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Show Utah Health Shorn Bif li Improvement h lf State Particularly Free From More 5eiVs Cn tagious Diseases; Mortality Rate Lovrr Interest in Clean Town Con e- GENERAL health and sanitation conditions throughout the state of Utah have shown a marked improvement during the year 1916, as shown .by the figures and re-: re-: ports gathered by the secretary of the state board of health. Reports from every section of the state indicate that the more serious contagious diseases were much less prevalent during the present year than ever before, except in a few isolated instances in which small towns or communities com-munities were afflicted with brief epidemics epi-demics of measles, typhoid fever and scarlet fever. On the whole, however, the state has been particularly free from contagious and infectious maladies mala-dies of the more serious kind. In proportion pro-portion to the number of cases of various vari-ous diseases the mortality rate has beeu exceptionally low, as is indicated by the mortality table for the year, which is being figured out now in the ottiM of Dr. T. B. Beatty. secretary of the state board of health, but will not .be completed until all reports for the month of December are received some, time in January of next year. Clean Town Contests. As a measure of what has been accomplished ac-complished in the state during the present pres-ent year in the line of improved health and sanitation conditions, there is perhaps per-haps no better gauge than the statewide state-wide clean-town contest which, is conducted con-ducted annually under directions of the state board of health. The third of these contests, just concluded this year, shows what the judge of the contest designates as a wonderful improvement in conditions throughout Utah. " In fact, he declares it is doubtful if dny other state in the union can show such systematic and continuous health work as has been accomplished by the incorporated cities and towns of Utah. In the contest this year the town of Logan, in Cache county, won highest honors in not only its class, but all classes, by scoring Hhe highest percentage percent-age of any city or town in the state. Its score was 74.5 out of a possible 1U0. Salt Lake won over Ogden in the contest for first place .between cities of the first class. This is the first time that Salt Lake has achieved this dis- tihetion. Judge Makes Report. James H. Wallis, judge of the clean town contest, has made a thorough inspection in-spection of conditions! throughout the state, and in his report to the board of health enters into a detailed consideration consider-ation of improvements that have been made and of conditions that need improving. im-proving. He points out some highly unsatisfactory health and sanitation conditions found among . the rural schools of the state and offers some per- j tinent surestions as to what should be done to remedy these. In his report he says: At the close of ttie third annual "(.lean town" contest, it is exceedingly exceeding-ly gratifying- to be able to state that sanitary conditions in Utah are wonderfully won-derfully improved; while it is doubtful if any state in the union can show such systematic and continuous health work as lias been accomplished by the incorporated cities and towns of Utah since the inauguration of these contests con-tests by the state board of health. This is particularly true with reference refer-ence to the installation of municipal water systems in some of the very smallest towns, and the improvement improve-ment of water supplies in other cities. Importance of Pure Water. The importance of having pure water wa-ter for domestic purposes has become so generally "recognized that in some of the very smallest places, where the bonding capacity is most insignificant, insignifi-cant, some of the public-spirited men have given their joint promissory note to make up the necessary amount, in one instance amounting to several thousand dollars, to pay the expense of bringing pure water to their homes. Another extremely healthy evidence of the good results of this "clean town" campaign is seen in the demand de-mand for sewer systems and extensions exten-sions to do away with the filthy out- house which has always been and always al-ways will be a positive menace to public health. Some of the cities of the state have done a most commendable work in this regard during the year now closing, clos-ing, while preliminary steps have already al-ready been taken in other towns looking look-ing to the installation of sewer systems sys-tems next year. In smaller places where the water table and the absence of surface wells permit the installation of properly constructed cesspools, hundreds of homes have installed modern sanitary IJiuiiiuing iu uu a.wty wun uie outside privy and the emptying of slops on the ground, with the resultant fly evil. Salt Lake Cemmended. In the matter of the systematic collection col-lection and effectual disposal of garbage, gar-bage, I find there is much work to be done. Salt Uake City is the only place in the state which has any general gen-eral system. The great majority of the people want clean home surroundins-u, and to encourage them in thus protecting the general public health all garbage and ' refuse should be frequently gathered up and properly disposed of. Vacant lots, which have oeen a blot on the appearance of a town, have at last been made attractive, and fn some instances remunerative, for weeds of the most noxious type have been destroyed and their place taken by profitable vegetable production produc-tion or other form of cultivation. In i this connection I desire to commend the good work done by the Boy Scouts, women's civic organizations and the parents' class movement throughout the state. The impetus given by this "clean -town" contest to the screening of the homes of the people continues unabated. un-abated. In some of the smaller cities inspected, so general has been this movement that it would be hard to find an unscreened house, unless it be the school house, which again brings up the question: "If we encourage the screening of our homes, why should not our schoolhouses be screened?" Certainly there can be no argument argu-ment against it. Our children spend in these places from five to six hours every school day in the ve;ir, and able future requirements, prompt the j presentation of the plan to the people of Salt Lake for their consideration. On behalf of the city commission 1 solicit the support and "co-operation of the people of this city. J3acked by