Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-01-15
HEAL TIL BOARD
WANTS new LAW
Will Ask Legislation Making iniluen-
IA Quarantinable Disease,
BOARD ALSO MOVES TO
CURB VENEREAL DISEASES
Legislation to Provide Additional
Measures. for Prevention of
tuberculosis Also to be
Asked, Including Tuber-
culin Test for Cattle
and Hogs-Sug-
gested School
Reforms

Des Moines, 81 legislation making
Spanish Influenza quarantinable
disease in Iowa probably will be
sought by the state board of health.
This will be considered at the Jan
meeting to be held in the Office at
the state house Monday.
TIE board will also consider legis-
lation for the control of venereal
diseases in Iowa, based largely on
the experiences in the past eighteen
months since the government insti-
tutcd its activities along this line.
During the height of the epidemic
of influenza in Iowa it was the at
titude of the state board that while
the ''fiu'' could be fought thru regu-
lations the state law did not in fact
authorize health boards to quaran-
! tine for this disease Because of its
| infectious nature there is consider
able of a demand that it be placed
in the list Of quarantinable diseases.
Another effort will be made this
coming session to provide for addit-
ional preventive measures against
tuberculosis. AS has been pointed
out since the draft first started the
examinations by physicians revealed
surprising number of men affected
with tuberculosis. There were many
men excused by draft boards or dis
charged 10y the military authorities
latter rsarhing camp because OF being
infected with tuberculosis.
1t is probable another attempt will
be made in the coming session to Sc
cure the passage of bill necessitat-
ing the tuberculin test for cattle and
hogs. Such a measure has failed of
passage in previous sessions. Two
years ago hard fight was made for
a tubsrculin test law but it could not
weather. the prejudice which exists
! Iagainst the condemnation of cattle
and hogs and possible monetary loss
! because of tuberculosis as revealed
! thru test.
The bill of two years ago required
the payment of a 2 cent tax per year
on each head of cattle and hogs. This
irroyision was strongly objected to OF
the part of livestock owners declaring
that the livestock man was paying ali
of the expense of protecting the gen
eral public from animal diseases.
This session those interested in such
a measure will probably include in its
provision a., state tax Of small
amount as we'll as provision that
stock owners pay so much per head
for this work. ~
| DIR. A. E. Kepford, head$of the tu-
! terculosis work under the. state
board board of control and afso state
director for the Red Gross in Iowa.
anxious for some legislation which
will prevent the sale of milk from
an animal affected with tuberculosis,
School Legislation Proposed.
Legislation which will tend to inn
prove Iowa's schools, safeguard theN
health of the students and in many
ways make for higher standard of
education in the state is urged by Al
bert NJ. Deyoe, state superintendent
of public instruction.
Just how many of Mr.. Deyoe's
plans will receive consideration from
the thirty-eighth general assembly
which convened at the capitol
Jan. Is is not known. However, it is
highly probable that the subject will
form one for serious consideration
for the assemblymen.
Among other thinge Mr. Deyoe
urges the appointment of state
school building architect and sani-
tary engineer. Regarding this phase
of the work he says:
Favors Health Inspection.
Health INSPECTION of all children
attending schools, Mr.. Deyoe says, is
of the highest Importance and should
he made mandatory. Many physical
defects, he says have their origin in
childhood and with, the proper in
speetion such danger could be redac-
ed to a minimum. Tn larse cities the
attendance OF school nurses fhas
romedied this condpieaf 'to IA great
extent. but in the rural districts child
hoalth should be "a asduestion OF the
greltest Importance. In his regard
Mr.. Deyoe points to the statement OF
Or. Thomas d. Wood OF Columbia
Univeraity that "of the 22,o00,UOO
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