The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-09-05
What Do YOU Know About The Work Done
By The Public Health Departments OF
The State To Proted You!

ves-a chance to live.
Then there's the maternity cas-
up in the Delta whom the nurse visit
ed a few hours after the birth of her
first infant. Finding the mother in
distressed agitation over the appear
ance of her baby, the nurse took
time only to put on her apron and
wash her hands before ~uncovering
the Whispering little bundle on the
bed. Withone swift glance, her
trained, wise eyes realized the sig
nificance of that appearance-the
tiny red face, the old wrinkled skin,
the sores. She made a mental note
to ask the health office to see this
case Immediately.
The trouble was too, too, plain to
the nurse. So many times she had
seen that tragedy. Tainted blood
passed on from mother to child -
even to the third and fourth genera
ton. She set about preparing al olive
oil bath for the squirming little new
conner. Over and over again in her
mind, she questioned: How to get ex-
rectant mothers under a physicians
care before the baby comes? How
to get the mall tested for syphilis
early, before the third month? How
to prevent this awful transmission of
disease to innocent victims?
Swabbing with olive oil the tiny,
wrinkled body, she told Of treatments
that would help mother and baby
which were given every week Sin
town." She talked of the Importance
of cleanliness in caring for the baby,
Of feeding, of boiled water. She
pointed out how a heated flat iron
will scorch white clths to make sterile
dressings for the infant. She demon
strated the use of boric acid solu-
ton to keep the surrounding area
clean from drainage.
The mother, bright and alert, lis
tened eagerly to the messages given
by the health nurse. Neither she nor
the baby's grandmother missed a
single part Of the expert technique
used in handling the infant. When
the baby was put back in its little
orange crate bed, her agitation over
it's appearance was Gained. She was
fully convinced that now something
could be done
She and the baby both would take
the syphilis treatments given by a
local physician at the health center
every week. Her frame of mind had
become almost cheerful. "As soon
as Pm up, I'll be there" she called
as the figure in blue passed out the
door.
And it may not be too late.
Chances aren't as good now for a
cure as a few months ago, but i'm
provement is certain!
The crisis is over for the mother
anguished over her syphilitic baby.
1t is over for the infant threatened
by the impending shadow of blind
ness. The immediate danger is over
for these, but for others it happens
every day.
If somebody isn't handy, if some
one can't help at such moments, the
consequence is dire disaster. The
tragedy of disease is that all too
frequently, the disaster is not of a
quick, stark, immediate, or individual
nature. If only it were, then Death
would bring mercy both to the suf-
ferer and to those he left behind.
But too often, disease has left in its
wake millions of germs seeking
''green pastures" new victims, fresh
blood. Too many times, disease has
bequeathed to innocent people the
t~reacherous habits begotten Of
false doctrines, s%uperstitions cults,
poverty, ignorance, and viciousness.
These are the foes public health
workers are fighting. These r the
enemies against which the whole