Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-27
|EATH RATE HAS
BEEN DECREASED
| IN GREAT DROPS
|acterioIogist at State UNI
versity Reports on Public
Health Association Meet
ina at San Francisco.

Miss Myrtle Greenfield, bacteri-
bgist at the public health labora-
ry of the state department of
alth which Is operated in connec-
bn with the University of New
axico, recently attended the an
al meeting of the American Pub
Health association in San Fran
bco. In order to disseminate the
formation gained at this meeting
the students of the university
d to the citizens of New Mexico,
IS Greenfield has written re-
|rt of the meeting, which in sub
ance is as follows:
The object of a public health or
IMITATION and of public health
brk is to lower the death rate.
hat death rates have been lowered
ry materially can only be appre-
Iited when we read of the great
hgues such as bubonic, smallpox,
How fever, etc.
Death Decrease Noticeable.
Decreased death rates have not
me gradually but by noticeably
dden drops. The first great drop
me with the ''clean up cam
ign" The cleaning up of NUM-
bal water and milk supplies, the
stallation of effective sewer sys-
ms. etc. The decreased death rates
llowing the introduction of safer
tter supplies in cities like Lon
n and Chicago, read like fairy
les.
The second big drop came with
= introduction of vaccination and
rum treatment. If it had not been
typhoid vaccination we would
We had several hundred thousand
aths from typhoid in the great
hr.
Our death rates have been lower
only gradually for some time
d we are due for a third great
|op. What is going to bring
out that third drop was the CEN
HI subject of the meeting of the
sociation and it was agreed that
is drop depended upon personal
giene.
hat Personal Hygiene VIII Do.
This then is a much more dltil-
he kind of thing to handle, IL
IS comparatively easy for a few
blic-spirited and educated men to
through the Improvement or a
ter supply, Not entirely difficult
get a man to go to an office ana
yaccinated, for that took only
Few minutes and did not interfere
th his daily routine. But to try
tell an individual what to eat
d when to eat it; when and how
take a bath and to clean MS
eth: how he shall stand; how ne
Ihls work and how to care for his
Kid becomes a task most delicate
b hard to accomplish.
The question involves a socialized
Rdical system, a great problem IN
ELF and the United States public
alth service is experimenting
Ma soclalized medicine in a small
w at birmingham, Mass. They'
Ee a thorough physical eXamina-,
N to every man, woman ana
ild twice every year. Those VINO
ed it are given medical care, and
ktruction in living is given by
bic health nurse who goes TO
E homes.
Results of Examinations.
These examinations revealed
me startling facts, few of which
will quote: One per cent OF the
ople are suffering with active
|berculosis, q great part of Which
| been undiagnosed; 93 per cent
the children between l and q
infected with tuberculosis.
Along this line it would be IN
Resting TO know how many early
fections there are in Albuquer-
e, where we have the ADVANTAGE
good climate but multitude
,pen cases of tuberculosis.
|Ihe state of Missouri asked the
8. Public Health service to help
N it's bureau of Child hygiene.
Five house to house investiga-
ms have been carried out. Again
.,rtling situations have been
ought to light. For example, In
|hools examined this data was OBJ
fned. Defective teeth. Ga per
hit; enlarged tonsils,, 40 per cent;
clean teeth, 20 per cent; defec-
he vision. 20 per cent; defective
airing. IA per cent. OF under
light children the following was
3nnd: Fatigue posture, 66 per
/ hit; pale color, so per cent; de-
|btive teeth 81 per cent; mouth
bathing, 80 per cent. In nutri-
Bn clinics: Diets not approved,
per cent; diet lacking in fruit