The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
NEW HEALTHBOARDLA
THE FEATURES PROPOSED OUT
LINED BY PRESENT MEMBERS.
They Pledge Themselves Not to BE
Candidates for Re-Election-The
County Health Boards.

DR.. ]. N Hurry, secretary of the State
Board of Health, is sending copies of the
following letter to all health officers and
many physicians throughout the State:
You are doubtless aware that our pres.
ent health law is very imperfect. 1t is
inadequate and not, up to the times
new one is needed to place Indiana
abreast of other States, and TO enable the
health authorities to serve the people, as
they should be served. according to the
laws of modern sanitary science. These
facts have been formally recognized in res
outions, unanimously passed at the last
meeting of this board
This letter is to inform you of our in
tention to try to better matters, and to
ask your aid. A committee is studi-
ously at work drawing up the points for
ished two prominent lawyers here, who
have volunteered their services will give
the matter legal form; the proposed law
will then be printed and distributed TO the
physicians and papers of the State. This
effort is simply to do that which is right.
No selfish ends are to be subserved; and
every one will be asked TO help. that the
Commonwealth may be benefited. The
first section of the new law will put the
Health out of office. We will all further
declare that we will not be candidates for
the new State board, thus preventing all
sneers and silencing uncharitable criti-
cisms In the interest of good government.
We shall also recommend TO the appoint
ing power that no applicant for appoint
by the proposed law shall be considered as
1T is certainly true that this office should
seek the man.
Il give you an outline of some of the
features Of the new law:
The new State Board of Health shall
consist Of seven members. four of them
to be physicians, one lawyer. one engineer.
one business man. Appointed by the Gov
ernor. No pay. Only expenses paid. Meet
each. quarter. Duties and powers to be
carefully defined. The idea in associating
these laymen with the physicians in the
constitution Of the board is to make Ii as
representative as possible of all who are
interested in the public health. Their ad-
vice and cooperation would manfestly be
very useful to the medical members. as.
trated by the practical workings and re-
suits of the New York State law.
State Health Ccmmissioner-Shall be ap-
pointed by the board. Shall be n capable
physician who has made a speciality of the
branch of medicine known as sanitary
science and hygiene. He shall be expert
enced in sanitary chemistry and bacteriol-
ogy. Shall be proficient in vital statistics
Term four years. Shall be the secretary
and executive officer of the board. Salary
$1,000. Duties and powers to be carefully
defined.
"A sanatory laboratory shall be estab-
lished where all necessary sanitary analyses
and ARCHAEOLOGICAL examina tions and ali
health work may be done for the people
without charge. modern health board
without sanatory laboratory in charge of
skilled and learned specialists would be al
most helpless. Certainly it would be an
anachronism.
County health boards shall consist of
two physicians and a lawyer or business
man, appointed by the commissioners
One of the physicians to be made secretary
and county health officer. Shalt meet once
q month. Secretary to be paid SO a year
for each 1.000 of population. except in coun-
ties OF over 100. coo: salary in these not to
exceed $1,000 The other two members to
receive no salary. Expenses paid by the
county. Duties and powers to be carefully
defined.
These outlines are Of course. incom-
| plete. They are thus presented now merely
| to give you an understanding of the plan
and TO enlist you in the cause Your
thoughts and suggestions on the subject
are most earnestly solicited All students
of preventive medicine can demonstrate TO
laymen that several millions of dollars are
wasted annually in Indiana in disease and
deaths that need not have been. These mil
lions can be saved. and with them the
heartaches that attend this preventabie
sickness and death. if we but had a proper
| health law. enforced by good men, We
hope that YOU will promise YOUR aid and
that you viii heartily put forth every effort
to further the cause. We ask you to have
this letter published IN your local paper
and request the editor TO give the matter
his serious attention and kind assistance.
Also. make il known that all citizens are
urged to join I'm this effort to do sometime.
that is not only good for the greatest mum.
ber. but good for all. Please let us hear
from yOu-'