University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

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Uhr fllllnhrl 0Brgz1nigz1tinnin Henri iliinrr Glnuntg HE model organization in Pearl River County is conducted by a force consisting of lst, an assistant county superintendent: 2nd, a farm demonstratorg 3rd, a home economic agent: 4th, all- time county physiciang and 5th, two stenographers. The work is not entirely newg farm demonstrators, county health ofiicers, and home economics teachers have been at work in some sections for several years. However the method of conducting the work is new. IRMA DORRILL This staff is working co-operatively as an organized body with the school as a center and is trying to unify the work of the school and the home. Its pri- mary aim is to bring about better living conditions. Of all these workers the County health officer and the home science agent aid the people more directly in reference to hygiene and sanitation in the home and school, The county health officer gives his entire time to this work, for which he is paid an ample salary. His aim is to teach prevention of diseases rather than cureg he visits the schools and discusses with the children the economic and social value of public health and teaches them that they have a large part in promoting it. He shows that malaria can be prevented bv oiling and draining ponds and screening bedrooms: and that typhoid fever can be checked by destroying flies and their breeding places. He also emphasizes the importance of proper light and ventilation. Then he visits the homes and investi- gates the sanitary conditionsg and if he linds that they are not what they should be, he points out the defects and suggests the remedy. At the beginning of the school session he examines each pupil for any physical defects such as enlarged tonsils, adenoids, spinal curvature, defective hearing and sight, decayed teeth, tuberculosis, and various skin diseases. After this examination is made, he makes a report to the family physician: and the parents are expected to have the defects remedied. The home science agent also gives her entire time to her work. She visits the schools of the County and assists teachers in organizing poultry, sewing, and cooking clubs for the girls. She also organizes the women of the different communities into Clubs adapted to their special needs. One aim of these Clubs is to train the members in the method of selecting and preparing foods: to teach them the way to secure hygienic conditions for the homes especially in regard to cleanliness and ventilation: and to give them some intelligent information in the care of children. It is logical to suppose that the result of the work mentioned above will be better living conditions for better conditions are to come about by the home and school uniting their efforts in having high standards in community hygiene, sanitary homes, well prepared food, and children with strong healthy bodies. IRMA DORRILL. -- 's, Leake County 8

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QMJPI1 Air Svrhnnla HE fact that there are many pupils in school ,... who are irregular in attendance and who fail to keep up with their grades has attracted the attention af many educators, philanthropists, and physicians. Upon investigation itis found that many of these pupils are tubercular or are frail, thin, and anemic. Knowledge of the value of cold fresh air, wholesome food, and rest as the cure of tuberculosis in f .1 suggested the establishment of fresh air schools for , ' it these deficient pupils, New York, Boston, and New- lh ark leading in the movement. . In September 1911 an open-air school was ' established in Newark for children having pulmonary tuberculosis. ETHEL DORRILL The building consists of a pavillion with a Leaks COUHW roof, open on all sides but having protection in awall extending three feet from the floor. N e ar the pavillion there is a building for the storage of the pupils' equipments and for the desks, seats, and blackboards. .Nearby another building consists of a rest-room and kitchen, the basement contains sanitary drinking fountains, wash basins, and toilets. k The corps of workers consists of two teachers, a janitor, and his wife who acts as coo . When the pupils arrive in the morning alight breakfast is servedg then the temperature of each is taken. Those of the two-hundred whose temperature is not abnormal put on outer garments, caps, sweaters, gloves, and overcoats-such as the season demands: and go to the pavillion where classroominstruction is given about three hours. The pavillion is not heated at ally when the pupils begin to get cold, they re- move their desks and take physical exercises. Those who have temperature as high as 99.5 are compelled to wrap themselves comfortably and recline in their chairs on the open porch. At noon class-room instruction ceases, and a hot substantial dinner is given the pupils, after which they retire to the rest room where no conversation is allowed for an hour and most of them sleep. After the rest-period an hour is given to manual train- ing and other occupational studies. A medical inspector visits the school daily, weighs each child, examines him for infectious diseases and consults with teachers and nurses in reference to those who re- quire special treatment. The school nurse visits the homes and shows parents the value of ventilation and cleanliness. From September 1911 to July 1913 the following results were obtained: 6070 of the pupils enrolled have been cured and 3957. have improved. The averaged gain in weight has been 85 lbs., and the average gain in hemoglobin is 7570: 337. have been transferred to their regluar classes in the public schools and 81070 have received promotion. Since fresh air is so effective in the cure and progress of tubercular children, should it not be supplied abundantly to all our pupils? Our schools can easily adopt many of the features of this fresh-air school. We can keep our windows wide open, regulate the heat properly, give our pupils physical exercises and rest periods, and dis- seminate hygienic information among our patrons. ETHEL DORRILL. 7

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Uhr Liarriznn Anti-Narrntir Emu sinh ilinturr Cfrnvratinna H EN the American people took possession of the Phillipine Islands, they found the people suffering from the use of opium. The United States at once started a movement which ended in 1915, in an agreement of thirty-four nations to stop the opium traffic. This movement was start- ed by an international convention, the lirst one meet- ing at Shanghai, China. At this first meeting of the nations interest- ed in this opium law, it was found that the United States was open to considerable criticism for per- mitting the importation of so large an amount of smoking opium, the revenue on this drug prior to W' G' EDWARDS 1909 being 327,000,000 This fact caused Congress Webster County to pass the Opium Exclusion Act of 1909. But this act was not sufficient to suppress the opium trade. Hence, to perfect this inadequate legislation, Representative Harrison of New York, introduced the bill which bears his name. This bill was passed by Congress December 17, 1914. The title of the bill is an act to provide for the registration of, with Collector of Internal Revenue and to impose a special tax upon, all persons Whc produce, import, manufacture, compound, deal in, sell, or distribute opium leaves, their salts, derivatives, or preparation . This bill went into effect on the first of March 1915. Every person after this date who imports, manufactures, sells, or gives away opium or cocoa leaves or any drug derived from them must register with the Collector of Internal Revenue and pay a special tax. Every transaction must be recorded. If a doctor sees it to be wise to give some narcotic to a patient he may do so, provided he does not go beyong the amount prescribed by law, and provided he records the name of the person and number of grains given. Government blanks must be used in all records kept. The physicians, dentists, and veterinarians are not the only persons that must keep records. The drug- gist who fills the order must also keep a record. When we realize that the progress of the people depends on the efficiency of individual and that the efficiency of a great number of individuals will be impaired, if habit forming drugs are within the reach of every one, we know that this nation-wide legislation will mean much to the future generation. As has been intimated, personal or individual efficiency is the unit of national efficiency. But it must be remembered that private, or individual well being is conditioned upon matters over which only society as a whole can exercise control. Then this is how the Anti-narcotic law will aid the individual man. In the first place, it is a national law, enforced by the national government. Then its purpose is to keep narcotics from the individual. This means a better individual: hence, a more efficient people. Statistics show that a great number of the insane are insane from the excessive use of habit forming drugs, or are children of opium fiends. This drug weakens the mind not only of the person using it but it also weakens the mind of their descendants. But, when the effects of this law takes place, we will have an efficient people. Then, from this efficient people a generation will come free from the courses that follow after dope fiend parents. No longer will our hospitals and asylums be filled with people who are insane from the effects of narcotics. But, on the other hand, the money used in keeping the asylums going can be put to educational purposes. 9 W. G. EDWARDS.