Entered as second-class matter February 21, 1922, at the post office at Sacramento. California, under the Act of August 24, 1912.

Acceptance for mailing at spectal rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917.

Many inquiries concerning the significance of laboratory examinations of water samples are received. The average person does not know what the presence of B. Coli in water may mean and the whole report of an examination of a water supply is Greek to the novice. The California State Board of Health sends a statement with each laboratory report of an examination of water, explaining its significance. This state ment reads as follows:

GUY P. JONES
EDITOR

by a description of the sanitary surround-
ings of the supply. Express charges are
paid by the applicant. The examination
seeks for the presence of organisms prev-
alent in and characteristic of sewage,
and for certain physical and common
affect its potability.
chemical constituents in water which may

B. Coli are organisms most commonly found in sewage and are considered harmless in themselves. The B. Coli in 1 cubic centimeter of water ( teaIndex is the probable number of B. Coli spoon). A B. Coli Index of 1 or more indicates that the water contains such an amount of sewage pollution that it is probably unsafe for drinking purposes. "The California State Board of Health A negative finding is of value as showdoes not examine water for its thera- ing that the water was safe only at the peutic value or physiological effect on time of sampling. When the findings the human system, due to minerals con- indicate contamination, either slight or tained in the water. The common serious, a field examination of the surcommunicable diseases carried by drink-roundings of the supply is urgent. Until ing water are those originating in the the source of the contamination is located human alimentary tract and are there and eliminated the water used for drinkfore carried by sewage and sewage-ing purposes should be boiled or properly polluted water. These diseases include filtered. typhoid fever, dysentery, diarrhea and cholera.

It is neither necessary nor practicable to examine water for the actual presence of disease-producing organisms. The mere presence of sewage, or the possibility of its getting into water, is sufficient warning of the danger of infection to anyone drinking the water, because at any time such water may carry the organisms of a disease.

The Board, therefore, examines samples of water as its facilities permit, only when submitted properly refrigerated in its own sterile bottles, accompanied

HOW TO JUDGE THE SAFETY OF A SUPPLY.

A clear water is no indication of a safe water, nor is color or odor proof of a polluted water. The quality of a water supply is best judged by a combination of laboratory analyses for evidence of sewage therein, and a field examination to determine what opportunities there are for sewage or sewage-polluted water, intestinal or urinary matter, to enter or contaminate the source in question. All defects revealed by a field examination should be corrected before seeking laboratory analyses. Analyses of water from

new wells, less than a month old, are valueless.

This Is Sound

Mental Hygiene.

Common sources of contaminating material are sewage in any form, leaky Too much of the effort exerted along sewers, nearby privies or cesspools, soil lines of mental hygiene has, necessarily, and surface drainage or surface ground to do with effects rather than causes. water, chicken pens, pig pens, corrals. This is due to the comparative newness barns, kitchen slops, birds or animals. of all mental hygiene work and the very All of these are objectionable in water. complicated structure of the entire field. Those in italic type are dangerous. Can It is doubtful if, in any public health they reach the supply? activity, early action in prevention counts for more than it does in mental hygiene. The time to prevent menta! abnormalities is in early childhood and the parents' part in this important service constitutes a great responsibility. Dr. Lawson G. Lowrey, director of the Child Guidance Clinic of the University of Minnesota has written a clear, comprehensive statement of the parents' part in child training. He says:

CONTAMINATION OF WELLS, SPRINGS AND

SURFACE WATER.

On an average, 50 per cent of the wells examined are found to be contaminated. The majority are contaminated due to (a) defective casings, not double cased or concreted, which therefore admit surface water, (b) by entrance of surface drainage over the top of the well, or (c) due to inadequate curb or to loose fitting covers which permit soil tracked thereon to be washed back into the well by splash or pump drippage. Most instances of pollution occur in winter or during rains.

The filtering action of dry soil is very great. Privy contents are not apt to travel more than 10 or 15 feet in dry soil. On the other hand, where cesspools, privies, etc., reach to ground water, pollution may be carried through the soil by the ground water 200 feet or more. Where the sewage reaches to a porous gravel or to fissured rock formation, as may occur in deep cesspools or sewer wells, water supplies are menaced for fully 1000 feet distant.

Springs should be protected against stock contamination and surface runoff. Surface waters are not safe unless the watershed is devoid of all habitation, roads, trails and the like.

Uncovered tanks are subiect to contamination by birds and they often contain moss growths which, though harmless, impart an unpleasant taste to the water. Water tanks should be covered to exclude sunlight and birds."

Before man made us citizens. great nature made us men.-James Russell Lowell.

United States Birth
Certificates for Babies.

Uncle Sam is now taking official notice of the arrival of new babies in certain states. The plan is that in states which are within the United States birth registration area and in which the state registrars are agents of the signed by the Director of the U. S. Bureau of the Census may be secured and sent to mothers as notification that the birth of their babies has been recorded. The certificates have a picture of the Capitol in the background and bear the official seal of the Department of

Bureau of the Census official birth certificates

"Do I cause my child to disobey by: Uttering useless or unreasonable commands?

