Show to the editor ol 01 the eureka re porter may I 1 a visitor in your corn com be permitted a few lines of comment regarding the highly im proper use to which your local library has been put this week As aou ou are aware the state health authorities with the support or con seat of certain individuals unknown to the writer have been using the 11 arary as a medical clinic for the examination of children in the mall maln room of the building little tots at flirted with various all ailments ments have been subjected to noise pi provoking ok ing examinations to the great disturb ance of library patrons the library is the last institution where such examinations should bo be conducted not only do these exact notions disturb the peace and quiet which are so essential to readers but it likewise m menaces naces the health of those children who come to the library to read or exchange books 1 I am reliably informed that a case of diphtheria dip thena theria was discovered during the examinations which were conducted in the chil children dreas s room of the library As everyone knows diphtheria dip theria is a serious and highly contagious dis ease the fact that the affected child was brought into the children s room makes it both possible and probable that other children may become contaminated it is difficult to write with patience of the officers of the state board of health who above all persons ought to use bet ter judgement jud gement than to bring diseased children into a room constantly visited by healthy ones to eliminate as much as possible the chances of public contagion it is the common practice of eastern libraries to sterilize all return eJ books before putting them into circulation again this Is done be cause so many readers take books into homes where some member of the family Is ill with a contagious disease in the city of eureka where funds are not available tor for fumigate ing books that have been in ciraula tion we are presented with the spec bacle of so called health offic officials lais disease into the library surely some other and less public ly patronized quarters could be found to conduct such health activity bringing it into a public library de teats feats the very purpose tor for which the state health service was created in eureka they commit the glaring in discretion of taking disease into a place where defenseless children may most easily contract it EMMANUEL SLATER eureka utah october aa 19 1922 |