that support and co-operation we can look forward to 1917 with every confidence that our civic growth and progress will be as marked and substantial as during :tny year in the past r months when 1 that, too, in the u?erous. during I dies arc the moso """typhoid sea- 1 wJiat is known ar 1 son." tnat in some 1 It is good tohr.. .he old diiapl- places visited thcwre and board dated pole, bari beeu removed fences of the p i-ins. trees aI7 and in their )'fn There Is nui shrubbery aroA" mpushed In more work h-L t.itieB and f- P estra- "eneiur cnti ofM ' dition of Jny m Xllcr of ters throiiJout V t i (Section, found iherfdeficLen . n dig. proper vciltLtion and t en tnere while sui a tnJn,munity is infoctinghem at JNiht after is sickness m nJn the after-hardly after-hardly A-er thouf-n, women and I night, nd ftentVn babies, as- I noonliundrtds y chil.ren. and tof. fee it safe to 1 sc-njble there. ea if tney s0 de-Sfuch de-Sfuch people tQ lDreathe a foul, frequent smnere jyianv of these sir: and er empty store buiid-jyfisonousyucted buiid-jyfisonousyucted Witb no regard f theaters fv& protection or other W tugs, of The seats ai-e placed I! , for veher and the audience often I safes' and the aisles congested. II closater is closed for the- night V crXately after the performance and i ? Tfl oniv a short time the next 1 Avhlle the sweeping is done. Sun- jrlu is absolutely unknown. When contagious or infectious dls-Vse dls-Vse appears in our communities, the enie is almost invariably placed at e door of the public schools. It is ; question whether we should not Nier place some of the blame at ajst on the picture house, where , ry character is allowed to attend, Iei where no attempt is made to I experly and effectually cleanse the an a'fter audiences leave, unless it prcl-ie use of the stiff broom on dry f la scattering the dust every- no,"- whtation Improved. Sani the "clean town" inspection did At her good than to improve some J?ie unsanitary and absolutely un-no un-no Miv conditions found in the pub-?f pub-?f Vrchoolsr it would have accom-healLd accom-healLd lt3 purpose. Schools have . found without any drinking va-piisITor va-piisITor tne children, while at other keols the -water has been unfit to te'mk, in some years, and in other l'-es the janitor work is being done dlhildren, with the result that walls, P1!ats and desks are covered with dust by c)n the children go to school. seatn manv Places the windows of wh'Jh'1rooms an only be opened from 1T'ottotn for ventilation, because of schon transom rods or other minor the iis tnus endangering the health.' brok children, who are, in conse-defecfm conse-defecfm exnosed to direct drafts., of thtiavc been inspected where the quence.ML.re breathed by the pupils Rooms jveiy poisonous. In some atmosph VVhisw-as due to the fact that was posi m -ha been instructed instances iVS-y of the ventilating tho teacherrV Vstroved if the win-that win-that the efficie7 system would be A V1 buildings visited dows were openedVl.re traps, heated Home of the sc!kv stove with long are nothing but i or by furnaces either by the old-tii. nent as to cut reaches of stove pipe,f,'orn the main so located in the basel start below, off ail means of egress s not even a entrance should a fire f say nothing In such buildings there 1 dplpe, hose bucket to carry water, tl Vdrilla. of fire extinguishers. 'sta or fire escapes, and no fireV L Room for Improvement In some of the very bes re ull buildings the windows of t)u LhsS where the toilets are located X nna screened, and, as a result Vooms rooms swarm with flies, w hie 11 Al" their way into the different il are where the pupils are studying. 1 ce, most all of the school groundsV n bare and desolate of any semba V of trees, thrubberv or plaj'groil V-apparatus, V-apparatus, while some of them V overrun with weeds, sage bru& I and rubbish and litter swept out o 1 the school buildings. In some schools, because of lack oil funds to employ additional help, we found rooms overcrowded and con- taining as many as three grades, with I three grown up scholars sitting at V one small desk, to the absolute dis- 1 comfort of the pupils and at the cost 4 of efficient study. In this matter of ! seating, it might be well to suggest that all seats and desks should be adjusted at least twice a. year to the 1 size and needs of growing children. Some of the school rooms visited i were cheerless and pictureless, no dec- t orations of any kind on the walls to e make the place inviting and inspirational; inspira-tional; no accomodations for the prop-er prop-er care of wraps; no thermometers 1 with which to tell the temperature of the rooms; stoves unjacketed; hardly c any apparatus with which to work h In one school we found the principal t teaching the shape of the earth by means of a ball of yarn, with a girl's hat nin stuck through (t. s Too Much Dust. In the smaller communities special attention should be given the oiling of the school house floors. In some of these places the dust settles thickly on scats, desks, books and walls. This dust contains a rare collection of filth from corrals and stables, from the roads, from the polluted solj of the school grounds and other unsanitary surroundings. It is breathed by the children and gets on their clothes and bodies. If the drinking water is kept in an open bucket, as it is in some places, much of this filth settles there also. If floors are first scrubbed, then allowed al-lowed to dry thoroughly, they can be treated very successfully with crude oil sold for this purpose, by means of an ordinary mop. Three or four treatments treat-ments will be all that is necessary during the school year. The stiff broom should be banished forever from the school rooms and seats and desks should be dusted with damp or oily cloths. The school is an institution 'whose sanitary conditions should be the concern of every parent. And yet, judging from inquiries made of 'the teachers in charge wherever we have gone, it is a sale guess that nine-tenths nine-tenths of the parents have never been in the school buildings and know ab- 1 tnarenfs interest m m . Glutei SSSd to the BChool room and dltloni It tne envlronmen ts then ao The rmlne Its Health. Hjrem lie - breathe fcl lr It vulnerable to. the at FuSS0n.'J IfK S successful The scho I latins to tne ino -w as well as ll NTo pupil will be urn for irvi V lessons or talKs n u arThaenruSrJ VSVr, thafpnor poled6 ToVA V t,,e workf 0tUheK- nf the vear I V't some of the c"0', we are DleaA Y.ected and unsanitary, these sohoofs Y rooms and surrouni admirably. B hou3es are neA ' with unhealthfil I ihgs. |