The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-24
RED CROSS IN SERBIA
Colonel Folks Tells of His
Work There
Medical Science Bound Up With
Myths Is the Chief
Handicap

Editors Note-coIoneI Folks was
formerly commissioner of charities in
New York City. Now he is special ad-
visor Of the American Red Cross in
Europe. At the request Of the Unit
ed Press, he has written this sum-
mary Of bis observations and concIu-
sions in Serbia. United Press, New
York.
COL. HOMER FOLKS.
Belgrade, June 21.I nave just
completed a study of the work of the
American nurses who have been
helping the Serbian government dur
ing it's difficult period of reconstruc-
ton.
Their chief handicap has been the
fact that medical science in Serbia
is bound up with an enormous growth
of myths and approximations. The
American nurse meets a cordial well
come everywhere in Serbia. The
Serbians do not altogether understand
her, they pity her for being unmarri-
ed, but they like her tremendously.
Getting public health across in
Serbia is pioneer undertaking.
One doctor to 10000 people is about
the usual figure, and the trained
nurse is unknown. In the absence of
the doctor and the nurse, the Serbian
grandmothers have accumulated a
large store of traditions, maxims and
myths, in regard to sickness and its
causes, prevention and cure. Some OF
these firmly established traditions
are:
Dangerous For Baby To Be Clean.
1t is very dangerous for a baby to
be entirely clean, for the devil pre-
fers to take a clean baby. The dirt
which accumulates behind the ears
and on the scalp of baby who is
properly neglected soon forms sort
of crust. 1t is dangerous to remove
this for the devil would almost Ger
tainly abduct the child. The crust
of dirt is also useful in keeping away
tuberculosis and meningitis.
1t is necessary to bind the arms of
small babies closely to their sides,
and to bind their legs closely to-
gether and wrap them up tightly in
order to straighten the baby's arms
and legs. The nurses explain that
babies arms are not bound in Amer
leans have relatively straight arms
and legs. 1t is difficult to secure
real conviction on this point. how
ever. The chain of proof to the Ser
bian mothers is very clear. All Ser
bian- babies are born with crooked
legs and arms. They are bound
tightly in order to straighten them.
The grownup Serbs have straight
arms and legs. What better proof
could be desired.
Must Observe Friday.
1t is extremely dangerous to do
anything whatever for a child on a
day One mother who was asked to
do something for the child on Fri
day explained that she had learned
by bitter experience that this must
not be done. She had done SO twice.
The first time the boy almost imme-
diately fell off horse and broke his
legs. The second time be came down
with scarlet fever.
It is a very dangerous thing for
baby to be taken out of the room
in which he was born until he is at
least forty days old Since the rooms
have very little light and air, this
handicaps the baby's prospects very
seriously.
Since doctors are usually not with
in reach, variety of useful methods
of doing up wounds and injuries have
been devised. SCOT scraped from the
inside of the chimney is one very
good thing to apply to the wound.
Fresh cabbage leaves or fresh garlic
are even more highly favored as
dressing for wounds.
For eye diseases a liberal applica-
ton of very hot fat is recommended.
Sometimes blindness results, but that
of course is because the disease is so
bad and not because of the hot fat.
For thirty days before Christmas
and for forty days before Easter only
bread and beans are to be eaten. For
undernourished school children so re-
stricted diet for so long period
often has very serious results.