The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-22
COUNTY HEALTH boards
The Pioneer Association Holds Its
Second Annual Convention.
ABLE ADDRESS By DIX. CROFT
lie Would Eliminate the Study OF Physi-
olocy aud Anatomy from the schools
and Substitute Instruction in lily.
gicne-Profcssor Tayior's Paper.

Lackawanna county took place yester-
day in the Scranton board of health
rooms in city hall Sanitarians from all
over the county were present, represent
ing the health boards of Scranton, Dun
more. Taylor, Jermyn, Blakely. Win
ton, Dickson and Elmhurst. DR.. Geo.
c. Croft. of Bucknell university, one
of the best known and most learned
promoters OF hygiene in the state, was
also present and gave a very instruc-
tive address.
The convention was opened at 9
o'clock by DIR. j. X. Bentley, president
of the associated boards. who i'm brief
manner reviewed the work of the past
six months and congratulated the or
ganiZation on the progress which 1t had
made. He then introduced r. j. Beam
ish, private secretary to Mayor Bailey,
who read the mayors address of well
come, his honor being unable to be
present. The mayors address was as
follows: '
Gentlemen Of the Associated Boards Of
Health:-The duty of making visitors feel
that they are welcome is one that Is most
pleasant, most gratifying. If all my la
bors were Of so light a nature, the office
of mayor would be a s.necure from which
] would be most unwilling to depart at the
expiration of my term. 1t gives me par
ticularly great pleasure to welcome those
who are associated for purposes Affecting
the public welfare. l know of no other
association of SO much real good to a
The establishment Of these bodies. al
though of recent date, has already per-
formed wonders in the way of sanitation.
As said In my inaugural message to the
councils Of Scranton: l am in favor OF
widening the scope of sanitary legislation
and of increasing the powers of those
entrusted with the execution Of such laws
and ordinances. l understand that the
chief object of your organization Is the
accomplishment of uniformity In SAN
itary regulations throughout Lackawan-
ma county This is at once laudable and
practical. Legislation to be Of the great
est good to a community should be uni
form. The several sections of this cOun-
ty are so united in interest that we should
not be hampered by numerous. perplex-
Ing and widely differing laWs.1 L alsn hearts
lily approve of the other objects of your
organization and promise you that will
render you every assistance which 1t may
be in my power to afford. Once again,
gentlemen, |, on behalf of the citizens of
Scranton. give you hearty welcome.
PROFESSOR TAYLOR'S TALK.
Professor ]. c. Taylor gave an inter-
esting address on SANITARY Condition
of Schools" presenting some interest
ing data CLEANED from his visits to the
various schools of this county. He
spoke encoura gingly Of the greater re-
gard for proper sanitation and hygiene
that is being manifested by the school
boards and teachers. Out Of the 253
could be found fault with in the matter
70 lighting and ventilation and only
twelve schools in the county are To-
. Gated on sites that could not be en-
tirely approved Of.
The subject of DR.. GroT's address
was School Hygiene" He treated 1t
in a thoroughly practical and exhaus-
tive manner and commanded the indi-
vidual attention Of the convention dur
ing the hour and thirty minutes taken
up by his treatment Of the subject. He
then to the teachers, then to the school
boards and finally to the boards of
health. giving them in a practical and
| concise form the benefits Of his twenty
years of observation and study of the
| subject of caring for children during
their school years.
He dwelt at some length on the idea
Of which he Is the recognized cham
| pion, and which he Is frequently called
| upon to advance or defend In medical
| and school journals, that the study OF
eliminated from the schools and in
| struction in hygiene substituted, this
| instruction to be given by medical men
In discussing this subject afterwards
| DR.. A. +. Allen, health officer Of this
city. agreed with DR.. Croft in his con-
| tentiOn that knowledge Of anatomy
| and physiology was not as necessary
| to the young pupil as q knowledge OF
| the laws Of hygiene. In his opinion
| physiology and anatomy were not only
unnecessary but detrimental to the
| child.
DISCUSSING THE PAPERS.
Dr. ]. r. Murphy, of Dunmore, Of
fered the suggestion that teachers
should be instructed in hygiene. DR.
Bentley, DR.. Heath. Dr. Van Sickle
DR.. Bateson and several others also
entered into the discussion provoked
By the papers Of Professor Taylor and
Dir. Croft. A vote Of thanks was ten
dered the essayists and 1t was de.
cided to have both papers printed and
circulated throughout the state.
| The report Of the executive commit
tee was then made by it's chairman
DR.. S. d. Davis, Of Jermyn. DR.. Davis
reported that the executive commit
tee had visited the various boards o.
health throughout the county for the
purpose of inducing those not connect
ed with the organization to join ant
met with very great success. Tht
boards Of Archibald, Taylor, Jermyn
Scranton, Blakely, Winton, Elmhurs
and Dickson have been enrolled during
the year, and have paid their dues
Mayfield has also Joined. Carbondal'
t I antft Bunrnure- have also promised t.
come in. ThrooD, Dalton, La Plume
Oily phant and Waverly have organized
boards but have not as yet become af
filiated with the association. There arr
no boards organized In Gouldsboro ant
Glenburn boroughs.
1--WE find," the report goes on tc
say. much trouble for board ot
health in the municipalities of thi
county to secure any appropriation
whatever for sanitary purposes. Somt
of the boards have paid their dues b.
private subscriptions. 1t is certainl.
not right that this should be so. Bor
ough councils should do all in thei
power to strengthen the hands Of thos
appointed on sanitary boards. Their
should be some law compelling borough
councils to make proper appropriation
for sanitary work.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
DR.. j. X. Bentley, of Providence, ant
DR.. +. L. Van Sickle, of Blakely, wer
| TtsclcCtSu " lIIC oillCCS vi picolucul dil'
vice president respectively for the en-
suing year. M. c. Judge, Of Taylor
declined reelection as secretary ant
treasurer and DR.. j. w. Houser, of Tay
lor, was chosen, DR.. S. D. Davis, Jer
myn; DR.. J. c. Bateson, Elmhurst; M
c. Judge, Taylor; DR.. j. r. Murphy
Dunmore, and H. L. Thompson. Blake
ly. were chosen as members of the ex
ecutive committee.
The question as to whether a lay
man can act as health officer was dis
cussed at length and the conclusion
arrived ut was that there was nothing
in the law to prevent 1t, but it was no
to be advised. The fact that the boar
OF health of Throop has no physical
among its members was brought to tn
attention Of the meeting and the opin
ion accepted was that the board Is no
legally constituted.
Those who registered with Secretar,
Jiidre were.