SYMPOSIUM ON PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS 87 
jurisdiction of the State, but it materially aids the State au- 
thorities in extending, developing and maintaining sanitary 
conditions. In the furtherance of the “Back to the Farm” 
movement, the Federal and State authorities are co-operating, 
and those of us who are engaged in public health work realize 
that as the rural communities become more densely populated 
and the lines of communication become more numerous, the 
occurrence and prevalence of disease will seriously menace 
the success of the movement, unless adequate sanitation is pro- 
vided and actively maintained. The more frequent and easy 
the communication between rural communities, the greater the 
likelihood of the introduction and spread of disease, not only 
of man, but of domestic animals, 
But the purpose of Rural Sanitation is not only to establish 
and maintain conditions conducive to health, but to eradicate 
diseases which prevent the safe residence in certain sections. 
Many fertile acres cannot be cultivated profitably because such 
diseases as Malaria, Typhoid Fever, Hookworm Disease and 
Rocky Mountain Fever too seriously interfere with those who 
undertake the work. 
It is a matter of common observation that the sources of 
infection in many cases of typhoid fever and malaria which 
actually develop in our large cities, are traceable to rural com- 
munities such as summer resorts, roadhouses, picnic grounds, 
and the small towns and villages which the city residents have 
visited. Insanitation in rural communities is a constant and 
growing menace to the public health and to business prosperity. 
The touring car, automobile truck and interurban cars are 
bringing the communities into more frequent communicaticn, 
and it behooves the people to take out sanitary insurance as 
well as fire insurance, for they are both business propositions. 
Sanitation is a business matter, and not a sentimental fad. 
Insanitation in certain rural communities is closely related 
to and dependent upon insanitation in the incorporated towns 
whose taxpayers support inactive mayors, councils and health 
officers. Too often do farmers go into town to purchase sup- 
plies and carry back to their homes typhoid fever and other 
preventable infections. Such misfortune may happen during 
the busy season when the farmer needs all the help he can get 
to till the soil and carry on his other activities. It is bad enough 
