The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-04-15
S0VlETS ARE FIGHTING
EPIDEMIC OF DISEASES
(Continued3y Iron Page IL


several independent organizations
nctioning along their own lines and
often dnpli cating or: working at cross
purposes. These Were united into a
single Independent body which is
called the Peoples Commissariat of
Health: While other governments
are still discussing the adyisability Of
estab lishing department. of Health,
Soviet Russia is the first country to
have actually done it. + This Commits
sariat operates in outlying districts
through local branches assisted by
workers and peasants committees.
For example, all through the typhus
epidemic these committees undertook
to inspect the baths, the supply Of
soap, the sanitary condition of the
houses and public institutions as well
as to spread by word of mouth corr
rect information and advice on ques-
tions of hygiene. The committees
were former in all important districts
in the large cities \. 80 T.. *
The stamping out of typhus, ac-
cordingz to the reports ofEthe ConMnis-
sariat, is in large part due to the ac-
Invites of workers and peasants COM
3.
been protected by sanitary measures;
moth erhood and childhood have been
the first care of the state; hospitals
We're opened free Of charge to menl-
beers Of an classes. In the latter there
are about 100000 beds for persons
suffering from epidemics. The am
bulatories and the medicaments are
free. i All drug stores have been ma
tionalized and medical supplies are
distributed in a fair; and systematic
manner. ~ ~. .55.ssyzI {. ~ - ". q r.
A word must be said for the pre-
ventoriums and general ;,thera'putic
work. There are at present four dis
trict organizations engaged in physic-
mechanical therapeutic, work and
suspects are compelled to attend
these and remain under observation
until pronounced in good health by
the doctors. .-.se . 4,s..s -. ~ ID +
ID During tile war, owing to the ex-
trenle lack of medical supplies, the
| Peoples Commissariat of Health was
compelled to resort to the most prim-
| tive methods to combat typhus. Not
only did the country suffer from: a
shorta &c of medicines, but there were
| IlUL SllOu6IIA uUCIVA ~ dANS ifAuA SoS tNo
meet the needs of the people. One
measure employed turned out to be
quite effective. The. government
equipped a Health Propaganda train
and sent it through the country carry
ing men and women speakers, who
explained to- the ignorant peasant
and careless tcwn-dweller the simple
measures OF personal hygiene. Great
lurid posters We're pasted on the car
riages of the train shouting advice.
9 The peasants and workers were en-
Joined to boil their water and wash
vegetables and fruits before eating,
They. were especially counselled to
cut their hair short, which is quite a
1 revolutionary matter even in Soviet
Russia today. The government en-
| countered j keen opposition to. this
measure, The. Russian is quite a
hairy. animal and the wearing OF a
beard, as we'll as long hair, is akin
to piety' with him. He resents pro-
foundry any interference with his
! hirsute personal appearance. When
| Peter the Great returned from abroad
and promulgated an edict for the cut
ting of all boards, he met with some
UulHks ike ulSAOySuIS ACSoASAClOSAy OAA
the part OF the peasants. - The Soviet
government has had to cope with this
problem and it has at least succeeded
in convincing the people, both men
and women, of the desirablllty. OF
cutting their hair. If they chance to
live in infected districts. Thus in
the typical Russian city we may
notice close-cropped@ heads peeping
out from under large hats In the
case of the women, 'kerchiefs and
shawls have been dragged out and
used as ;headdresses. The colors and
materials are extremely rich in var
iety and shade, and the effect in a
modern Russian city Is one of great
,picturesqueness as though one were
in. the Orient Needless to say, the
hairdressers are having a poor sea-
son in Russia, but gradually the ter
rible typhus scourge, which carried
off the American author, John Reed,
is being vaf1quished.
f.