The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-07
Eyeryman's Fight for Life and
Health.

Ignorance OF the cause and means
Of transmission of diseases is the
greatest obstacle to be overcome by
sanitarians in their work for the
preservation of public health. From
it springs popular apathy toward the
adoption Of the simplest precautions
recommended by the authorities and
opposition to the preventive and re-
strictive ordinances imposed by health
officers in time Of epidemic. To 1t the
country owes the false notion that the
population generally is not interested
in protecting the general health. Ac-
tually most men and women do not
know how to take care of themselves.
They violate the canons of health I'M
consciously, not wilfully.
There is vast store of knowledge
concerning disease and its prevention
available to those who have time and
opportunity to seek 1t, but Its poten-
tial benefits are enjoyed by compare
lively few citizens. Research and ex-
pertinent have instructed special stu
dents, but those special students have
as yet found no adequate vehicle to
carry their knowledge to the public.
Unfortunately their disagreements
and disputes are not hidden.
DR.. ALvAH II. DoTY has summed the
matter In an article on "The Out
look and Problems of Public Health"
| In the Medical Record of June 81. In
which he says the education and CO.
operation of the public are vitality
necessary to the protection Of the pub
lie health" A shotgun quarantine
will keep the carriers Of disease germs
out Of a defined, circumscribed COM
munity; alert, informed popular In
telligence would safeguard the whole
country. DR.. DoTY denies emphat-
cally that the cooperation Of the pub
lie cannot be obtained. He tells Of an
incident in the Influenza epidemic Of
1918. One Of the coal mining COM
panies in the Pennsylvania anthracite
field, aroused to the perils of the stu
alton, decided to enlist the help Of its
employees:
six intelligent worlmen from each
mine were brought together and
briefly instructed regarding the cause
of Influenza, the means of transmits
sion and the usual symptoms of tho
| disease.
zone of these men was stationed
at the mouth OF each mine shaft
| when the miners went TO work. at or
before Z o'clock In the morning.
AT each examination one or more
cases of influenza were detected and
the patients were sent home.
| Frequently other members of the
| family were found to be Ill with the
disease, often with no medical assist
ance and no precautionary measures
against further spread.
Tn many instances the nurse took
charge and rendered all possible aid.
THE coal company also cooperated
with tho local health authorities by
reporting all cases which came under
its observation.
at may be added that bulletin.
printed In six different languages.
containing in simple terms a brief
statement regarding the cause OF in
fuenza, the manner in which It IS
transmitted. and the usual symptoms
OF the disease. was distributed freely
among the miners and their families
with very satisfactory results
"These means were not only most
effective In preventing the extension
OF disease but undoubtedly saved
many lives"
From the beginning the miners
showed the keenest interest in the
plan. Instead of resentlng the ex-
animation at the shaft head, they
eagerly welcomed it as soon as its
purpose was made clear to them. The
men chosen as inspectors developed
really remarkable aptitude for their
unaccustomed work and made singu-