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

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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.

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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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MARY FALCON ER VVayne County fed, then follow the rules. Euhg wrlfarv HREE hundred thousand deaths a year and half of them preventable! Think of it, one hundred and fifty thousand babies in the United States dying each year, that might be saved! Ignorance is responsible for a large part of this needless sacrifice. What is to be done? Teach the mothers what they ought and need to know. Impure milk is the cause of a large per cent of the deaths. Milk, for the Baby, at least, must come from healthy cows and must be handled with the greatest care. Here are aa few rules for obtain- ing pure milk: First, use a small mouthed pail to milk in. Second, sterilize all milk things and dry immediately. Third, cool the milk as quickly as pos- sible after milking and keep it cool. Fourth, the milker must always keep clean. Observe these rules and baby has a chance. In feeding Baby it is always easier to feed him than to hear him fret, but remem- ber more babies are over fed than under fed. Find out how often and learn how your baby ought to be Baby needs clean water as well as clean milk and this is often forgotten. Boil the water and then cool it. Give it in a bottle between feedings. Baby should have a warm tub bath at least once a day. In hot weather a cool, extra sponge helps to keep him cool and fresh. Plenty of fresh air is always needed. During the winter keep Baby in a well ventilated room which is aired at least twice a day and take him out as often as is possible. Let him sleep in the sunshine, well Wrap- ped up in pretty weather. In summer Baby can stay out of doors almost all the time. Keep him out of the hot sun but in the open air. Fresh air rarely harms while foul air always harms. Birth Registration is one of the rocks upon which the Better Babies Movement rests. Mississippi entered upon this forward movement in 1912, and is one of the lead- ing states of the twenty-eight, which have this law. Baby's Welfare is a subject every one is taking an interest in now. The whole country lately observed Baby Week. If you have not already been doing something to help this cause, hurry up and do something. Start a Mother's Club and study about your babies. Read all you can. Have a nurse tell you what she will. Have a Better Babies Contest, and find out just where your baby stands. We are concerned a great deal about better stock, better roads and better farms, but what is more valuable than Better Babies ? Join the nation wide movement and do something to save the Baby. THE MOTHER'S CREED. We believe: ANONYMOUS That God gave us our children as a precious gift! That constant watchful care of them is our full duty: That we should guard well their healthg That we should train them to right livingg That we should give them the best education we can afford: That we should give them much chance to playg That we should pray daily for their welfareg That our deeds should be the right models for them to follow. MARY FALCONER. N