The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

THE HEALTH BULLETIN. 257it was natural for babies to throw up.Another one prescribed soothingsyrup which contained morphine. Anotherone recommended anise seedcordial, and so it went; the youngmother being willing to depend upondrugs and remedies, but not willingto practice prevention by feedingrationally. When the digestive machinerywas put to the bad the babyfinally took dysentery and died.'"Continuing, the doctor said, 'I hadthree infants die of pneumonia lastwinter, simply because their motherswoiild not give them enough fresh air.In spite of my instructions that plentyof air made babies strong and protectedthem against colds and coughs,still they would cover their babies'faces with veils and napkins and keepthe life-giving air away. The foolishidea,' said the doctor, 'which seemsto exist everywhere, that fresh, coldair is injurious, must be somehow extractedfrom the minds of our people,or else pneumonia-dead babies willalways be with us.' "There are the two entirely differentstories about the cause of this baby'sdeath. These two stories are typicalof a great many other two-sided storiestold in regard to thovisands of needlessbaby deaths that occur in North Carolinaevery year. Are you inclined toagree with the preacher and place theresponsibility on the Lord, or with thedoctor and acknowledge that a verylarge part of it is "up to us"?Let's stop a great lot of these needlessinfant deaths. It can be done byimpressing upon the mother the importanceof proper care and feeding ofher baby. If you know of a motherwho probably has very little generalknowledge regarding the best way ofraising babies and making themstrong, vigorous children, just writethe State Board of Health asking thata bulletin on "The Baby" be sent themother. It will be sent free of chargeby return mail, a ad no mention willbe made that it was requested.Sound sanitation makes good health"catching."MAY HAVE OUR OFFICE COPYSince the exposure of the Oxypathorfraud by the State Board of Health afew months ago, letters have continuedto pour into this oflBce expressingthe appreciation of our readers thatthis fake was nailed and laid outcold. We have not space to reproducemany of these letters, but here isone from the mayor of a North Carolinatown which we can not help givingour readers:State Board of Health. Raleigh, N. C:Gentlemen.•—I have been receivingyour monthly bulletin and I verymuch appreciate the same. I loaned afriend my copy in which you exposedthe Oxypathor, and he has never returnedit. I think it was destroyed,as his brother is an agent for the Oxypathor.Will you please send me anothercopy of the Bulletin in whichyou expose the Oxypathor? I wouldvery much appreciate it if you coulddo so. Very truly,, Mayor.Such a man shall have anothercopy of the Bulletin containing thisarticle if we have to give -him our officeIncopy.only one way can future generationsbe relieved of the yoke of preventabledisease, and that way is by ageneral dissemination of facts concerningthose diseases. Is there anymedium that could be more effectivelyemployed for such teaching than theschool ? But first we must haveteachers who are capable of suchteaching.Indiana is preparing to add a coursein public health and sanitation to thecurriculum of its school of medicine inconnection with the State University,with the idea of preparing physiciansto intelligently meet the problems ofpublic health work.