The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-27
A CAMP PA|GN
FOR HEAL. I'll
Pupils of Public Schools
Are To Aid.
BEFORE THEM
New Territorial Bacteriologist To
Instruct Children on the
Subject.

Whoever ia the incumbent OF the
Office of Territorial bacteriologist in
the future, may have to do double
work in order to draw the com .ortabl
salary which the B AID of Health pays
to that official. With the discharge
yesterday of Dr. Waiter Hoffman, as
bacteriologist OF the Board of Health
the president of the board stated his
policy in regard to the Office. The bac-
teriologist must also act as a public
school teacher in disseminating facts
regarding tuberculosis and other con-
tagious diseases.
During the week President Raymond
decided upon making the above sug
.gestion to the Department of Public
Instruction, and to that end addressed
the following communication to Ala
tau I. Atkinson, superintendent of
that department.:
Dear Sir-In view of the fact thai
the statistics on contagious and in
fectious diseases show a marked in
crease in tuberculosis in this city. |
| make a vigorous effort to mitigate its
dissemination; as owing to govern
mertal changes here there has been
within the past two years a marked
Increase in our population and among
them have been many tubercu ous per-
sons.
Our climate condit ons are especial
ly attractive to the tuberculous sub
= tc L., F.
that the disease in question is highly
contagious, such persons are certainly
menace to the public health unless
their condition is known to those with
whom they come in contact, and also
their immediate surroundings looked
out for in such way as to prevent
contamination of others
Time will not permit my going deep
ly into the subject now, but | believe
the only feasible plan of effectively
combating the disease here is by df-
| ecting our efforts towards prophylaxIs
or preventative measures.
/ know Of no better plan to accom-
pl' sh that end than by inauguratirg an
educational campaign, which can be
done without expense Or Inconvenience
to the educational or health depart
ments, and il you Will interest yourself
in the matter / am Ieady to submit my
plans to you. which / am sure will
meet your approval. l am, yours very
truly, J. H. RAYMOND ND
President Board of Health.
The Department of Public Instruc-
ticn responded to the suggestion Is
follows:
/ Dear Sir-The Superintendent of
Public Instruction wishes me to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of yours of Do
cember 24th relative to the increase of
communicable di2 2eas es, Iarti cularly tu-
berculosis. in this community, and to
say that he will be most happy to CO.
operate with your board in any way
possible. | am directed further to as
sure you that the superintendent feels
honored In being asked to cooperate
In so important and useful a work.
Mr.. Atkinson Is at present sick and
conhned to his house, but expects t1
be on duty again in two or three days.
Very respectfully.
c. T. RODGERS, Secretary.
This is matter have been think
ing over good deal" said DR.. Ray
mond. In order to prevent the spread
or tuberculosis l have considered =;
would be extremely wise to have the
Dacterioiogist instruct the pupils of
the schools, so that they may do all
possible to prevent the spread of con-
t2glous and infectious diseases, such
as tubei culoiis for instance 1t can be
done a,or G educational nes"
DIR. Walter Hoffman,, who has been
the bacteriologist of the Board of
heath for the past year Or so. and
whose work during the epidemic of
plague was praiseworthy in every re-
spect, may not be the bacteriologist
under the new regime. He is not an
american citizen, although in time he
intends to be, and under the United
states laws he is not entitled to hold
pubic office. 1t was his intention to
resign before the board took summary
action in his department, but yester
II