Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1909 — New Health Laws Are In Force. [ARTICLE]

New Health Laws Are In Force.

The state hoard of health Friday passed rules to comply with the new health laws passed by the last legislature. The rules of the state hoard of health have the force of a statute, and become laws upon their promulgation. Since the adjournment of the legislature the board has had the rules in preparation and under discussion. The most important of the rules adopted by the board has to do with the preparation of schools for pupils. In explanation the board states that simultaneously with the opening of the public schools diphtheria,- scarlet fever, measles, mumps and many other diseases usually increase. School boards are forbidden to overcrowd school rooms; to order all sick children home as soon as discovered. In the construction of new buildings school boards must provide dry sites and such drainage as shall be necessary to maintain them dry; stone foundations, with cement floor basements for all, two stories or more in height. Rules for the regulation of school rooms are in substance as follows: Desk tops and banisters to he washed with soap and hot water, and -afterward treated with a disinfectant. Water in open buckets and tin cups is condemned as dangerous, and a free flowing faucet and small cup recommended. A strong stream from the larger faucet hitting the small cup will overflow the cup and aid in the disinfection. Slates are condemned because of the general practice of cleaning them with mouth juices. The distribution and collection of pencils and pens is to be avoided as much as possible because of the habit of chewing the ends.