Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-23
TO PREVENT EPIDEMICS
BV H. Addinqton Bruce


| T COMMEND to the consideration of parents
| I a circular letter sent by the Superintend-
ent of the public schools of HillSboro,
Ill., to the parents of the children in the Hills
boro schools.
This letter was inspired by appreciation of
the fact that the sureSt way to prevent cpl
denies of infectious diseases among school
children is to secure the cooperation of
parents in the taking of precautionary meas
ureS Indeed, without such cooperation, medl-
cal vigilance and the enactment of health laws
will be of little avail.
| And, with rare exceptions, the many parents
who do not cooperate for epidemic prevention
as all should, are influenced more by lack OF
| knowledge of the factors tending to make
disease epidemic than by willful defiance OF
the regulations of school boards and boards
of health To diffuse the necessary knowl-
edge was accordingly, the prime purpose o., OF
| the IillSboro superintendent in writing his
| letter to parents.
"Parents,' he reminded those to whom he
sent the letter, "can do much to help II me
matter of the health of school children Chll-
dren who have fever and complain OF mead
ache backache, sore throat, or OF Guinness
should not be sent to school. Quite otten
these are the symptoms of some commu1lca-
BILE disease, and if the child is sent to School
If NAV mean that other children Will be ex-
posed and serious epidemic may occur
mo parent would do anything that would
endanger the health or life of anotherS cnila,
but sometimes because of the lack OF care TINS
NAV happen Children who are Ill can 90
verv little work in school, and they had beuer
he kent home even though there is no danger
of contagion. .L
Children should be kept away from other
homes where there are sick chldfen' Qul's
frequently serious epidemics have been cdusso
by the taking of children INTO holileo Will
other children are i'll.
"If one child of the family is sick it is al
WAYS we'll to keep the other children away
from the sick child. If this is done the other
children will be protected, even though the
child who is sick has contagious disease.
"Sometimes people have the idea that chill,
dren must have some of these diseases, and
thew use no precaution in protecting the
children. Many of the diseases that are often
considered as of little danger prove serious
Measles, for example, is disease usually con-
sidered not fatal. ~
"But statistics show that out of every 400
children who have the measles tour de
Suppose your child should be one OF tne lou'
instead of one of the ninety-Slx?
at is always we'll to consult a physician as
early as possible. Many children die because
the physician is not called in time. This is
especially true in diphtheria. If in doubt call
a physician every time.
Quarantine rules and regulations should be
observed at all times. Very often disease
Becomes a severe epidemic because people do
not observe the rules Of quarantine.
"A failure to comply with such rules may
cause the death of many children. All of us
desire to have our children protected, and we
should be just as anxious to help protect the
children of Others"
Every parent who happens to read this letter
as here reprinted will do we'll to give 1t ser!-
Gus thought Action in accordance with 1t
NAV some day be of vital importance to his
or her own children and the children of
friends and neighborS
And school superintendent everywhere might
advantageously address a similar litter to par
ents of children in their charge. Simply writ
ten, and appealing as it does to heart ana
mind alike, it is letter of distinct value as
a contribution to public health education.
downright, 1922, by The Associated News