The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-19


enact law requiring the immediate no
tfIcatiOn of the board of health in all
cases in inflammation of the eyes OF new
born infants and the prompt application
OF the necessary treatment 10 prevent
blindness. A bill of this character was
submitted by the board to the legislature
In 1907. but failed IF enactment. and a
further attempt to get such q law passed
viii be made at the present session.
Regarding this subject, the report says
that one-third of all cases of blindness
result from infection at birth and may
surely be prevented by the application of
a very simple treatment
1t Is a reproach to the public inteiii-
gence and conscience that tens of thou
sands of human beings are needessly con-
demned TO this fate" declared DR.. Beat
ty, and action toward its prevention
should not be delayed"
Diseases of Domestic Animals.
A large portion Of the exhaustive report
is taken up with diseases of domestic ami
mails and the regret is expressed that no
adequate provisions have been made in
Utah for the control of the diseases that
result in so much injury to i've stock in
terests. In the absence of other means
the state board of health has assumed
supervision of this branch to the extent of
its resources, but DR.. Beatty says that
more ample provisions are Imperative.
Many cases of CHAMBERS. chiefly danger
Gus to horses. but also to men. have been
discovered he reports, land there is an
increasing and serious prevalence of the
disease throughout the state. especially in
Carbon, Emery, Cintah and Box Elder
counties. Upon receipt of notification the
policy Of the board has been to either
send veterinary surgeon to investigate
all suspected cases of infectious diseases
and to pay for his services out of the con-
tingent fund of the board. or to request
the officers of the county to employ a
competent veterinary surgeon for the pur-
pose, In most instances the mallein test
has been applied. a sure method for es-
tablishing a diagnosis A report OF the
number of animals which have been thus
tested and destroyed during the last two
years is given as follows:
1907.
Number Of animals tested.
Positive reaction 800. ................-.....t7
Number of animals destroyed. .....-....-4
1903.
Number of animals tested.
Positive reaction 800. ....--....-.........32
Number of animals destroyed ............27
In every instance instructions have been
given as to proper disposal of the body,
disinfectiOn, quarantine. etc.
1t is recommended that the office of
state veterinarian be created and that a
competent veterinary surgeon be appoint
ed to investigate the situation and per-
form other duties involved in the position.
In this connection reference is made to
the inadequate means provided for the en-
fOrcement of the meat inspection law
which was demonstrated in 1907. when an
epidemic of hog cholera broke out in We
Der county. when many hogs infected with
cholera were killed and marketed. The
report affirms that much infected and IN
wholesome meat is consumed in the state,
and it is urged that the meat inspection
law. which was enacted in 1907. be en-
forced to protect citizens of Utah to the
same degree as protection is afforded to
outside consumers Of Utah meat by fed
eral inspection.
TubercuIin Test.
The matter of the conveyance Of tuber-
culosis through milk from tuberculosis
COWS is treated at some length and the
statement is made that the board will
submit to the legislature a bill providing
for the tuberculin testing of all COWS fur
nishing milk in the state and prohibiting
the importation of any COW used for milk
ing purposes without having been tested
and found free from tuberculosis. Dr.
Beatty treats on the importance of this
measure at length and refers to the appro-
pristion by congress of money for the use
of the bureau of animal industry. apply
ing the tuberculin test in four states which
il might select free Of charge to the state
for material and service. He SAYS:
THE chief veterinarian of the depart
ment. DIT. MohleT. when in the state re-
Gently, agreed to recommend that Utah
he selected as one of the states to receive
the benefit Of the measure, provided the
necessary law should be enacted enabling
the department to carry il out
4 letter from DIT. Mohler confirmative
of the offer. is given in copy.
T. Along the same line Or. Beatty strongly
urges the enactment OF a law providing
for the licensing and efficient inspection
of diaries and creGmeries and says that
a bin Of this nature will also be presented
to the legislature by the state board of
health similar to d measure which was
defeated in the 1907 session.
Water and Ice.
Regret is expressed that in a majority
OF localities throughout the state even
where it is financially and otherwise feas-
ible to secure pure, piped water. people
are content TO use dangerously polluted
well and ditch water. The state board.
since its organization. IL is stated has
made continuous efforts to induce the
towns Of the state to improve their water
supplies and in many intances the efforts
have been successful. Some interesting
comparisons are made of health statistics
from towns which have improved their
water supplies and towns which have not
done So
The matter Of the sale Of impure ice is
also discussed, and it is pointed out that
the public of this state has little protec-
ton from that danger The prevailing
notion that freezing destroys harmful i'm
purities in water is exploded and it is stat
ed typhoid and other germs live for
months in ice and organic impurities re-
main unchanged.
Reference is made to an inspection by
Or. Clark last summer of unsanitary
ponds from which ice was sold i'm Ogden
DR.. Clark discovered four Of the ponds
in the vicinity of ogden so situated as to
cause the certain contamination of the
water with dangerous impurities and the
city authorities were requested to con-
denim the ice that had been taken from
them. DR.. Beatty declares that the law
should prohibit the sale of ice without a
permit from the board OF health. which
should be issued only after careful inspec-
ton Of the ponds producing it. and bill
Of this character is also due to make its
appearance at the present legislative ses-
sion.
Free Antitox;ne,
Several pages of the report are given
over to an explanation of the use of an
titoxine as a curative and. in immunizng
doses. as a preventive OF diphtheTia.
1 The statement is made that the mortality
has been reduced to a very low percent
age The board has concluded arrange
ments with reliable manufacturer where
BY antitOxine may be furnished free of
cost to those who cannot afford to pay
/ for it, This is explained in a COPY of a
circular which has been sent by the board
/ to each county physician i'm the state. 1t
/ is a long circular and explains the plan
/ fully the usefulness of antitoxine as
demonstrated. the plan for supplying and
distributing it. the dosage. etc.
Regarding Registrations.
great deal Of satisfaction Is expressed
/ by DR. Beatty because Of the advantages