The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-29

wv Soi oaSC 1uieS anu removal OF the
garbage and offal, act as ex-offlcio
county health officer and protect this
city for miles outside by going out
and vaccinating thousands Of people.
disinfecting hundreds of rooms after
tuberculosis, diphtheria, scarlet fever.
smallpox, etc, as 1 have done without
extra compensation, and without
thanks either in most instances.
There are many other things which
l have had to do which a physician
would not compromise his profession
al dignity by doing, yet 1 have had to
know how to do all of these thinCs
whether scientific or onerous, and
can prove that I alawys did them.
But no matter how long a health
officer may serve, be he physician or
layman he will always have much to
learn. Scientific investigations are
almost constantly bringing to light
new discoveries, and setting aside
theories in vogue for hundreds of
Years. If We would be abreast Of the
times and nothing is too good for
Sumter, where health and life are
concerned, the health officer must be
an intelligent and we'll educated in
dlvidual who is capable Of imbibing
the necessary information which the
scientific men are sending out. No
man should be selected for this place
because of his ability to make him.
self terror to the citizens who are
ignorant or Indifferent about sanitary
conditions. The health officer who
is intellectually equipped and who is
diplomatic and sufficiently endowed
intellectually to get into close touch
with and interest the people in i'm?
proved sanitary conditions and public
utilities is of more value than the one
who unlearned seeks to prosecute,
antagonize and frighten those whom
he should educate and sympathize
with.
Education of the masses" is the
cry of the sanitarians in all cities
governed on modern sanitary prin-
ciples. The health officer who is not
sufficiently educated and posted to be
himself an educator is unfit for the
position in these enlightened times of
modern sanitary ideas
/ speak thus because l have no in
terest in the office of health officer,
nor in the salary attached thereto as
| am about to go out of office. Poll
tics should play no part, nor should
personal preference nor personal ami
mostly 'cut any ice" in the selection
or rejection of health officer. Nor
should the question of salary hinder
the employment of a competent man
or local influence interfere.
The time has passed when people
may be dragoOned or legislated into
habits of cleanliness or morality.
Morality and physical development
go hand in hand with mental train
ing. Morality consists not in
blind submission to the formula Of
any creed but more in the develop
ment and training of our intellectual
and physical qualities and having due
regard for the comfort, rights and
feelings of others. The Golden Rule
is an important factor in the conser-
walton of the public health if observ-
rl as it ought to be.
Efficiency, devotion to duty, desire
to learn, and an ardent advocate Of
the saying that he who knows is in
himself divine" are important quail
ications for a health officer and all
others. have learned by my own
ignorance and drGcicNcirs during six
teen years how important education
is 10 man ur woman. would
therefore. if could do 50 with grace
point ont to your Successors. gcntl,-
men of the outgoing board how
many a stumbling block could ba
aNcrtcd in the protection of the pub
lie health. Hut that may not he
done. So We viii go ont together
Keeping 60 ourselves as useless to the
public. or our successors. not only