The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-31
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Some Opinions as to its Advisa-
bility.


A bill to re-establish a state board of
health has been or will be presented to
the legislature during its present session.
Gov. Northern has urged such a bill, the
people of Brunswick are clamoring for it
and from other sources as well there is
a demand for such measure.
The position of Savannah towards the
question appears to be rather in doubt
At first it would appear that Savannah
would be heartily in favor of such d meas
ure because of the added protection that
would be given it in contending with con-
tagious diseases, and because the city
would then be saved the necessity Of
overlooking her neighbours affairs as well
as her own.
On second thought number of physi-
clans and prominent citizens interested in
sanitation are opposed to a state board of
health, and they give good many rea-
sons for such opposition. In the first
place they say the board would probably
fall into the hands of the politicians, in
which case it would be worse than none
at all Again well meaning but incom-
petent mon might be appointed, whose
mistakes wOulC be costly.
81 am opposed to a state board of
health" said one of the leading ply
sicians of the city when approached on
-
the first place the legislature would never
appropriate sufficient money to properly
maintain the board, and it would always
be crippled institution. The represent
atives from the country counties have no
idea Of the cost of sanitation especially
city sanitation, and they would never con
sent to a proper appropriation. What idea
has the average legislator of the
cost of the sanitation of
city like Savannah. Then again if such a
board were constituted q majority of the
members would be frem the upper portion
of the state, and while they would not be
ininical to our interests, they would not
understand our needs, and we might be
crippled in our eaorts for our own preser-
Walton. 1t would never do for instance
for the quarantine station to be given
over to state health board, The state
would not be willing to appropriate the
money to keep it up as it is kept up now.
and a nonresident board might so mis-
directit as to do great injury to our COM
mercial interests.
Il think, said the physician, 1--WE are
better of as we are now. We have con
troll of our own sanitary affairs, and they
are very well managed, too. The United
States marine hospital service stands
ready to respond to any call whenever
needed, and l see no reason why we
should not take advantage of its SER
vices"
DIR. Drummer expressed himself very
much on the same line. What could a
state board of health do" he said
Gould it undertake to put the
whole state in sanitary condition
That is impossible at any reasonable ex-
pense. Would it take charge of cpl
demics2 Suppose there had been a state
BOARD of health and il had taken charge
Of the Brunswick epidemic. Do you
know what it would have cost the statel
Not cent less than S75, 600 The hire
of experienced physicians and trained
nurses and the feeding of several thous-
and people for three months, would have
cost every cent of that amount. have
no doubt the cost to the government will
fully reach that figure by the time it fin
lShes its work of sanitation at Brunswick
IL costs big money 10 handle
epidemics. The marine hospital service
is maintained by the government for lust
such emergencies. 1t is thoroughly or
gained and very efficient in its work
Under its present organization, with OF
GERS scattered throughout all the states. it
can take hold at moments notice and
all the assistance necessary can be sum
moned to the scene. A great considera-
ton is that the government pays for this
work, as it has perfect right to do. It
Is important, not only TO Georgia, that an
epidemic of yellow fever or smallpox or
other contagious disease in auy por-
tion of the state should be stamped
out or held In bounds, but il is equally
important TO all the adjoining states The
north is receiving millions of dollars an
nually from the south for pensions, and [
see no reason why we should refuse the
comparatively small expenditure re-
quired in the management of an epidemic
Other states of the north and west have
availed themselves of the aid OF the ma
rine hospital service when occasion de-
handed and l see no reason why we
should not do So ] do not think a state
board Of health would prove as satisfac-
tory as our present system"