The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-30
FOR THE LEGISLATURE
WRITER'S OFFER SUGGESTIONS AS no
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
EnIarginE the Health Boards Powers
and County and Township Reform
the Principal Topics.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
An amendment to the statute creating the
State Board Of Health is pending in each
branch Of the Legislature. 1t is an inn
portant matter and should have the serious
consideration Of every thoughtful citizen Of
the State. The present status of the State
Board of Health is one of embarrassment
owing to the fact that it sees much that
ought to be done and knows how to do it,
but is estopped by the imperfections of it's
organic law and the inattention of the ac-
tive public TO the role of it's duties and the
means necessary to accomplish them.
Lest 1 be deemed a neophyte writing of
affairs have not studied and in which
have had no practical experience, 1 beg to
say that for more than forty years 1 have
been something of student of sanitary
science, and with the close of the year just
ended retired on account of age from seven
teen consecutive years service as secretary
of the Wayne County Board of Health and
health officer, wherein L managed and per-
sonally administered the public health af-
fairs of the county under the direction of
the State Board of Health
The statute creating the State Board of
Health was passed in 1881, but after ten
years experience it's defects were so en-
barrassing that in 1891 it was amended, and
now, after eight years additional progress
and experience it needs further amendment
In the last decade the advance both in sci
ence and the art of sanitation-which is
but another name for preventive medicine
has been very great, and the equipment of
the state board is not adequate to enable
it TO accomplish all now demanded of a
state board. 1t needs some extension of it's
powers, a better control of the service of
county and municipal health officers, and a
larger financial endowment. If it is not
granted these, among others, by the Legis-
lature, it will be impotent for it's most fruit
full labor and to keep abreast in usefulness
with the boards of sister States which
would be a serious evil to the welfare of
the people Of Indiana and a stigma on its
reputation for profound. inspiring intelli-
gence and ability to maintain it's people
in the highest condition of prosperity and
Our state board in it's present organiza-
ton is good one, capable of the best of
sanitary service If adequately equipped, en-
dowed and supported by public opinion. It's
secretary, who is eX officio state health off,
Ger, is thoroughly Versed in sanitary sci
ence, IS of sound judgment, of superior ad-
ministrative ability, quick to observe and
prompt to execute, and of untiring indus
try. Under the authority of the board he
year in various parts of the State, where
ignorance and carelessness had permitted
alarming and fatal endemics which he in
stltuted measures to suppress; called to 9TH
er points where neglected hygiene had al
lowed localities to become hotbedS of dis
ease, he instructed the local authorities how
TO disinfect the premises and estOp the
recrudescence of the danger. He has bac-
teriologically examined the excretions of
patients seriously i'll of doubtful disease for
a diagnosis of the malady and its danger
TO the community; he has chemically exam
ined many samples of water from sundry
localities to determine their potability he
has visited various parts of the State to
inquire into the salubrity of situations
where public interests We're suffering from
real or supposed diseased breeding conditions
Of the premises or the environment, to the
distress or the peril of the residents of the
vicinage. All questions arising in these sew
eral classes of dangerous diseases and I'M
sanitary conditions can be satisfactorily an
swered only by trained and adequately
equipped sanitary expert or competent par
ties under his direction. Notwithstanding
that much was done last year for sanitary
betterment more was asked for by suffer-
ing people than the board had means to eX-
ecute and the future will develop increased
demands, and the public will insist on larger
help in all lines Of sanitary work, 1T is
for the existing legislators to determine
whether the people of the State shall be
blest by it embracing the present opportun-
ity to amend the health law and qualify our
excellent board of health to execute the
highest and most valuable functions of such
an organization
i
lature shall prove equal to it's opportunity
in this behalf, the people will rise up and
call 1t blessed, and if it fails we shall have
to attribute the misfortune to the aw-ma k
ing authority not understanding either the
needs or the wishes of their constituency.
JAMES +. HIBBERD, NJ. d.
Richmond, Ind, Jan. 2S
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Among the bills presented to the present
Legislature for its consideration none will be
of more value to the general welfare of the
State than the Board of Health bill. No. 14O,
passed by the House yesterday. It's value
lies in the following facts: Vital statistics,
to be of any value whatever must be cor
rect; if not, they are worse than useless,
for they are misleading, and the time and
money spent in collecting and tabulating
them is practically wasted. This bill, if it
becomes a law, will make it possible for the
State Board of Health to secure accurate
figures regarding births deaths and the
various diseases affecting the population
throughout the State. Under the law now in
force this has been practically impossible
on account of the c2releSSneSS or inefficienCY
Of those whose duty it is to report such
facts 1t will also furnish the boards of
health in various localities throughout the
State with an efficient means of preventing
the spread of contagious diseases by making
1t necessary TO secure a burial permit in
every case of death before the body is in
TERED. In this county (GranO the absence
of such provision in the present law made
1t possible few weeks ago to hold pub
lie funeral over the remains of a child which
had died of malignant diphtheria, without
this knowledge of the health officer, thus
exposing a large number of persons to the
disease. This bill also provides that health
officers may be removed for a sufficient
cause without waiting until their terms Of
office expire thus making it possible TO
protect the public from the results of care
lesSnesS or incompetency.
FRANK Fl. RIGDON,
Marion, Ind, Jan. q.