Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-20
Two Important Subjects Discussed
at School for Vermont Health
Officers.
LA WS WILL Be ENFORCED
Scientists from New York City Bring
Helpful Words in Treating Of the
Publication OF Water, Milk
Supplies and the Handling
Of Infectious Diseases.

H'Aai cchooi VI iHSIruCtioH IOT Hediti Or
ficers opened In the armory at $50 O'Clock
with large attendance.
The session was opened by DR.. II. D.
HVton of Brattleboro. secretary of the
State board OF health, who took for the
topic of his address Duties OF Health
officers"
Good healtl, officers he said were not
looking for fees and must do great deal
for mankind fur which they received no
pay. The best work, he said, was done by
individual effort. when the officers inter-
ested themselves in every small detail
connected with the office. He pointed out
that all great reforms in the world had
been brought about by such effort; that
they as officers should make themselves
familiar with the laws governing health
officers. and then proceed to see them
enforced to the lester
In speaking Of the different points that
deoerved special attention. he touched
first on the death laws of the State and
burial permits, explaining that permits
should not be given until proper death
certificates were made out He urged es-
pecielly on the officers the necessity of
the certificates being properly flied out.
ana Sdlu IL WAS an Important punt ttidt
the cause OF death should be properly ex-
planned. without regard to feelings. as
they were only doing what was required
by law. Health officers, he explained,
could be held accountable for a burial
where the death certificate had not been
properly filed out.
He then explained their duties regard
ing the closing Of public places, when con-
tagious disease was found, or reported.
and IN the latter case that they should de-
mand facts, for in 50 doing they were
only performing their duty. Ie dwelt on
the absolute necessity of having written
confirmation of their orders from the Sec
rotary, when demanding that public places
be closed, especially in the case Of
schools, so that their orders would not
clash with those of the school directors.
He urged the officers TO be prompt about
their reports, and when they heard OF
cases to look them UP at once. and to be
ready at all times to prevent nuisances
of all kinds. Anything was
nuisance, he said, that was an
ANNOYANCE - the community
He explained fully how the officers
should proceed in cases where vermdn
was discovered, or reported. among the
pupils of tirs schools, and in such cases
he believed the pslpils SHOULD be kept at
the home lntil the GASES were reuedied.
The law says that the head OF a family
suspecting contagious disease must re-
port his suspicious to the health officer.
or be liable to prosecution. In cases where
this Ia not done II Is the duty of the Of
f1cer to mako himself acquainted with
the facts and take proper action at once.
DR.. Holton urged the officers to make
use Of the State. laboratory. and when
In doubt send their questions there to
be settled. Many doubtful cases have
been found to be easily settled by send
ing specimens to the laboratory for
analysis.
He explained tho rules and regula lions
governing the sending OF specimens to
the laboratory. and In speaking of the
| work done there stated that officers who
had specimens there should not be i'm
| patient at delay, as the staff of the
laboratory were being called constantly
to appear In court and that this took a
| great deal OF time.
| The address was then given over to
questions and discussion, opened by S.
W. Butterfield of We,hersfeld. and fol-
lowed by several others, who brought up
| import ant questions to be answered and
new points which had been met In their
experience Following the discussion DIR.
Holton answered the different questions
that had been brought up.
The next on the programme was a
paper by c. p. Moat. S. b., chemist al the
State laboratory, who gave the follow
| ing Interesting summary of the food
laws. spoke of the work done by the
laboratory. and outlined the plan OF work
for the coming year.
CHEMIST MOAT ON PURE FOOD.
| Two years ago when I read you pape,
on what we were doing with tho pur,
| food question here In Vermont 1t wal
| OF interest moro especially TO those of u,
| who had the enforcement of the pur,
food act at hand. Now since the passag.
Of the federal laws relating to meat in
| spection and the long hoped for food ant
| drug act the question Is one of nattona
Importance as is shown by the action o
the Legislatures OF many States II
| changing their State laws TO conform
with the national food and drug law
the numerous articles In the newspap per
and the discussion OF the subject fl
| everyday ife.
For this reason, II Is hard to say any
thing new on the subject but as we al
desire pure foods and as 1t is our dut,
| to enforce our food and drug act, I will
try to give some idea OF our present foo
law and what we have accomplished un
der Its provisions.
The federal meat inspection law. whicI
passed June 30. 1906. provides for the In
spection under the direction of the sec
rotary OF agriculture OF all meat an
| meat food products SO as to prevent an
| such products that are unsound. un
healthful, unwholesome or otherwise un
fit for human, food, entering into inter
state or foreign commerce. The secre
tary may cause inspection and examina
ton both ante and post norton of thes
meat food products and also shall max
sanitary regulations for the establish
ments where the products are slaughter
ed or prepared for food. Only farmer
and retail butchers are exempt from thi
inspection but they are subject to tn
provisions Of the law placing penalt
on offering for sale or for tu'ansportatso
in Interstate or foreign commerce an
meat products that are unwhoaesome O
otherwise unfit for food.
This act prohibits Interstate trade I
aduiterated or mssbs0nhsd FOODS or drug.
The r,fes ana regulations for oarryin
out the provisions OF this act are 10 b
made by the secretary Of the treasury