Contradicting my own commands? Threatening him (and never carrying out the threat)?

Stopping everything he starts to do? Always refusing his requests, even though they are reasonable?

Paying no attention to what he does until it interferes with my comfort? Promising and failing to keep my promise?

Making him want to disobey because of the excitement it creates? Evading my own duties and responsibilities?

trivial

Constantly expecting disobedience? Quarreling with him over matters?

Failing to make him understand?

ALWAYS PARENTS' FAULT. Disobedience is always the parents' fault. It means a failure to yield to authority, yet children are ordinarily quite willing to accept authority; indeed, some are even too eager. Many times the parents feel that the child must vield to them, but never see that their demands are absurd and unreasonable and would not be tolerated by themselves. Many people destroy obedience by issuing a whole series of confusing, often contradictory commands, which they are quite unable to follow up, or even to remember. Then when important matter comes up, one such that obedience by the child is absolutely necessary, the child has no way of distinguishing this from the thousand unimportant matters with which he is harassed.

an

Trouble results. Often he is then severely and unfairly punished. So he

tinue to do as he pleases, since his own rights are never considered.

Some children always get "no" for an answer to requests. They are stopped from doing anything they start, even though it be of great importance to them. They are hedged in by constant restrictions from everything which their need for play and activity prompts. Surely they are not at fault when disobedience occurs.

SHOULD SET GOOD EXAMPLE.

You Can't Afford
To Be Sick.

Doctors claim people are healthier than they used to be. One reason is that few can afford to be ill these days. The high cost of sickness is one of the lustiest children of the high cost of living.

A few generations ago, nearly every one had time to burn. No one rushed unless the sheriff was after him or he was in danger of missing a train.

The example of the parent should be Women sat placidly around at "sewing clean and square. Care should be taken circles," comparing surgical operations. that the child understands just what is There was even a time when a woman's wanted. Obedience should be expected social standing was determined by the in attitude and in speech. Care should number of times she had gone under the be taken not to interrupt an activity knife. Men, too, had leisure. important to the child for a matter trivial even to the adult. So far as disease. possible, time should be given to finish an activity and warning given ahead of the time. Infancy is the golden period for setting up almost automatic habits of

obedience such that no later difficulties occur. Do not expect that you can per; mit a small child to do as it pleases and that "he will outgrow it later." Of such material are "incorrigible" children made.

It is unnecessary and most undesirable to obtain obedience by fear. Threats which are horrible lead to contempt or a fear capable of causing serious mental difficulties. Love, faith, coolness and care in enforcing your worthwhile de mands and having no others will turn the trick.

The public had a morbid interest in Also, it had spare time to gratify the craving to be ill. While this might not have been exactly a craving, still every one sort of expected illness as a part of fate, not to be dodged.

This mental attitude made them succumb easily.

They can't afford the time. They can't Today people can't afford to be sick. afford the money. Where a patient once was reasonably sure of getting off with a diagnosis that he had some such simple has discovered all sorts of mysterious, ailment as the grippe or hives, science complicated maladies.

is sent to have his teeth X-rayed. He's Times have changed. The patient often shunted from one specialist to another. After a few experiences, he subcon sciously discovers that he can't afford to Above all, be perfectly fair and just-be sick. So he forgets about it. Maybe if you do, you will frequently scold your-it "gets" him and he dies. But it's surefire for imaginary ailments.

self.

ABOVE ALL BE FAIR.

A girl of 10 is called "incorrigible." A steen bill from the doctor is excel She is of average intelligence and physi-lent medicine. We're not implying that cal development. Adopted in infancy, all disease is imaginary. Far from it. she had the indulgent treatment so But much of the sickness of former frequently given only children by nervous generations was either imaginary or the mothers, with the result that she be- result of foolish living-gluttony, lack of came arrogant, restless and finally dis-sanitation, and the absence of quarantine obedient. When she started to school, in infectious epidemics.

western Health Journal.

Diphtheria.

MORBIDITY.*

her behavior became worse, as is usually The doctors have taught us how to the case with over-indulged children who live sensibly. That's their public service have no habit-patterns for social ad- and it's a tremendous one.-Northjustment. Her problem became distressing to the foster-mother, who found herself unable to cope with the problems of a growing child. Ever since the child was 8, the mother has tried to have her "sent away." She has nagged and fussed at the child; tried all sorts of punishments, some of great severity, all without effect. To explain the behavior, we find only the faulty handling of the parents. They have what they have made and now are unable or unwilling to face the problem fairly and squarely."

239 cases of diphtheria have been reported, as follows: Los Angeles 64, San Francisco 36, Los Angeles County 21, Oakland 15; Santa Clara County 10. San Diego 9. Merced Sacramento 7. Long Beach 12, El Monte 5, County 1, Alameda 4, Alhambra 4, Antioch 2, Daly City 2. Monterey County 3, Modesto 2, Huntington Park 3, Berkeley 2, Santa Mon*From reports received on June 23d and June 24th for week ending June 21st.