Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-30
THE HEALTH OF THE STATE.

1AO<A ~ II VI lie
Comments and Suggestions by the
Secretary-Defects in Sanitary Laws
The Sanitary Legislation OF the
State Said TO be Inadequate and
Behind the T1mes-The Connecticut
System Alleged to be Sadly Lacking.
In the fifteenth annual report of the
state board of health covering the seven
months ending June 80, 1899, Dr.. G. A.
Lindsey of this city, secretary and treas
urer of the board and state superintend-
emit of registration and vital statistics,
says in his general report, after giving o
resume of the statistics of the year as to
the health of the state:
There are radical defects in the Connect
icut system of sanitary administration
which are irremediable. The system is in
capable of the best results; it is incompat-
ible with the demands of sanitary science.
The sanitary laws of the state are prsc-
tically the same as they were on the stat
ute book 100 years ago. Now, the admin
istration of state sanitation has attained to
the position of a science. 1t has certain
we'll established laws, and sanitary results
are only to be gained by the knowledge
and practical application of these laws. A
practical knowledge of the essential prin-
oiples and practice Of public sanitation is
outside the requirements Of the average
selectman and of the justices of the peace.
Nearly one hundred years ago, in 1895,
Unlimited power was given by the legisla-
ture to the civil authority and the select
men to give, make and publish rules, orders
and regulations for preserving the people
of any town in Connecticut from conta-
gious diseases.
That authority has continued to reside
in the same body of men uninterruptedly
down to the present day. In view of the
great advances, in knowledge of what is
requisite to the maintenance, improvement
and preservation of the public health, is 1t
not deserving of serious consideration
whether the time has not arrived when the
public welfare demands that men who are
chosen for the performance of duties of an
entirely different nature, should no longer
be charged with functions which they are
usually incompetent to discharges Whether
the scientific qualifications necessary for
the duties of health officers should not ex-
clude and make ineligible those who are
not go qualifeda In short, it is not ap-
parent that selectmen and justices of the
peace are not the men bsst qualified to
guard the public heslths That they are
not endowed simply by virtue of holding
those Offices, with the adequate knowledge
of sanitary science.
1t is true that few years ago the legis-
lature passed law requiring the town
board of health in every town to appoint a
health officer or health COMMITTEES, which
officer or committee shall have all the
powers of the board. The operation of
his law has in many instances been attend
ed with gratifying results.
But in many other towns it has &C.
complished nothing whatever, because the
board of sslectmen have appointed their
whole body committee or some of their
own numbers, and things have lust gone
on in the old way.
1t would be easy to enlarge upon the de-
merits of the Connecticut system; but it ia
rather the present purpose to bring the
subject to the attention of the thcughtful
and public spirited people of the state, as
preliminary to change, which the ten
denotes of the times will soon make imper-
alive.
What is said above applies only to towns,
1t is even more important that some radi.
cal Improvement should be made in the
health administration of cities and Dor.
oughs. Indeed, that in some places is very
complex Within the limits of some towns
in the state there may be several sets 81
legally constituted health authorities, all
having their own limited jurisdictions and
setting independently of each other.
This happens whore there may be one or tive
boroughs in town, or a borough and an incor
porated city. Each Of these have their respec
tive boundaries and may have a city health com
mittee borough health committee and town
health officer or committee.
Internationally Connecticut needs new m eth ods
OF providing for the public health; but they are
not to be adopted hastily, and inconsiderately.
The magnitude of the interests at stake calls for
the exercise of the highest judgment and the
w1sest counses The state board is not pre-.
proposes at the present time, Is to make state
ment that our methods now in use are made
utilize most probably and successfully modern
sanitary science, will involve Fundamental
ehianges The methods Of the beginning of the
its close.
The Bulletin is issued on the 18th of every
report of the state of the health in the common.
wealth of Connecticut during the preceding
month.
1t gives the total mortality of that month in
the state and respectively iu all the towns in the
state OF over 5000 inhabitants more detailed
statement, with an enumeration of the deaths re-
sutIng from the principal diseases, besides other
valuable information.
that number of physicians in diffe Ient towns
IN the state have accepted by request the volun-
larry seT'lCS OF EapltarY correspondents and send
in to the office monthly statements Of the pre-
vailing diseases Of the previous month in their
respective localities, together with such other in
formation as may be OF sanitary interest
The secretary desires to express his sense of
obligation to these correspondents for their very
valuable services He greatly desires to enlist
1t is from these monthly reports of sanitary
correspondents, local health boards and town
Bulletin is obtained
There has been no change in the members of the
board since the last report.
The vacancy caused by the death of the Hon
cooperating the board empowers the governor to
ercised his authority in this instance, and the
board has been without legal adviser nearly
Mr. Johnson died February 10, 1881.
me term OF service for which two of the mem
bers Of the board were elected has expired by
corporation they 'hold their offices until others
are chosen and qualified in their PLACES"
makes 1l the following report from New Haven:
formed by this board We note some positive ad-
vances along the line Of our work and Improve
ments In methods to which we briefly cali your
The hospital for contagious diseases which has
1een SO generously provided and equipped, and
he disposition shown to assist the board in the
care Of cases belonging to this department has
oeen the subject OF repeated commentator and |
The increased growth of our city and corres.
bonding influx of transient residents, occupants
If boarding houses, who are ever liable to con- |
agion, point again to the necessity Of providing
ome suitable and easily accessible place, where
proper attention can be givsn them. As such
persons cannot be admitted to the general hospi.
al, they continue TO be subjects Of our solici. |
ude. Many are able and DESTROYS of meeting |
my expense necessary to their proper care and |
treatment: thoughtful consideration of this
ubject will no doubt lead to some action of vour
honorable body in this direction.
The COMMITTEES appointed to ascertain the b sst |
method OF disiDfectine bedding, Clothing and
material exposed to contagion have the matter
tlil under consideration, and hope at an early
Which shall meet this necessity
10 the plumbing ordinances adopted since our
asst report, we refer with increasing interest
me coed effects Of enforcing these regulatfons |
re becoming each day more apparent There
nay be some defects in the ordinaces but these |
q be easily remedied. A careful study of our
,luInoing inspectors repors must convince
very thoughtful citizen of the present and |
uture advantages to be derived from the care
ui enforcement of every well-chosen Ordinance |
T the code. There is general disposition OF the
numbers to recognize the regulations, and only |
4 single instance has the board been com |
elled to revoke license for the violation of the