TREASURY DEPARTMENT UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE PUBLIC HEALTH BULLETIN No. 98 HEALTH ALMANAC FOR 1919 Compiled by R. C. WILLIAMS Assistant Surgeon United States Public Health Service PREPARED BY DIRECTION OF THE SURGEON GENERAL WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1919 HEALTH ALMANAC OUR DUTY. It is the patriotic duty of every loyal American to keep well. Our country needs every bit of assistance from every individual. We must produce more food than ever before to feed our own soldiers in Europe as well as those of our allies. We must eliminate waste and inefficiency. More lumber with which to build ships and carry on reconstruction work must be produced. Cotton and wool for the needs of the world must be made available. The mines and mineral industries must be kept up to the maximum of production. In order to accomplish this the prevalence of disease must be kept at the minimum. Sickness from preventable diseases means loss of time, money, and decreased efficiency and will impede America in her reconstruction work. Each individual should take especial pains to safeguard his health and the health of his country. The proper disposal of human wastes, a clean water supply, protection against flies and mosquitoes, and protection of the food supply are the simple but important measures to which every loyal American should lend his efforts. Every person has a share in the protection of the public health of our country.. The industrial workers of the country must not lack efficiency because of disease or sickness. In certain sections of the United States the working ability of the population is so affected by disease that there is a shortage of growing food crops, cotton, or lumber. Intelligent and well-directed efforts must be instituted against such serious economic loss. Examples of community or individual effort along this line are plentiful. Many communities and towns have realized that malaria, typhoid fever, diarrheal diseases of children were placing upon them a serious economic handicap, and by coordinated efforts have practically eradicated these diseases. The nation that fails to preserve its national health invites disaster. Through the Public Health Service we are securing real conservation of our human resources, the first of all of our natural resources. Conservation of our material natural resources will be enhanced and simplified if conservation of our human natural resources is of the right sort. A vigorous, virile, and healthful race is of superlative importance. By a wise enlargement of the functions and a rational extension of the facilities of the Public Health Service through constantly generous, but not prodigal, appropriations this vital end may be achieved. (Hon. William G. McAdoo.) (3) PNEUMONIA. Pneumonia occurs in all climates, at all seasons, and affects all ages. It is more prevalent during the seasons of bad weather, winter and spring. Prolonged exposure, together with lowered vitality, is a frequent cause. Anything that will lower the power of resistance predisposes to pneumonia. The material coughed and spit up by pneumonia patients contains the pneumonia germs. All such material should be destroyed by burning. In a large percentage of cases pneumonia is readily communicable from one person to another. Each case of pneumonia should be regarded as a point from which the disease may spread. The pneumonia patient should be isolated as far as possible. All articles used by the pneumonia patients, as dishes, handkerchiefs, bed linen, and clothing, should be cleansed by boiling before being used again. The room occupied by pneumonia patients should be carefully cleaned each day, care being taken to avoid the stirring up of dust. Upon completion of the case the bedroom occupied by the pneumonia patient should be thoroughly cleansed, walls as well as floor, then aired and sunned for several days before being put in use again. To protect against pneumonia: Wear sufficient clothing. Avoid unnecessary contact with pneumonia patients. Have plenty of fresh air in sleeping room. Avoid alcoholic drinks. Keep in good physical condition. Avoid prolonged exposure to cold. CONSERVING THE NATION'S MAN POWER. It is necessary to encompass not only the fighting man with every safeguard which modern science has devised, but, what is perhaps even more important, it is absolutely essential to maintain at the highest state of efficiency the health of the farmer, the industrial operative, the transportation employee, and all the rest of the general public upon whom the soldier must rely for food, clothing, and weapons. If the soldier and the sailor are to be kept well, the civilian with whom they come in contact must not be permitted to have a communicable disease, and the civil environment which the fighting man enters in the search of recreation must be kept in a clean and wholesome condition. (Surg. Gen. Rupert Blue, United States Public Health Service.). Pneumonia often attacks persons in the best of health. Wednesday. "Hygiene can prevent more crime than law". 7.19 4.53 Do your share in conserving food for our soldiers and sailors. 7.19 4. 54 7.19 4.54 9.... Thursday. 10.... Friday. disease excepting heart disease... Now is the time America needs your loyalty. Cover up your coughs and sneezes.. Sore eyes in new-born babies should receive prompt attention.. Every birth and death should be reported to the focal registrar.. 11..... Saturday.... Pneumonia kills more people in the United States than any other 14.. Tuesday. 15... Wednesday. Does your cold hang on? Have your lungs examined. 16. Thursday.. Venereal diseases are preventable.. Keep warmly clad during cold weather. 18.. Saturday.. 19.. Sunday. Dust carries disease germs; avoid stirring it up by sweeping. 20. Monday.. Contagious or infectious diseases should be reported to the health of- Conservation of the civilian health is as important as the protection 7. 15 5.03 Venereal diseases constitute a serious menace to the health of the Na- 7. 13 5. 12 The prevalence of venereal disease in the civil population must be reduced. It is not necessary to discuss the reasons for a vigorous campaign for the control of venereal disease at this time. The reasons are too obvious and well recognized. The tremendous social and economic losses resulting from these diseases in times of peace are multiplied by the extraordinary conditions arising out of the world war. Furthermore, the winning of the war demands that these diseases be controlled in the entire civil population to insure the protection of the industrial army as well as that of the soldiers and sailors. To accomplish it it is not sufficient to inaugurate the campaign in the camps and a limited zone about the camp, but the control measures should include the largest cities and all parts of every State in the Union. (Asst. Surg. Gen. A. J. McLaughlin, United States Public Health Service.) |