The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-23
FOR STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
DIR. BRUNNER N FAVOR OF STATE
ORGANIZATION.

fore ts State Board-It Was Feared
Outside Influences Would Affect
IarbOr HuIings-This Objection
Removed by Government Control.
DIR. drummer Thinks state Board
Should Have at Least $50 900 at Its
DisposaI-Subiert May Come to At
tention of Cbathnm's Representa-
tiveS.
The creation of a state board OF health
may be one of the things Chathams rep
resentatives VIII be asked to advocate at
the September session Of the Georgia Leg
islature. Since the control of quarantine
has been surrendered TO the marine hospi-
tai service the prospect for tne favorable
agitation OF this question is brighter than
it was prior 90 the change, 50 far as Sa-
vannah's influence went
When quarantine was under local con-
troll the importance of opposing the crea-
tiou of a state board of health. which
would hold the key to the local CONNER
cial situation, was made so for obvious
reasons. The sharp competition between
Savannah and other large clues of the
state might have caused those cities 10
exercise their influence with the board
more for their own interest than that of
the business men Of savannah. 1t would
have been an easy matter 10 have blocked
the port for slight cause, and detained
vessels for long periods, thereby prejudlc-
ing Savannah as an important shipping
point. All things were not equal under
these circumstances, which accounts for
the opposition that always developed
when The question of a state board
was sprung.
Now that quarantine is no longer under
local control, and may never be again, the
proposition for the creation of state
board meets with favor for the reason
that Savannah could advocate it with the
knowledge il Will stand upon an equal foot
ing with other large cities. There are
no wires now which could be pulled by
those who sought 10 injure local com
merce. All the cities that enter into the
campaign for a heath board can do 80
with the knowledge that no faVoritfstn can
be shown for one to the prejudice of mo
other. There viii be no possibility under
present conditions for the board to per
form other than it's legitimate duties I'm
preventing the spread and using its ef-
iorts IN stamping out disease, wherever
il may develop in the state
The REIMBURSEMENT of quarantine alone
is not what has revived the question Of
creating state board. The recent sDread
OF smallpox in many counties in Georgia
ana the inability of local health boards 10
hahole the situation intengenuy, without
going 10 considerable expense has strong
~ suggested the advisabilitv Of ad,,ooat
ing the establishment of a state hoard
II was commonly known some time AFRO
uiat shla4i-poN prevailed to a more or less
.Alen NJ. from Augusta to Savannah along
me me OF the Central while other parts
OF the state were also annoyed considera-
by by the disease Local boards had no
jurisdiction beyond the limits of the towns
ana cities in which they were constituted
Whlch made il impossible to exercise CEN
cra1 control over the situation. This statA
u aHais rocked along without any con-
cefted action. and while much has been
uche by the cooperation Of the different
towns, II l. stated the disease has NOT ,yet
beeh satlsIac torily stamped out It's prona
eauon mas simply been largely checked
WIN a state board of health exercising
SenSrdi control over such matters. and
packed by funds sufficient 10 Dronerl,, oar
~ out It's plans, the smallpox situation
II Is claimed by advocates of a stale board
would nave long since been reduced "a
control, and the disease made a thing of
inc past IN Georgia. The board would have
1ho"h me conditions in an towns The ex-
Hct number Of cases which had daveloned
r
enee 10 each Of them The hoard conId No.
taken testimony which would have enab-
ied u TO work upon much less.it Is Thought
thah mas peen spent by all towns inter
es'eu III checking spread. Cities which
hdNS suHeied from the importation of
smallpox would probably have been saved
inuch expense and worry They would have
been protected by the ru.cs and ragula
tohs OF the stale board. and not nv re
sofung 10 appeals 10 railroads for helm
oy having their tran empsoves nut off
PASSENGERS found afflicted with any kind
OF eruptive diseases.
Health officer Drummer advocates +ba
establishment of a state board. believing
tAls 10 De an important step for the lec-
stature to take al its coming session
/" hne ne mas been at the head of the
4leaith department only short time ne
mas studied conditions closely. and has
concluded the best thing the state can do
Is 10 protect Its citizens by creatine a
board YES oi with the authority Of exer-
cising general jurisdiction. sometbIng
on the order of the authority exer-
'fsed ny these hoards in other sta,ss
irda has Ter state board. which tns
done excellent work in bringing about 90
operative efforts amcug all towns in nro-
tecung themselves, one cannot prey care
-1SsiY upon the other 10y allowing diseased
persons to so there. South Carolina has
lts board, though It is inor-erative M nree
eut, owing 60 a lack OF funds.
My opinion is the state board should
exercise authority over The general health
and also the purity Of foods" said Or
drummer. ITO do its work effectively I
think it should have at least $4,000 at its
C-sposal, and an emergency fund TO be
used IN case Of an outbreak of disease in
any section of the state. This money would
DE equitably spent in any part of Georgia
as it Is TO the interest of an the people
to keep out disease
With sum less than this I do not
think the board would be OF any great
value DR.. Drummer said, for the reason
that 1t could not carry out It's plans prop
cry. Health boards in some states are
imperative now for want of funds. II
takes money to fight disease. and if this
Is not furnished, things take their own
course. Iaik and conferences viii not do
the work. Men must roll up their sleeves
and 80 into the fight for il is a fight OF
The hottest KIND. Dlsea-e is one nf H.