Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-11
CIRCULAR LETTER TO HEALTH OF
FICERS.
Important Suggestions and Recomm end :
ations By the state Board OF Health.

sent out by the State Board Of Health;
The following suggestions are made TO
The health officers of Vermont with the
purpose of securing "A m9sc Uniform en-
IorCcment Of the public health laws of
The State, and consequent Improvement
3n the public health. The actual work of
Buppressing infectious diseases and i'm
proving the sanitation of our towns ana
cities falls on the health officers as cX-
scutive officers of the local boards of
health.
The office of health officer is recognized
under our laws of sufficient importance
70 that it cavies with it much authority.
it is necessary that such officers use their
authority intelligently and impartialy.
oar State Legislature has dealt very in
inteligontly and literally with us, in that Il
has given us a very Comp.rt1 code of rub-
lie health acts and has placed the faCil-
tics for accurate bact geological cXamtna-
lions within reach of all our people. The
Use we make OF these facilities will IN
rloubtedly determine very largely their
pcrmaneuCy. sickness and death-rates
must be lowered, and cvoa yOnp must no
made to SEQ the wisdom OF our lcgis,a-
tors.
with view to realizing these ends we
wish to call your attention to ,he follow
Ing suggestions:
l. Each health officer must remember
that he is only on" of the local board of
health. lie should Immediately after
each March meeting. call a meeting of
the fun board. lie should explain to the
board the laws of the state and the 'scg-
Nations" of the state Board In all of
lis official work he should act in harmorY
v it'll tho local board. and. in Al important
matters, under instructions from it. lie
should keep full and complete records of
al meetings of tho local board. of ali his
official acts, Of all renorts made to him of
infectious diseases and of the time spent
I'm the performance If his duties and the
charges made therefore. in books prov.d-
Cd by the local board for these purposes
IIc should make careful study of the
state laws and the 'rcgulations" Of the
State Board and keep we'll within the let
ter of the law in all he does
Q Health officers aIe expected TO see
that physicians and others in their towns
ard cities make good use OF the lahora-
tory of hygiene which is now available
for the free examination of milk and food
products water supplies. and all infcc-
tious diseases. If youc town mas public
water supply, have the water analyzod at
different seasons of The year, whether II
seems necessary or not If typhoid APP
Fears. be suce that the WatoG supply
whether from q public dqueduct from "a
spring o. well. and likewise. the milk sup
ply arc nnalyzed. Every case and suspect
case of diphtheria should be promptly ox-
3mined harterolosically and whenever
such examinations hows the presence of
Inc h lebS .OHftcr bacillus. Keen such
,uarantined until the reports from the
laboratory show its absence l-rgc all
physicians 20 secure baotcrio!o%ical en-
aminations of all cases suSpcc;.l Of ,o-
ing tuberCuious. Whenever CONSUMPTION
IS found to tNist, place 4 circular of the
state Board on this disease. We must
make "a great effort to limit the mortality
from this disease When it is recognized
early. many cases are srscrutibln eff ctlic:
and Others who are thrown in close con-
t.ct with them. either in he home ca al
work may he protected from tn, disease.
1f proper preventive measures are alopt-
ed. Whenever possible visit the lah,rI-
tory. The director will always take pleas
Nre in explaining to YOU tn, methods uur-
sued and such details Of the work done
there as you may he interested in study
3ng
We would udgc all health officers to see
that school children IRE vlccinatad. At,
the opening Of the schools in the fan,
y AXE pers onal examination of all pu-
pills. and nave such as can show no scar
Of successful vaccination sent to the
family physician for vaccination. This
disease is now moro prevalent in States
about us than for years. and it is not un-
likely that cases may be imported into
cur State at any time.
{. DO not slight any complaint in ,c2aId
10 nuisancas affecting thu public health.
Examine each carefully ana impartialIv.
Rrd wherever conditions arc found which
are, o., are likely to becum,. dangerous
10 health, tlke prompt measures to have
them removed. Most eases can be salts
Iactorily settled without recours.. to legal
measures Res rye strictly legal meas
ires, OF such as might seem marsh tor
such persons as show an evident diSpo-
sition to ignore or defy your authority.
Keep the secretary of tho State Board
informed OF your work. II" will cheerful
" advise with you asld send you circulars