Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-02

s.A members. the majority Of whom shall
oe physicians of ten years experience ana
que civil engineer They are also APP
poi,ited by the Governor, with the advice
anu consent OF the Senate. for four years
anu serve without pay. The law says:-
~ shaii De the duty of the Commissioners
OF nealth to protect the health of the peo-
PIE OF the State and to determine and en-
ploy uhe most efficient and practical means
TOT the prevention and suppression OF dis
ease To carry out effectually the respon-
slbillty which this duty imposes the Com
missioner and his agents are given full
power TO order nuisances detrimental to
the public health or the causes of disease
ana mortality to be abated and removed
and to enforce quarantine regulations.
The Commissioner may issue warrants
to any sheriff. constable or policeman to
arrest persons who dlsobey the quar-
antine orders or regulations of the De-
partment OF Health. and in the Inspection
of nuisances the Commissioners duly au-
thorzed agents have the power and au-
thority conferred by law upon constables
and where an owner of the property re-
fuses to abate a nuisance detrimental to
the public health the Commissioner or his
agents may have such nuisances abated
and to cover the cost of such action the
Commissioner may file lien in the name
OF the Commonwealth, as provided by law
for other municipal liens.
The Commissioner may revoke and mod
ify any order, regulation, bylaw or or
dlnance of a local board of health con-
corning a matter which In his Judgment
affects the public health beyond the ter
ritory over which such local board mas
Jurisdiction.
General supervision is given the State
Commissioner of the registration OF
births, marriages, deaths and diseases; or
practitioners of medicine and surgery. OF
midwives: nurses and undertakers and OF
oil xHrhn N 10
to be of Importance in obtaining complete
registration of births, deaths, marriages
and diseases.
There are laid upon the Commissioner the
duty and responsibility of preserving the
purity OF the waters of the State for the
protection OF the public health. By wa
tiers of the state" Is meant all streams and
springs and all bodies OF surface and
ground water, whether natural or arti-
fetal. within the boundaries OF the State.
Whenever IN the opinion of the Commits
soner the sewage discharged into the wa
ters Of the State by individuals, private
corporations or companies becomes in1uri-
Gus to the public health he may order a
discharge of such sewage discontinued.
He may also revoke permits that his de-
partment grants to municipalities to con-
struct or extend a sewer system whenever
in his opinion the interests OF the public
health demand II.
SKETCH OF THE WORKERS.
The personnel of the department Is OF
distinct interest since TO those men has
been intrusted the health of several million
people. Samuel G. Dixon was born In
Philadelphia March %, 1851. He prepared
for Harvard. but instead went abroad to
study. Returning to Philadelphia. he was
graduated from the Mercantile College and
then studied law, being admitted TO the
Bar I'm 1877. He studied medicine and was
graduated from the Medical School OF the
University of Pennsylvania In 1856. having
been singularly honored by the trustees
before graduation by an appointment to
the position of assistant demonstrators OF
pThysiology. He went abroad again to
study and was graduated from the Depart
ment of Bacteriology of Kings College,
London. and afterward studied In Petten-
kofer's laboratory of hygiene. In Munich.
While In Europe he made an exhaustive
study OF the disposition OF sewage in large
cities Upon his return. In 1885, he was
made professor OF hygiene In the Medical
School and dean OF the Auxiliary Depart
ment of Medicine OF the University OF
Pennsylvania. Leaving the university in
1890 he was made professor Of bacteriology
and microscopical technology at the Acad-
emy of Natural Sciences OF Philadelphia,
executive curator In 1892 and president In
1896 which last two positions he stin holds.
He served for several years as member
OF the Board of Education of Philadelphia
and as chairman of the Committee on Hy-
gIene and did much to improve the sani-
tary conditions of the schools OF that city.
DR.. Benjamin Lee, who for twenty years
was the secretary OF the former State
Board of Health, occupies the position OF
assistant TO the Commissioner. His long
experience especially fitted him for the
work of aiding the Commissioner TO estab-
ush and successfully build up the new De-
partment OF Health. DR.. Lee was a spe.
ealist of widely recognized ability In or.
thopedic surgery before he began to de-
vote his life TO sanitary work.
DIR. Frederic c. Johnson. chief medical
Inspector, at the time OF his appointments
was assistant chief resident physician IN
the Philadelphia Hospital.
f. Herbert Snow, chief sanitary engl
neer, is one of the best known engineers
in the country. Mr.. Snow Is a pioneer in
the work of devislng sanitary systems Of
sewage disposal and his knowledge and
experience are Of inestimable value TO the
Department of Health In its dealings with
Municipalities and corporations in regard
10 sewage and water supply systems.
DIT. Wilmer r. Bait, State Registrar OF
Vital Statistics. Is a graduate of the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania Medical School,
class OF 1884 For a number Of years he
had been Identified with sanitary work in
Philadelphia and with The State auafAA-
tine service \