The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-07-31
WARNING AS TO INFLUENZA.
Health Officer Urges Citizens to Take
Precautions.

scattered over the State. A few cases
have been reported to the State health
department during practically every
month since last October when it was
raging over the whole State. In June
10 cases of influenza were reported
by physicians. 1t is probable that
there were many cases not reported
Dr. Hayne said yesterday.
THE history of other epidemics of
influenza is that it continues for two
or three years with a gradually les
sening virulence each year. I do not
fear an extensive epidemic this fall.
but there will likely be sporadic out
breaks over the State. In order to
keep the disease from spreading, per-
sons who contract it should avoid
places where they may come in con-
tact with others, and persons who
have not contracted it should keep
strictly away from those affected. Per-
sons i'll with the influenza should re-
member that it is an insidious dis
ease, and when they become i'll with
it they should go to bed and remain
there five days after the fever has
left them. With all the people of the
State carefully conserving their
health. and taking no needless risks,
I hope the disease can be held in
check this winter"
Would Lower Death Rate.
The health department is greatly
interested in the work of the bureau
of child hygiene which was establish
ed at the last meeting of the general
assembly and which is meeting with
much encouragement from counties
over the State. DR.. Hayne said yes:
terday that fine support was being
given the bureau and that many
counties had appropriated money to
assist in the work. Among these are
Dillon, Greenville, Chester and Edge
field. Others have made requests for
information as to what procedure to
follow to get the work started in their
communities.
To cut down the death rate among
children under one year of age
in South Carolina, mothers must be
given instruction in paternal care and
must become familiar with methods
of taking care of children after birth.
DR.. Hayne said. "Clean milk is of
course necessary for healthy babies,
and mothers must be instructed how
to care for their chilrren until they
are nine months old. Midwives must
be educated and registered and births
must also be registered. BY register
ing the births, the county health au-
thorities are at once notified of the
arrival of an infant and the visiting
nurse can give assistance to the moth
er in it's care"
Considerable blindness among chill
dren exists in the State. This can
be prevented and the bureau of child
hygiene will endeavor to reduce the
number of blind children by giving
the expectant mother information in
regard to care of new born children.
Statistics, showing the death rate
by cities of children under one year
of age have recently been received
by the State health officer. Pasadena,
California, has the lowest rate for
cities of it's size, it's rate being 27.9
per 1000. Wilmington, N. c., reduc-
ed it's death rate among children from
213 to 1S4 in one year. Austin, Tex
as. shows a death rate of 1924 per
1000.
Hears from Blue.
DR.. Hayne has recently received a
letter from Surgeon General Rupert
Blue of the public health service, with
regard to the cooperation of federal,
State and local. authorities, together
with the international health board,
for the control of malaria.
South Carolina is to benefit by the
cooperation, and engineers will be
sent by the United States public
health service to make surveys of
towns. Information will be given re-
garding steps necessary for the eradi-
cation of malaria together with the
cost of the work.
Sanatorium Contract Let.
The contract for the erection of the
Palmetto Sanatorium for the treat
ment Of negro tubercular patients has
been let to W. B. Summersett. The
building was to have cost $4,000,
but the lowest bid received was $685.
900. 1t became necessary to omit
some of the features of the sanito-
rum as originally planned, but the
shell of the buiuding will be erected,