Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-01
Or. JAMES M. ANDERS
On Public Health Day

TODAY is Health Day, and every effort
i toward making the utmost Of its oppor.
tunities should be made by the citizens OF
Philadelphia. says DR.. James Nj. Andcrs.
"IIealth educat ion" said DR.. Anders. us
receiving increasing attention throughout t!'
rountry at the present time. 1t begins WIN
the child Of primary scho0! age or younger
;ls il should do. and goes hand in hand Win
practical physical culture and recreation "X-
rrcises as well as mental training. Not onl;
every large city. but every small communit!
should have Department of Public Schooi
Hygiene and Physical Education. Ihers
should be thorough. systematic Inspection OF
the children by competent stan OF ,t pnSsnt
clans. as it is being carried out at present
in cities. but more Importantly the home
should be linked up with the public sChool
through specially trained visiting nurses. OF
whom this city has some. but not suihcleh''
lumber. who should teach the care OF ~"
health of children and domestic hygiene III
the home as well.
Liberal Appropriations Needed
'To carry out such a program demands
that Boards of Education shall make more
liberal appropriations than they are doing
ut present for this purpose. They need to
broaden their views with regard to training
in public school hygiene. carefully super
vised play, drills and the like.
at is we'll to remind the general public
annually through the observation OF Health
Day of what the adult should do to keep
his body in health and that building up his
physique to the maximum level is the best
safeguard against germ disease. including
those common and much dreaded affections,
pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia.
Every one should recognize the fact that
The greatest enemies Of mankind are the
countless germ diseases which cause more
than 80 per cent of all deaths. Many per-
sons worry themselves about these micro
scopic enemies and then. in consequence OF
their ignorance. come into direct contact
with them in simple ways.
"In general. the individual also beStOws
TOO little time and attention upon the rules
and regulations which are intended to guard
against the contraction Of communicable
diseases TO him. health regulations, how
ever, are of the highest concern. since it is
not possible for him to safeguard himself
without local governmental powers so long
MS those about him are careessy scattering
germs abroad and permitting filth and otlnr
disease breeding. materials on the premises.
Importance Of the Rules
cone of the principal objects of Health
Day is to make the public apprcciative Of
the practical Importance of the rules and
regulations as imposed by our Health De.
uartment. for thus only can we hope 10 OBJ
lain the co operation from the public which
is necessary 10 render them effective.
IAN effort is also being made to create
interest in health education among the adult
population and | propose the motto. TO
know. in order to be fit The Director of
Health the Bureau Of Health and many
| welfare associations of Philadelphia. namely,
the Civic, New Century and Phiiomusian
| clubs, the City Parks Association. Pennsyl-
! yaniu Tuberculosis Society. the Heulth
| Council and Tuberculosis Committee and
| others are constantly disseminating valuable
| information on topics related to The public
| health including the causati0n and best
methods of preventing germ diseases but il
| is a sad commentary that these efforts are
not 40 universally supported and encouraged
by the public as they deserve to be.
| "Philndelphia has been fortunate in its
Directors OF Health in the past and the
| incumbent Of that Office il one who has
been especially trained for the work and
who has the technical skill that is essential
TO the successful conduct Of the Health De :
partment of large municipality. This civ
can boast also OF a Health Department that
| Is properly organized and hence Is in a no.
sition to attain that degree Of efficiency tLat
| public sanitation demands, il the general
| public and our City Fathers were to pivc
their undivided support and co operation.
Supporting the Department
1T is gratifying to be able to say that
our present Council has been supporting the
] Department Of Health more generously tha;,