and
they now stand ready to do alt in their
power to aid the public health departs
ment in fighting disease.
From a purely financial aspect the
movement will prove a valuable asset
to business, if in the future situations
like the one under which the city is
now struggling along. can be avoided.
While in each epidemic the value OF
the closing orders in cutting down
shown, according to the business men,
the restrictions have carried with
them a resultant loss in business and
revenue, and in the cases Of some
businesses has left them in the po-
sition of being compelled TO carry their
overhead expenses without any reve-
nue. coming in. However. during the
entire time that the business of the
town has been restricted the mer-
chants have expressed willingness
ard desire to be of assistance tozthe
city in combating the disease. Still
they have not been entirely satisfied
with some of the methods adopted and
regard the new measure as very
valuable means of preventing re-
currence of present conditions in
the future.
Much Trouble With Flu.
In the opinion of the authorities the
influenza will remain an ever present
danger for some time to come, per-
haps year. Occasional outbreaks
may be expected for many months. II
is not so much with a view to stopping
the disease right away as it is to estab.
lish ways and means of preventing
future outbreaks, whether of influ'
enza or some other disease with the
possibilities of developing into an cpl
denlic.
For these reasons each business
house will build up within its owl
organization a health department
Some one will be placed in charge
of the department to which reports
will come from every member of thu
institution. 1t is expected that ever!
clerk and every executive will TAXI
upon himself the responsibility of 10
eating indispositions. diseases or all
ments, either in persons in his owl
department or in other departments
1t is also expected that people who fee
sick or in whom something out of thu
ordinary has arisen will report thes'
conditions to the person chosen t.
take charge of the health department
Each one of these business health de
partments will be visited at regula
intervals by members of the indus
trial nursing staff or other repre-
sentatives of the public health depart
ment and will direct them as to wha
should be done, if the need has arisel
for any action. and will in turn repor
them to the raain office of the publ,
health department.
The details Of the system which 4
now being built up, have not been en-
tirely worked out. According to Dr.
f. L. Loveland, the organization can
not be built UP at once. but can b
gotten under way now so that it ma,
grow in strength and efficiency a
time goes on. The plans are simila
to those which have been adopted Il
many large cities. so it is not entirel
a new proposition, altho it is a ne,
thing for Topeka.
Today representatives of the publ
health department were meeting an
planning with the executives of vari
Gus businesses for the installation @
the industrial nursipg system and 1t 1
expected, says w. L. Porter. that tn
plans will be operating within a fe,
days.