The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1920-01-14

and various other prominent citizen
about ten good communities wer'
mentioned, at any one of which there
seemed to be excellent opportunitie!
for public health work to be done
Finally, a choice was made of Wal
land, Rockford, and Louisville.
On October 9th, an assistant, Mr.
Hill, was placed at walland to begin
the survey in the homes. This work
ton. With few exceptions each
of the opportunity to improve the in
sanitary conditions about his home.
The same response has been met
with by Mr.. King, our other assistant
at Rockford and Louisville. That we
have proved a spirit OF eagerness to
better conditions is shown by the fact
we have repaired or placed sanitary
privies to almost every other home
during this brief interval of two
months. The building is still going
on and we hope and expect to in
crease the sanitary percentage from
500 to 1870 during the next four
weeks which we have to complete our
work here
Inspection of the school children
has been most interesting. At first
they had many queer ideas as to what
was going to be done to them, and
the little ones were full of fear, some
of whom wept violently upon my first
arrival at the school. After two or
three visits to the schools these same
weeping children were the first to
wish to be examined. From then on
each visit was made interesting and
pleasant by groups of eager little
people anxious to be looked over and
told as to whether or not they could
be called healthy boys and girls.
Cards were sent to the parents, ex-
ton, and already, | am pleased to
note, some parents have responded
to the advice of consulting some
particular physician for treatment of
the child. A few have already had
tonsils removed, and others have had
much needed treatment for defective
eyes.
Many parents, too, have been in
terested in this work for their child
rem. In one community it appealed
to such an extent that l found | was
starting quite clinic among the
adults. Some few would gather at
each visit, seeking advice for their
own various troubles. These, of
course, l referred to their family
physician.
In Walland there was a very good
response to the opportunity offered
for TYPHOID immuniZation. The clinic
was held at the school house and was
continued until after mill hours, so
as to give the men working there a
chance to receive the treatment. |
which quite number of them did |
We have not been able to overcome
the aversion of these community peo-
pie for the hookworm treatment, nor
do they like the idea of having ex-
aminations made, in spite of the fact |
that they know how high percent
age of this disease prevails in this
county.
The progress of the work done in
this essential may seem to be slow,
but underlying it all we feel that
there is a stirring. They have been
are not going to forget, and with a
lIIlS iiOlC pdLlSIlCS anu peESlSIeHCeI
these people of the rural districts are
going to awaken and then they will
not only accept help but demand for
themselves every offer which the
State Board of Health is making
possibl for them
Where one good mother made the
remark that "God looked after her
family, nothing she or the Public
Health could do would prevent her
from sickness, this same
mother is bound also to awaken to the
fact, possibly thru some bitter ex-
perience, that there are certain de-
mands of cleanliness of habits and
sanitary living made of every one of
US
In contrast to this, questions have
been asked. "Are they doing this
work in communities other than
,his?" They are not satisfied to be
he only community where such work
is possible, but wish it carried to
every rural district of the county.
In closing the Sanitary Campaign
'or the year 1919. only two months
If which have been spent in this
will say that this work has
received the most courteous attention
and help in every way possible from
10 many of the citizens of MaFyville,
rs we'll as the business men of the
hree communities mentioned. They
lave come forward most gladly, lend
ng their assistance to improve con-