The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-11-17
STATE HEALTH BOARD
SUGGESTS REFORMS
Wants Wheels and Levers Of
Old Machine Removed
at Once.
URGES SCHOOL SANITATION
Report for the Year 1907 Is Com
pleted and Law of 1891 Is
Criticised.

The state board of health in it's an
nual report for 1907, just issued, makes
a number of recommendations relating
to the health of the state and the best
means for preserving healthful condi-
tions. The board suggests a statute
requiring that all schoolhouses here
after built shall conform to natural
sanitary laws. 1t also suggests that
the act should contain a clause re-
curing that hygiene be taught in the
public schools.
Not less than 10 per cent of the
money are now wasted" says the re-
port, ION account of unsanitary school
houses, in which start most of our cpl
denies, and in which are laid the
foundations for consumption and other
diseases in after life. Massachusetts,,
Michigan and other states have statutes
of the character we propose, and bet
| ter health and progress among the
school children has thus been secured
as we'll as better health in adult life.
There is great opportunity to
strengthen the nation by building sani-
tary schoolhouses and instructing the
children in hygiene"
Health Law of 1891 Criticised.
| The board also criticises the health
law of Indiana passed in 1891, declar-
ing that this law does not recognize
the advances made in sanitary science
since its enactment, and that for that
reason it should be amended. 1T does
not provide that health officers shall
be men who are informed in hygiene"
says the report. Very few doctors
have studied hygiene, and therefore
the usual officer knows little or moth
ing of the sciene. In addition to this
defect, officers are appointed for only
one year, and local authorities may pay
such salaries as they deem proper. Not
until only such persons are eligible to
the place of health officers who have
knowledge of the work, and not until
the term of office is reasonably ex-
tended and the pay made commensurate
with the services performed. will the
people be properly served.
Few Good Men Seek the Office.
"As the condition now exists, it is
only rarely that good men seek the po-
sition. In many instances, persons un-
fitted for the work offer to fill the po-
sition for small sum, and when ac-
lcepted, they put the money in their
pockets and do nothing. This way of
prising that money is spent without
return. Viewing the old health law OF
1891 as a machine, it may be said that
several old wheels and levers should
be removed and new ones of new design
substituted.
I'VE recommend these improvements
as wise and of the utmost Importance
to the prfit and to the business of the
state.
I'VE most respectfully request that
you give these recommendations as te
improvement of health laws your care
full consideration, and we hope they will
secure your support and be recon-
mended in your next message to the
general assembly"
Preservation of Water.
The board also axes a strong plea
for the preservation of the water sup
ply in Indiana, citing examples in Mum
Gle and Indianapolis where the water
companies have been compelled to put
in expensive filter plants in order that
? they might get water from the streams
1t is related that in Muncie pollution
of the river made it inadvisable tc
take the supply from the river, anC
that the company was compelled t.
| dam up a small creek. The board de
Z. clares that Indianapolis must soon de
pend on the river for it's supply, ant
tht if the pollution of the river contin
ues filtration will become more ant
!, more expensive, and that in time In
dianapolis and other cities along Whit
river will be severely damaged, pos
sibly to an extent that will stop thei
growth.
1T is apparent that our streams an,
Y lakes are valuable assets" says the re
port, land should be jealousy pro
tected from pollution or other destruc
ton. They are sources of beauty an,
refreshment to the land, sources of
valuable food supply, and must eventu
ally furnish public water supplies. l
. is this last fact which makes it urgen
that early action be taken for thei
} preservation"
| Don't 10 c1f nd ell acl