St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1919-01-25
BOARD HEALTH
CLOSES PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND
ADJUSTMENTS
Action taken At A Joint
Discussion of Board
and Physicians.
TO BE OPEN AS SOON
AS CONSIDERED SAFE
Flu Less Malignant Than
On The First Outbreak
In Covington.

Thursday afternoon Joint meet
ing Of the Board of Health and ply
sicians OF Covington was held in the
offices of DR.. Warren of the board,
when the matter of closing or open
ing the public school and places OF
amusement was taken up.
1t was generally admitted that the
influenza was of much mllder
nature that at first and that no
deaths had occurred in Covington, but
that children seemed to develop the
disease more frequently.
1t was decided that the schools be
closed, but that they should again be
opened as SOON as safe to do so. The
decision was practically unanimous.
With reference to the wisdom OF
closing schools, the following eX-
tracts from a letter to The Daily
States from DR.. Bowling, president
of the State Board of Health, ana
from an editorial in The States IN
reply will be interesting. 1t at least
shows that there is variance or
opinion, even among medical men.
as to what course should be pursued:
Extract From DowIing's Letter
81 have not advocated a second
closing order-there would be moth
ing gained the first was not obeyed.
NV constant advice has been, Take
care of the sick and let the we'll pro-
| tect themselves / still believe If
| all gatherings could be discontinued
and all persons who can would stay
at home, with proper precautions
| taken by those who must get out,
the infection would be less wide
spread and possibly controlled. AS
| things are now, and with the history
| of former epidemics, we are prob
ably "in" for frequent occurrences
| this winter and two succeeding win
| ters. Our people would not ride IN
| a car with a leper or with any one
| suffering from smallpox if they knew
lit. Yet, either of these is decidedly
| less dangerous than person having
| influenza.
1 THE State Board of Health is al
| ways appreciatiGe of the assistance OF
the men of the medical profession.
| 1t believes in them and their ideals
and purposes. 1t welcomes advice
from them individually or collec-
| lively"
Extract From Daily States Editorial.
'FDr. Bowling thinks that schools
! theatres, saloons and all places of
business should close their doors, but
he refrains from again advocating
this radical and unnecessary action
because the people will not agree to
it, But what right has DR.. Dowlins
to assume to say that this policy
! %
equally eminent health authorities
maintain from their own eXperienc"
that DR.. DoWling's policy, instead of
helping the campaign against lnIu-
enza, makes it more difficult?
New York, with a congested pop
ulation had lower infection aud
| death rate than New Orleans, anC
vet it kept its schools, theatres, sa-
looms and places of business open,
and to that fact more than to any
other it's health officials ascribe its
more fortunate experience with the
epidemic.
"Dr Dowling's policy would tend
to throw the whole community into a
state of panic, and a community IN
panic is always more susceptible to
the ravages of an epidemic from the
!
loss of its power Of resistance than
community which keeps itself oc-
cupied with business. seeks recrea-
tion and amusement, and steers clear
Of the blues.
THE Medical Society does not deny
that the situation has been serio is
Its members do not make light OF the
death toll. But with a wider knoWl-
edge of conditions than DR.. Dow .lns
thev take the views that the cres
has passed, and that nothing is TO DC
gained by eXaggerating the situation
"Dr. Bowling processes faith in the
ideals and purposes of the doctors
who constitute the Medical Society
II he is not merely courteous in say
, ing this we venture to. suggest thA'
t hereafter he take counsel with the
and work along the lines their col
, lective wisdom points out as mos
= likely 10 bring the best results.
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