The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-21

1902 the hygienic laboratory of the U.
S. public health service, which rapidly
expanded until today it is one of the
foremost research institutions of its
kind in the world. The results of its
studies in checking diseases, reducing
suffering and frightening human life
arr incalculable.
In 1912 the service was authorized
to investigate the diseases Of man."
and under the authority thus conferred
it has made some very important con-
tributions to the control OF disease. To
mention only a few, the studies of An
derson and Goldberger on measles
showed that the disease was infective
during the first three days only, thus
rendering unnecessary the long periods
of quarantine that We're formerly in
vogue; the extensive investigation of
Stiles on the prevalence and on life
history Of hookworm led to effective
measures for the control Of this wide
spread cause of physical inefficiency;
the work of Lumsden in rural santa
ton resulted in simple and effective
methods for the safe disposal of hui
man excreta and in the extensive
adoption of modern methods in rural
public health administration; the many
sided studies dealing with malaria
have been of inestimable service in
devising practicable control measures
for this scourge OF the southern states;
the discovery of the identity of Drills
disease" with typhus fever by Gold
berger. and the working out of effec-
tive methods for controlling the dis
ease by delousing has provided a bar
rier to the introduction of this pesti-
lence into the United States; the
ger regarding pellagra have disposed
Of the various theories previously ad-
vanced as to the cause of this disease
and have definitely placed peliagra In
the class Of diseases arising from de-
ficiency in the diet, thus furnishing
the means for preventing and treating
this important malady; the work of
the service in the field of industrial
hygiene has thrown much light on
hitherto obscure factors in the causa-
ton of certain industrial fatigue, and
other equally important problems; the
Investigations made by the service in
the field of mental hygiene have helped
in dealing with the control of venereal
with the problem of juvenile
delinquency and with feeble minded
ness; the Studies Of the health of
school children and the sanitation of
rural schools have done much to i'm
prove conditions for this important
part of our growing citizenship; the |
careful statistical Investigations of |
sickness among the working classes |
have furnished valuable basic infor- |
nation for deyising plans for dealing |
with this vast problem. Altogether, the /
public health service has contributed in |
many different ways to the successful |
carying out of measures for the pre-
vention and control of disease and the
promotion of public health.
Recently" added the surgeon gem
eral the service has sent it's surgeons |
.yphus eradication among Indians in /
southwest: in typhoid fever work at
Louisville; in tick fever protection In
Montana; In tuberculosis and child hy-
yiene in Utah; and in making the ma
-ional parks safe and sanitary for
travellers. Latest of all, it has launched
campaign against pellagra, which
las given indications OF becoming
dangerous. owing to the economic de-
PRESTON among farmers and especially
lmong the tenant cotton growers of
he south, who have been rendered
practically penniless by the condition
# the cotton market and are forced
o live on salt pork. cornbread and mo-
asses, which, when eaten exclusively
or a few months are almost certain
0 cause pellagra.