The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-06
WILL TRY AGAIN.
State Board of Health to Ex-
anime Undertakers.
Once Abandoned the Plan Now
Taken Up.
CONDITIONS CHANGED.
Prevalence Of COntagiOn Re-
quireS Greater Restrictions.
Health Officers in Nearly Every
County in Kansas.

After having once failed to inaug
urate the proposed system of examining
undertakes as to their Qualifications to
do business, the state board of health
has decided to make another effort in
that direction
Last summer this proposition was
taken up by the board of health but
it was abandoned. It was the opinion of
some OF the members of the board that
such an arrangement could be SatiSfac-
torily made while others inclined to the
view that the board could not require
an exhibit of qualifications and ability
from the undertakes.
The prevalence of contagious dis
eases during the past year in various
parts of the state; the number of deaths
from communicable diseases and other
similar reasons, have caused a change
OF sentiment among some members Of
the board and the unanimous desire
now is to take all possible precautions
for the safety of the health of the peo-
pie.
The proposed plan of examining I'M
dertakers is but one of the steps toward
removing the possibility of the COM
munication of diseases among the peo-
pie.
The board of health, under the direc-
ton of w. B. Swan, secretary, has sue
ceeded in perfecting the most complete
organization of the kind the state has
ever had. In many counties where the
commissioners have heretofore declined
to consider any proposition contemplat-
ing the appointment of a county health
officer a change of sentiment has taken
place through the influence of the board
and there are very few counties in the
state which are now without county
health officers.
In those counties where health officers
are not now serving under regular ap-
pointment the commissioners nave an
nOunced that such officers will be deSig-
mated at the spring meetings of the
boards.
With this feature of the work of the
board well in hand the members believe
that the time is suspicious for the in
PRODUCTION of the plan to elevate the
standard of the undertakers. 1t is a
fact too well known to admit of argu-
ment that there are some undertakerS
in the state who are not qualified to
handle ordinary diseases to say nothing
of those which are contagious or come
under the head of communicable dis
cases.
The present board of health seems to
be in earnest in the proposed reforms,
although history of the past indicates
that the principal mission of the or
ganization has been fulfilled when the
members drew the salaries set apart
for the board. The disfavor held against
this board was OF such a general char
acter that it narrowly escaped destruc-
ton at the hands of the legislature on
several occasions.
To carry out the plans with reference
to the examination of undertakes the
board will meet in this city Thursday of
next week and elect a committee of five
undertakers to take charge of the
work. B. J. Alexander, president of the
state board of health who lives at Hi
aWatha will submit a list of ten names
to the board from which five will be
lions and the issuance of certificates to
undertakers.